When Hempfield resident Craig Sylves' son, Duncan, was young, he would ask his father the one question that every curious child asks: Why? Craig tried giving his son all of the conventional responses, answering Duncan's questions with "Well, because I'm older than you," and "Because I said so." Young Duncan never relented, and Craig began referencing a fictitious book of his own design. Each time his inquisitive son would ask a question, Craig's response was simply "It's in the adult handbook."

The "adult handbook" became a running joke in the Sylves family, but as Duncan grew closer to adulthood, Craig's mother-in-law told him that he'd better write this book he had been talking about for years before Duncan graduated high school. So Craig did.

"I sat down and thought, 'What if I'm not here when he's older?' I tried to think of things that I wanted to leave with him," Craig said. Craig began writing down everything he could think of and compiled a comprehensive guide that he would leave for Duncan, and thus the adult handbook that Craig referenced for so many years finally became real.

Craig titled the book "Adult Handbook: Lessons of a Father for His Favorite Son," and gifted it to Duncan on his 18th birthday. Craig calls Duncan, who's his only son, his favorite son, and Duncan refers to Craig as his favorite father. The book revolves around 10 core ideas, but Craig noted that the first three are the most important: feed your body, feed your mind and feed your soul.

Craig has always been involved with athletics and health practices, bringing about the first point. "Your body is what gets you to and from. It's important to take care of it," Craig said. In his second point of the book, Craig instructs the reader to read and study in order to feed the mind. "The only difference between yourself now and yourself a year from now is the books you read and the people you meet," Craig said.

The third key point in the book advises the reader to feed the soul, a concept that Craig thought of while attending Elizabethtown College. By the time that Craig graduated in 1973, he had thoroughly studied the Bible and other religious texts but never found all of the answers he was looking for. Craig embarked on his own quest to find these answers, which constitute the bulk of his book's third point. "Think of your body as a trinity," Craig said. "The spirit is the life, the mind is the architect and your body is the result."

The rest of the book conveys general tips for pursuing a good life such as setting goals, working hard, serving others and learning to relax and enjoy yourself. "Everything is about direction," Craig said. "We're only here for the blink of an eye; make sure you learn why you're here and do the right things."

Although Craig printed and bound the book in order to give it to Duncan on his 18th birthday, it was never officially published until this year. On Duncan's 38th birthday, Craig took Duncan and his granddaughter out to dinner and surprise him with the published book. "I think the book accomplished its goal," Craig said. "I wanted to pass along what I've learned over the years, and now he can pass it along to my granddaughter."

"Adult Handbook" is available on http://www.amazon.com.