An Invented Life shares the story of Alan Amron, a visionary inventor. Even as a child, Alan found it fascinating to create new things, always exploring and trying to understand how everything worked. In the book, Alan tells his story and shares snippets from his childhood and youth in Brooklyn, how he always looked at things differently with deeper insight. This is his journey.

Alan started his creating and inventing journey at a young age. Many of his inventions were patented and he significantly profited from them as well. Battery-powered water guns, temperature alarms, the digital photo wallet, etc., were among his many creations, yet his most famous and controversial invention was the Post-it sticky notes by 3M.

Even though he is the inventor of the Post-it sticky notes, he was ripped off of his invention due to an unfortunate set of events. But accepting defeat is not in his nature, so he kept fighting, and finally, after a lengthy legal battle, he got the rightful claim of his creation.

But An Invented Life is not all about inventing. Alan tells us about his successes and how he made his way into Hollywood, getting the chance to meet many legends. Loss was part of his journey, though, and he shares various accounts of it because this is also a story of tenacity and determination.

Alan had always been a freethinking person, and the preconceived perceptions of some people never constrained him or his imagination. The book shows how he became a successful inventor, an entrepreneur, and a businessman. He met many difficulties along the way, but he never gave up, and his determination changed his life. Alan gives examples of how some minor mistakes and oversights can significantly impact a person’s life. By sharing his story with the world, he wants the readers to be mindful of their decisions, considering the possible future impact.

This compelling story provides some great teaching moments for those determined to change their lives for the better.

James F Cromwell