It’s A Long Climb To the Middle is a work of autobiographical non-fiction penned by Tad Sisler, who worked in the entertainment industry all his life as a composer, lyricist, and in many other media outlets. The story unveils some tragic personal difficulties that Tad faced in his early life, and also some shocking revelations that hit him much later, but also chronicles the varied and exciting career which he pursued in the media and the arts, working in fields such as literature, film-making, music, and performance. Whilst Tad rubbed shoulders with those artists who were perceived to have reached ‘the top’, his tale is also one of success despite adversity and the true value of life’s journey.

This is a powerful and emotive tale of a life well lived, but also a life that was interesting, tragic, yet full of art, optimism, and inspiration at every turn. Though author Tad Sisler labels his journey as one to the ‘middle’ in the media, fame-obsessed world we now live in, his experiences are sometimes enviable and exciting to read about all the same. Then, in the blink of an eye, the tragedy of life strikes, and Tad’s effective and honest writing style gives us a harrowing portrait of how ghosts of the past and tragedies of the here and now can strike us at any time. The beauty of the work lies in the faith and fortitude of its writer, making It’s A Long Climb To the Middle an inspiring read for all to enjoy.

It's a Long Climb to the Middle is Tad Sisler’s memoir that captures the key moments of his journey to get to the middle. A man with his own share of trouble and personal losses — the alcoholism of his father, the murder of his stepsister, the divorce of his parents when he was just a child, and his wife’s untimely death — Tad was an exceptionally gifted composer, entertainer, filmmaker, and author. In this autobiography, he takes lifts the veil and allows readers a peek into his soul. Follow him on this incredible journey filled with powerful lessons on life and how to take responsibility for one’s destiny. In his climb to the middle, he encounters icons in the entertainment industry like Frank Sinatra for whom he worked as a young man.

This is a book that will entertain readers and also remind some of the beauty of looking back at life and finding lessons and inspiration for humor. It's a Long Climb to the Middle is filled with beautiful images, both black and white and colorful, and readers will enjoy the author’s sense of humor. I found a lot to laugh about and the author’s unique way of describing situations enriches the narrative. For instance, he shares the weird behavior of his alcoholic grandfather, who after the stock market crash, often got drunk and asked, upon the flimsiest thing, that his father and his father’s brothers be taken upstairs and be beaten. He writes: “My grandmother would dutifully take them up the stairs, and then she would beat the bedpost with my grandfather’s belt and tell her sons to scream like hell as if they were getting hit.” While Tad Sisler shares his journey with readers, he comes across as a good entertainer and an insightful writer who allows the lessons of that journey to reach his readers.