Press
On Balance: With Alan Pesky -- hosted by Dr. Rod Berger [PODCAST] Dr. Rod Berger sits down with Alan Pesky, director and founder of the Lee Pesky Learning Center and author of the passionate personal tribute, More to Life than More: A Memoir of Misunderstanding, Loss, and Learning.A moving conversation gleaning insight from Alan's challenging relationship with his deceased son Lee, for whom the restrictions placed on him by his father were mimicked by those which ultimately ostracised him from the education system. A solemn reminder that as guardians, and educators, we need to be open, receptive, and encouraging to the potential within our successors. We all have a gift to share and to stifle leads only to suffering. With this great burden of responsibility, however, we all have the chance to create a better world. Hindsight colors a new perspective for Pesky, one with greater scope that clarifies the importance of valuing children’s voices and encouraging them to speak boldly and self-assuredly.
Sun Valley Magazine: “How heartbreak and loss led to hope and understanding” -- article by Pamela Kleibrink Thompson When longtime Wood River Valley resident Alan Pesky was approached by a friend, who was also the president of MacMillan Publishing, to write a book, Pesky thought he’d share the wisdom he gleaned from his years in the advertising industry. Pesky’s publishing friend even introduced him to two possible co-writers, one an Emmy- winning TV writer. But Pesky did not feel inspired to write about business.
The Podcast by KevinMD: A son’s brain cancer. A father’s story. [PODCAST]
“As you wait, you have a lot of time to think. You comb through the past in search of something you might have missed. If we had acted sooner on the signs of his illness—had the cancer been diagnosed earlier—would Lee have had a better chance?
The Faith & Grief Podcast explores the intersection of faith & grief: A conversation with Alan Pesky
We sit down for a conversation with Alan Pesky, Social Entrepreneur, Author & Co-founder of the Lee Pesky Learning Center. We discuss his book More to Life Than More and how he found meaning after the loss of his beloved son Lee. More to Life Than More is a memoir of misunderstanding, loss, and learning.
Article in Stanford Social Innovation Review: Improving Early Literacy Outcomes for All Children
The authors write that the pandemic’s disruptions have only exacerbated many social, economic, and cultural fault lines, and so, learning recovery programs must focus on quality and equity at both the individual and systems level.
Kirkus Reviews: An articulate, unflinchingly honest, and touching account brimming with joy, heartbreak, and love.
In this memoir, an ad agency powerhouse recounts turning a family tragedy into an opportunity for youngsters who learn differently, gaining an understanding about himself in the process.
The Community Library: “More to Life Than More” – A Conversation with Alan Pesky and Claudia Aulum
The Community Library and the Sun Valley Museum of Art recorded a conversation with Alan Pesky and Claudia Aulum, co-authors of the new book, "More to Life Than More: A Memoir of Misunderstanding, Loss, and Learning" (September 2021, Skyhorse). Pesky and Aulum were in conversation with Jenny Emery Davidson, the Library's executive director.
KevinMD: “A memoir of misunderstanding, loss, and learning”, by Kevin Pho, MD (excerpt published on his Blog)
The MRIs were illuminated by a lightbox. A small group of us in Dr. Kelly’s office gathered around the images. We were looking at Lee’s brain. It could have been anyone’s brain up there on the wall. But it was our son’s, whose handsome face and playful smile were nowhere to be seen on these pictures.
National Center for Learning Disabilities: “More to Life Than More: A Conversation with Alan Pesky” Interview by Sheldon H. Horowitz, Ed.D
Alan, let me begin by saying congratulations on a wonderful book, More to Life Than More — a memoir that will undoubtedly touch the hearts of parents whose journey, like yours, was shaped by anxiety and adventure, lamenting and longing, worry and wishing, obligation and opportunity, and most of all, unbounding love.
Idaho Mountain Express: "In new memoir, Alan Pesky finds fulfillment: ‘More to Life than More’ examines loss, misunderstanding and growth" featured article by Joey Thyne
The book Alan Pesky set out to write was not the one he finished. What started as a life-spanning memoir ended up focusing on the death of his son, a contemplation on loss and learning. “I hope anyone who reads this book learns to love the child they have, not the child they want,” Pesky said.
Idaho Press: "There's 'More to Life Than More'" -- book review by Margaret Carmel
Writing anything is hard, but few genres get fumbled quite like memoir. To do it right, the writer has to have a triple threat of a compelling story, a not always flattering level of introspection and the writing ability to pull it off. So often the people with enough self-importance to write one don’t have much of substance to say or the self-reflection to make it worth reading. After all, nobody wants to read a book about someone who thinks they did everything right.
Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth: "Summer Reads from Alumni Authors" -- featuring More To Life Than More.
In addition to distinguishing themselves in the world of business, Tuck alumni continue to achieve in the world of publishing.
LinkedIn: "This Father's Day, let's celebrate our children for who they are" -- post by Alan Pesky
Father’s Day always gives me a lot to think about. Being a father to Heidi, Lee, and Greg, and grandfather to five extraordinary grandchildren, has been one of the greatest joys in my life. Yet fatherhood is also where I’ve experienced my greatest challenges, vulnerability, and loss.
Leader to Leader Journal: "Leading From Values" -- article by Alan Pesky
The author discusses the mission, goals, and operation of the Lee Pesky Learning Center (LPLC), a nonprofit founded in Idaho in 1997. It is named after the author's son Lee, who grew up with undiagnosed learning disabilities and died of brain cancer at the age of 30. The author experienced success in business and other fields before establishing LPLC. He recounts how it started small, with a staff of two in a modest space and offered two services: diagnostic evaluations and evidence‐based remediation. LPLC grew organically as its expertise, client demand, and resources allowed. It has helped more than 100,000 children, has trained thousands of teachers to improve reading outcomes in their classrooms, and is recognized today as a research leader in the fields of learning disabilities and early literacy.