Neil J. O'Brien

 

Neil J. O'Brien is a graduate in English from Rice University, and in law from Southern Methodist University School of Law and Georgetown Law Center. He is married with four married children and 16 grandchildren. Neil is a senior partner in the law firm Gardere Wynne Sewell LLP, Dallas Texas. He also teaches freshman composition and developmental writing at a local community college. Neil is the author of How to do Whatever, a book for ordinary people with realistic goals, but it works as well for specialists or single-minded people with only one goal. It sets forth simple, easy-to-follow procedures applicable to any endeavor - actually to all endeavors. The system is realistic. It does not require extraordinary efforts or performance. Quite the contrary, it insists upon modest efforts, but it guarantees huge results. It is loaded with practical, every day useful hints and advice - and sprinkled with a good bit of humor. How to do Whatever can be purchased at Trafford.com , Amazon.com and Borders.com

 

 

Pageonelit.com: Where did you grow up and was reading and writing
a part of your life? Who were your earliest influences and why?

Neil J. O'Brien: I grew up in Dallas. Reading was a part of my life from earliest childhood. My mother would take my sister and me to the library where we picked out books, and my parents, my sister, and uncles read to us and told us stories. Writing, other than at school, was a part, but a much smaller part of my childood.


 

Pageonelit.com: Why did you write HOW TO DO WHATEVER? Tell us about this book --- How long did it take to write?

Neil J. O'Brien: Through experience, I have learned that most failures are due to exaggerated goals and lack of patience. This is particularly evident in dieting. At the other extreme, many a person misses the benefits of various endavors (painting, sports, travel, whatever), because the individual is afraid to try "because I don't have the talent", whereas a few lessons will give the person a markedly greater apprciation for and interest in the project (wine tasting is a nice example).

The book is designed to facilitate learning and developing any project to whatever level the person wants to go - without an exorbitant effort - so the individual can have the satisfaction of success.

I don't remember how long it took for me to write the book. Less than a year in my spare time. I am active in my profession of law practice.


 

Pageonelit.com: How have you been able to apply the theories in your book HOW TO DO WHATEVER in your own life?

Neil J. O'Brien: In addition to my family and my profession, I enjoy a wide range of activities (teaching English at the Community College, tennis, travel, reading, writing, painting, fishing, community service, growing peppers, etc.), with varying degrees of success.My painting, for example, is not very good, but I like doing it, it is satisfying to me, and it has increased my appreciation for art I veiw in museums and elsewhere. Also, on travels with my wife, I draw local scenes, buildings, etc. I have dropped golf, however, not because I don't like it, but because I did not think I could achieve a satisfactory handicap with the amount of time I was willing to allocate to golf. The ideas in Whatever , particularly patience, the long view, perseverence, have been important, even critical to the level of success in every endeavor.


 

Pageonelit.com: What has been your feedback from readers and book reviewers? What do they say to you about their interpretations of HOW TO DO WHATEVER? What do they like about the book?

Neil J. O'Brien: I have not received much critical feedback. Some people have purchased numerous copies that they have distributed to their adult children. As one person commented: "It is not just about how to do things, it is about how to live one's life."


 

Pageonelit.com:Tell me about your publishing experience -- The good, the bad and the ugly ..

Neil J. O'Brien: Mostly bad, not really ugly. I have written several books (a children's book, a murder myster, Susann The Writerr, a story of a young woman coming of age, the history of our law firm and Whatever). Only Whatever has been published. Susan is in the hands of an agent. I have written a screenplay, also in the hands of an agent, a one- act play and short stories. I have one published cartoon.



Pageonelit.com: Are you working on a follow up? Or something totally different?

Neil J. O'Brien: I am not currently working on anything.


Pageonelit.com: What was the last book you read?

Neil J. O'Brien: Fuentes, The years with Laura Diaz. I am currently reading the fifth and final volume of Joseph Frank's biography of Dostoyevski. I did not read and don't intend to read volumes 1-4.