Issaquah resident Stephen Murphy has worked in every field from television production to international banking to being a member of both Bush administrations, but he never set out to become an author.

However, during a meeting with his University of Washington Class of 1966 comrades in March of this year, ahead of the big 50th reunion celebration planned for October, Murphy was told by a former classmate, “You led an interesting life. You should write it down.”

With this encouragement, along with 38 years’ worth of detailed Christmas letters to draw material from and the deadline of the October reunion as his fuel, Murphy set out to write his memoirs.

Murphy initially intended to simply record his memories, but later realized that he could make his own experiences more relatable and useful for a wide scope of readers, in particular young college grads, if he wrote in a way that offered advice for dealing with the ups and downs of life.

And from this idea came the book “On the Edge: An Odyssey,” a memoir that is structured around the key turning points in Murphy’s life that forced him to make pivotal decisions. Murphy hopes that his own story can speak to people who are having trouble navigating the twists and turns of life.

“The message is, don’t sit back and look —take a step,” Murphy said. “There’s not one path, there are many. I chose the path less traveled. If you are faithful, you will find your way and the world will find you.”

The book begins with Murphy as a fresh graduate of UW, a self-proclaimed “big man on campus” who believed “the world was [his] oyster.” Ready to grab life by the horns, the young Murphy was convinced that everything would go exactly as planned. He even wrote a piece titled “Je Pense Donc Je Suis,” which outlined how his upcoming years would play out.

However, Murphy’s naivety soon wore off as a grad student at Harvard Business School, where he went through “one of the most difficult experiences of [his] life.” These struggles, outlined in Chapter One, led to the first turning point in Murphy’s life.

“Had it not been for the anonymous priest who heard me out that cold night, I don’t know what would’ve happened,” Murphy said.

Murhy’s Catholic faith plays a large role in the memoir, as his own spiritual journey has been anything but simple. After experiencing the hand of God and faith at the times in life when he had lost hope, Murphy has “concluded that there is more at play” than sheer randomness.

“It’s important to have some sense of faith and fate,” he said. “Life will throw things at us when we least expect them.”

Consequently, Murphy recommends the book to any doubting Catholics who may be searching for answers.

“Questioning Catholics might find resonance,” he said. “Life is not a straight line.”

The memoir travels around the world on Murphy’s journey, from the battles of Vietnam to the cafés of Paris. After graduating from Columbia Business School, Murphy had to choose between a career on Wall Street or taking a position with the Bank of Boston in Brazil. Murphy chose adventure.

While living in Rio, Murphy also discovered a calling for volunteer work. He spent time with local underprivileged kids, throwing them Christmas parties at his home every year.

“I love the Brazilian people — it was the least I could do for kids at risk,” Murphy said.

Life took Murphy back to the busy banking offices of Boston, where he experienced reverse culture shock.

“Boston and Rio couldn’t be more different cities,” he said.

When he received an offer from Paramount Pictures in Rio, he decided to make a complete career change and go into show business. The location was certainly a draw, as Murphy has always had a passion for Rio, but he also had always nursed “an inkling desire to do something in show business.”

Murphy returned to the U.S. yet again as Director of Television and Film Service under President George H.W. Bush. After Bush’s electoral defeat in 1992, Murphy turned his back on a career of lobbying in D.C. to go work as a volunteer teacher in Miami.

“Alot of people thought I was stupid,” he said. “But was my raison d’etre to be a lobbyist?”

In Miami, Murphy struggled financially, but found his career to be extremely fulfilling.

“The kids gave me a purpose to get up in the morning … the kids made the difference,” he said.

Despite focusing the book on his most significant decisions, Murphy said has never spent time wondering what would have happened if he had made other choices in life.

“I haven’t dwelled on it,” Murphy said. “My mantra is carpe diem, seize the day — today I can take action.”

“On the Edge: An Odyssey” is now available on Amazon. Murphy will sign books on Oct. 30 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Caffe Ladro in the Issaquah Highlands, where he wrote part of his book, and in true Brazilian fashion will hold another book signing on Nov. 11 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Novilhos Brazilian BBQ in Factoria. Murphy encourages anyone wishing to know more about the book to email him at ontheedgeanodyssey@gmail.com.