The Book That Wasn’t Written by a WriterPeter Stanley is 90 years old, lives in Boughton, Chester, and is adamant that he is not a writer. Despite that, he has written and self-published a book, KISS: A Meditation on the Art of Wellbeing by Keeping It Simple, a part memoir, part self-help book based on his own life.He started writing in earnest after becoming concerned about the inactivity he’d seen among some elderly people, after spending much of his life encouraging people to stay active.“I see people who don’t move their muscles and don’t exercise their minds, and who give up hope. I would like to think that the book helps people avoid that.“I’m not a writer,” he insisted. “I started writing this many years ago. My rate of writing then was about 1,000 words a year.”Nevertheless, the book that wasn’t written by a writer now exists and is available on Amazon (and in limited numbers through Spencer’s News Agents on Christleton Road, Chester). Much of it was written at Gladstone’s Library, which Peter came across when his wife, Mame, discovered an article which described Gladstone’s as the world’s finest residential library.
He said, “Decades ago, when we lived in Cornwall, she saw an article about the Library and said, ‘have you heard of this? It’s your birthday present’, and she booked us a stay. It was a lot more basic than it is now, but it was still a wonderful place in which to retreat, either as an individual or as a couple.“I live much closer now, but I still stay overnight sometimes, because then, I can take the books to my room and read them at my leisure. There is also the peace, and that wonderful atmosphere of calm and compassion.”Peter also dipped his toe into writing by attending some of the courses held at the Library, where he has met various Writers in Residence over the years.He said, “The book is about staying more mentally active, and I’d say the process of writing the book itself helped me do that - which fits with the purpose of the place. William Gladstone was interested in making books available to people, but also in making sure that people didn’t become close-minded.“Coming to the Library, sitting there and writing is very therapeutic. I love coming to the Reading Rooms. I can take one book off the shelf and be totally absorbed and inspired. It’s utterly wonderful in a way that I can’t really explain.”“I added Gladstone’s Library to the acknowledgements of the book. I try to encourage everyone to come to the Library. Wherever you are in it, you can find inspiration. I do think that, perhaps, now, I can begin to call myself a writer.”