{"product_id":"straighter-rails-gerald-ericksen-9798295815188","title":"Straighter Rails: A Gandy Dancer's Awakening","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eStraighter Rails: A Gandy Dancer's Awakening\u003c\/strong\u003e is a reflective memoir that traces one man's journey from the physical grit of railroad labor to the inner landscapes of the human mind.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eBeginning in the harsh environments of Midwestern rail yards where survival demanded focus, endurance, and humility Gerald Ericksen recounts his early years as a \"gandy dancer,\" maintaining tracks under extreme conditions. These formative experiences become the foundation for a deeper exploration of identity, discipline, and awareness.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAs life unfolds, the narrative moves beyond the rails into academia, technology, and global travel from statistical research and engineering work to unexpected opportunities in Sri Lanka and China. Yet, despite professional achievements, a persistent question remains: \u003cem\u003eWho am I beneath the roles I occupy?\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eDrawing from early Buddhist psychology, the author weaves together personal stories with timeless insights on desire, suffering, attention, and the nature of the mind. Encounters with meditation, philosophy, and cross-cultural experiences reveal a powerful truth: clarity is not found by changing the world, but by understanding oneself.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eBlending memoir, philosophy, and spiritual inquiry, \u003cem\u003eStraighter Rails\u003c\/em\u003e offers readers a grounded and thought-provoking journey toward awareness, resilience, and inner transformation.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Gerald Ericksen\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-13:\u003c\/b\u003e 9798295815188\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Gerald Ericksen\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/b\u003e English\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 04\/16\/2026\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 114\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormat:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 0.36lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 9.00h x 6.00w x 0.24d","brand":"Gerald Ericksen","offers":[{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":48517236687103,"sku":"9798295815188","price":14.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0662\/2982\/9887\/files\/img_928d6a69-e2db-4455-98d6-8d6bfa2aaec5.jpg?v=1778730832","url":"https:\/\/www.whiterainbookhouse.com\/products\/straighter-rails-gerald-ericksen-9798295815188","provider":"WR Book House","version":"1.0","type":"link"}