Serendipity

Serendipity is the unforgettable true story of a boy from small-town Pennsylvania who grows up to live several lives in one. From a childhood filled with close calls, mischief, and wide-eyed curiosity to the discipline and hardship of the U.S. Marine Corps, from the free-spirited hippie years of the 1960s to a long and meaningful career teaching students who are Deaf, John Reade's journey is shaped by the unexpected moments that changed his path.

Told with humor, honesty, and a deep sense of gratitude, Serendipity reflects on family, luck, survival, and the strange ways life opens new doors exactly when you least expect it. Through danger, adventure, mistakes, and small miracles, Reade offers a heartfelt look at how unplanned discoveries can lead to purpose and transformation.

More than a memoir of events, this is a story about paying attention to the moments that matter, the ones that guide us, toughen us, surprise us, and ultimately define who we become. Readers who enjoy inspiring life stories, military memoirs, coming-of-age journeys, and teacher narratives will be drawn to this engaging and deeply human account of a life lived fully.