The gifted story teller's characters come alive as they struggle over when to prolong someone's life and when to hasten their death by withdrawing life-support. Some of them face issues related to terminating pregnancy. Others struggle with moral issues over whether or not to commit suicide. One chapter examines medical dilemmas. In another chapter, a loving daughter is greatly conflicted when her elderly father wants her to help him die. The purpose of the book is to assist readers to consider what they might do if faced by similar circumstances. The importance of preparing Advance Directives is emphasized, and guidance is provided to help readers to understand the process of decision-making about end-of-life choices.

As a popular speaker and writer, Swanson has traveled extensively to many countries including Russia, Africa, Europe, and China. His Master's degree in religion and Doctorate in psychology provided him with a strong foundation for his impressive thirty-year career as a university professor, and as a private-practice counselor.