At age 49, 11 years after his first wife's death, James Garnham's son Mathew was born. Given James' age at the time and knowing that life journeys can end unexpectedly early, he thought about what he would want to say to Mathew if he was no longer around to say it. Written over an initial period of 10 years until Mathew was 15, and refined subsequently, the Lessons capture in 90 brief statements the key values James and his second wife Susan sought to convey to their son. There are 18 Sections: valuing life; stages of life; learning; self-reliance; good attitudes and behaviour; responsibility to contribute; people [the pluses]; people [being cautious]; leadership and working in groups; achievements; men relating to women; women relating to men; love and loving; sex; being a parent; responding to life's challenges; spiritual life; and finally, death. Although initially written for Mathew, it is apparent that the guidance provided would be helpful to both sons and daughters.