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.”
