Having served 30 years on the bench in the Maryland court system, author Steven I. Platt is a name synonymous with integrity, equity, and dignity. By the same token, he is a man with a contagious sense of humor, curated with a sharp wit. Inescapably intertwined with some of history’s most pivotal events, the author has been aptly dubbed “the Forest Gump of politics.” Capturing his fascinating life, interspersed with well-known historical figures, this retired judge shares his adventures in Lessons Lived and Learned: My Life On and Off the Bench.

Lessons Lived serves as a historical account of the growth and transformation of Maryland politics and its judiciary over a 40-year period. Originally intended as a love letter to his grandchildren, the book is a delightfully constructed autobiography that feels more like a Hollywood blockbuster. It provides glimpses into Judge Platt's own private life as well as those whose names are notable in either politics or other avenues of fame.

This up-close and personal chronicle of the life of one of the most respected and celebrated adjudicators takes the listener beyond the courtroom into private conversations and even the intricacies of ascending the bench. The author retired in 2007 and founded The Platt Group Inc., a mediation and arbitration consultancy.