Picking
upSticks
A Midterm Project
Life’s most meaningful lessons are often found in the simplest encounters. Picking Up Sticks is a collection of true stories by Gregory Allen Badersnider that draw on experiences with family, community, and the outdoors. Each story invites readers to pause, reflect, and find significance in the everyday.
More about The Book
In Picking Up Sticks, Gregory Allen Badersnider shares moments from a life shaped by family, friendships, travel, and time spent outdoors. These stories move from Michigan neighborhoods to faraway places, always returning to the values of kindness, humility, and resilience.
The collection balances humor and reflection, often beginning with a simple event—a wrong number, a family memory, a chance meeting that grows into something deeper. The book is written with a clear, grounded voice, making it accessible to readers who enjoy stories about faith, family, and the outdoors.
Whether read straight through or opened at random, Picking Up Sticks offers stories that encourage us to notice the quiet ways life teaches us.
Book Themes
Everyday Encounters
Ordinary moments become opportunities for reflection. From small gestures of kindness to conversations with strangers, these stories reveal how little things can shape our perspective.
Family and Faith
At the heart of the book are reflections on raising children, building a strong marriage, and living with purpose. These essays explore the values that hold families together.
The Outdoors and Adventure
From riverbanks to mountain trails and even journeys abroad, the book highlights the lessons nature and travel can teach about resilience, patience, and joy.
What Our Clients Say About Us
“i didn’t expect to connect with so many of these stories but i did. some made me laugh, some got me quiet for a bit. it just feels honest, like you’re sitting across the table listening.”
Clara M.
“greg’s book reminded me of my own dad telling stories after a long day fishing. nothing fancy, just real life. the africa chapters stuck with me… i’ve never been there but i felt like i was.”
Wyatt C.
“some parts made me want to get outside right away. the way he writes about the river and the woods… you can tell he’s lived it. it’s calm and real, not overdone.”
John D.
“reading this reminded me of raising my own kids back in the 80s. simple moments, but they matter. i found myself nodding along and smiling a lot.”
Martha L.
“i picked this up for a class project but ended up finishing the whole thing. it’s not heavy, just really thoughtful. makes you think about the little stuff you usually overlook.”
Evan P.
“as someone who served, i don’t usually pick up books like this, but glad i did. he doesn’t sugarcoat, but he finds hope in places you wouldn’t expect. i finished it in two sittings.”
Sandra K.
“i didn’t expect to connect with so many of these stories but i did. some made me laugh, some got me quiet for a bit. it just feels honest, like you’re sitting across the table listening.”
Clara M.
“greg’s book reminded me of my own dad telling stories after a long day fishing. nothing fancy, just real life. the africa chapters stuck with me… i’ve never been there but i felt like i was.”
Wyatt C.
“some parts made me want to get outside right away. the way he writes about the river and the woods… you can tell he’s lived it. it’s calm and real, not overdone.”
John D.
“reading this reminded me of raising my own kids back in the 80s. simple moments, but they matter. i found myself nodding along and smiling a lot.”
Martha L.
“i picked this up for a class project but ended up finishing the whole thing. it’s not heavy, just really thoughtful. makes you think about the little stuff you usually overlook.”
Evan P.
“as someone who served, i don’t usually pick up books like this, but glad i did. he doesn’t sugarcoat, but he finds hope in places you wouldn’t expect. i finished it in two sittings.”
Sandra K.