★★★★★
Thoughtful and genuine reflections

Reading this book felt like sitting down with an old friend who’s lived a full life and is willing to share his wisdom. The tone is humble and honest, never preachy. I found myself underlining simple truths that hit harder than I expected. It made me slow down and think.

★★★★★
A book to grow with

I didn’t expect this book to move me, but it really did. The writing is personal, reflective, and open-ended. It invites you to participate, not just consume. I’ve gone back and reread a few chapters because the ideas hit differently depending n where I’m at emotionally. It’s the kind of book that grows with you.

— Lon Pribble


This is a great book — the type of book I look for in the airport. I don’t have to finish it in one sitting, can drop and pick it up later, and it will be a book I keep on the shelf so I can go back and refresh myself. I would hold off giving this one to the used bookstore for credit. I will buy a few copies to hand out to high school or college graduates — perhaps with a $100 bill as a bookmark stuck between the pages, I think are most relevant at the time.

★★★★★
Beautiful in its simplicity

This isn’t a dramatic book. It’s not meant to be. But the impact comes from the quiet truths it reveals through lived experience. There’s something comforting about the honesty in these pages. We’re all laymen on some level, and this book honors that shared journey.

Editorial Book Review: by LD Clarke

Lance D. Hansen Layman provides a thoughtful and unvarnished reflection on the evolving lessons of life in Random & Incomplete Lessons of a Layman. This book is a contemplation of the enduring complexity of the human journey, founded on personal reflection and humility. It is not a manifesto or memoir; rather, it is a profoundly honest, imperfect, and personal archive of insights.

Hansen’s writing is conversational yet deliberate, seamlessly interweaving vignettes, recollections, and observations in a natural rhythm. The narrative does not adhere to a strict chronological arc, but rather resembles the manner in which memory and meaning develop: uneven, reflective, and layered. Each entry prompts the reader to reflect, contemplate, and occasionally revisit their own formative experiences. His style is unpretentious, emphasizing a directness that is disarming in its sincerity. The work’s quiet literary strength is a result of the delicate balance between substance
and simplicity.

There are numerous central themes, including the tension between knowledge and wisdom, humility, identity, service, and resilience. The book delves into the concept of learning through observation, failure, experimentation, and development. Hansen demonstrates how ordinary experiences can yield extraordinary clarity when approached with attention and intention through his diverse life roles, including soldier, educator, beekeeper, craftsman, and father. There is an enduring reverence for the unpolished aspects of life, as well as an invitation to uncover significance in the frequently disregarded.

The work’s emotional and intellectual impact is derived from its restraint. There is no requirement for admiration, and there are no broad assertions of universal truth. Rather, the book upholds the dignity of the layman, who learns through participation, listens more than he speaks, and perceives life as an ongoing process rather than a finalized equation. This perspective is both grounded and liberating. Readers are encouraged to contemplate their own journeys, rather than comparing themselves to the author’s, in order to acknowledge the value of their own.

Random & Incomplete Lessons of a Layman is significant because it encourages introspection without necessitating resolution. It is a book that should be read slowly, with humility and curiosity. Hansen’s voice—steadfast, observant, and compassionate—serves as a reminder that wisdom is not a destination, but rather a culmination of decisions made in tranquil moments. The journey is, in fact, perpetually ongoing.

New Book Explores Life’s Hard-Earned Lessons

Lance D. Hansen, a man shaped by grit, perseverance, and hard-earned wisdom, announces the release of his debut book, Random & Incomplete Lessons of a Layman: The Journey is Never Over. This compelling memoir offers readers an introspective look at the lessons learned from a life filled with adversity, service, and personal growth. Hansen shares candid insights from his unconventional path — one that began in the harsh winters of Northern Wisconsin and led him to serve as an officer in the United States Army, earn a doctorate, and raise a family.

Born into hardship as the eldest son of fourth generation Danish immigrants, Hansen’s story is one of ongoing transformation. Raised in a home where “fight or flight” was often the only decision that mattered, he struggled to navigate the challenges of childhood, school, and a community not always supportive. But he didn’t flee — he fought. This resilient spirit set the stage for an eventual breakthrough when he was appointed to the United States Military Academy, where he would eventually graduate and serve in the Gulf War during Desert Shield/Desert Storm.

Hansen’s book draws from his rich tapestry of experiences — from hunting and woodworking, to serving at senior levels in the Army Civilian Corps and pursuing higher education at Purdue University. But rather than a description of personal achievement, Random & Incomplete Lessons of a Layman is a reflection on the simple lessons gleaned from engaging with others, both intentionally and by chance along life’s many paths.

“I wanted to leave something for my children — a record of the lessons learned along a journey that began with nearly nothing,” Hansen writes. “It started as a series of bullet points, a way to capture what I had learned. But over time, it evolved into something more. This book is my effort to share what I’ve learned — the good, the bad, the hopeful, and the despairing — and to encourage others to observe and engage in their own journeys with openness.”

The book’s unique structure is reflected in its title, with the first subtitle — Random — highlighting the serendipitous nature of the lessons Hansen learned, and the second subtitle — Incomplete — acknowledging that the journey of learning and growth never truly ends. As he writes, “Learning lessons and having one’s thoughts challenged is an ongoing part of the journey.”

Inspired partially by his maternal grandmother’s writing of her life, Hansen felt compelled to begin leaving something of his own, for his own. He hopes to leave behind something enduring, a source of inspiration for his children and readers alike. “This is my journey, but it’s meant to be something that others can build upon.”