When Chas Watkins realized his children were leaving home, and he would no longer be there to help and advise them on a daily basis, he turned to writing. He wanted to give them a practical set of tools and guidelines that they could use to create a happy and fulfilled life for themselves. After finishing the book and giving it to his children, he shared it with a few friends who urged him to publish.
To Hold The Sun, is an enjoyable and inspirational tale about a reporter who is sent to the beautiful island of Roatan to interview a decidedly unusual man, a philosopher and scientist, who has a penchant for doing handstands in odd places. While taking in the sights on this enchanting island paradise, they embark on a series of lively discussions about how to achieve balance, growth and joy in today’s world.
“I have been poor, rich and poor again. I was a dot-comer and lost it all. I have built companies, sold them, and sadly destroyed them too. After my wife died I decided that spending time with my children and helping them grow was most my first priority. The island of Roatan and the community there has provided me that special place to help them develop and allow me to spend a lot of time with them. I have never regretted the choice to walk away from the income and luxuries of the first world and to live in such a remote location. My children have grown into wonderfully mature and loving people.”
To Hold the Sun Chas Watkins
List $13.95 on Amazon, $7.95 on the Kindle. Available at all good bookstores ISBN 9781489507648
Drawing on wildly diverse disciplines including stoicism, neuroscience, skepticism, behavioral economics, and spirituality, To Hold The Sun is like overhearing an engaging and entertaining conversation only to realize afterwards that it has had a profound effect on your outlook on life. Watkins explains that he has distilled the latest scientific knowledge and his own personal philosophy into a simple story.
“Everything you read influences you in some way. I find people’s motivations and behavior exciting and intriguing. We are so contradictory; complex, unpredictable and yet there is a commonality between us that can be studied and understood.”
“I have always been interested in how people change and in how the mind works,” Chas said. “I strove to create a story that captures what I have learned about life and what it takes to enact real and lasting change. There are no quick fixes in life. Achieving growth, happiness and well-being are an incremental process. I want my children to realize that life is about enjoying the moment whilst creating a lifestyle that continuously moves you towards your goals.”
“It is amazing and gratifying,” he said, “to have strangers come up to you and tell you that your book has made a meaningful impact on their life.
To Hold The Sun is currently being translated into 4 languages (including French, Spanish and Italian) and more languages should be available in the next year. The story is set on the Caribbean island of Roatan. Roatan is the largest of Honduras’ Bay Islands. It is a popular destination for cruise ships, SCUBA divers, golfers and vacationers. Direct flights are available from Houston, Miami, Toronto and Dallas.
What People Are Saying
Out of 39 reviews – a 4.9 rating out of 5 stars.
“To Hold the Sun” was originally written for the author’s children, but its wisdom and teachings are salient for all ages. Watkins drives home the point that we are masters of our own fate, not meant to passively catch a ride on the wave of time, but rather actively, consciously, and passionately direct ourselves towards our goals.
Annick McIntosh Amazon reviewer
“… well-written, very thought-provoking, and easy to read and understand. It is a book I will definitely read more than once. As it is I highlighted many pages that I want to re-read and spend some time thinking about. It has motivated me to look at my life and make some changes.”
Robin Moss, Amazon reviewer
