When John returned to Amherst, he described his experience of turning failure into success. This occurred when people welcomed him with open arms. To what does he attribute that particular success? 2. John uses the metaphor of a train to describe his life, equating himself to the "Little Engine That Could." Explain why this is an appropriate metaphor.
3. Explain how John's reconciliation with his father affected his memory of events, then, explain what he learned about the value of forgiveness.
4. If you met someone today who acted a bit strange or eccentric, how might the insights from this story affect how you respond to that person?
5. What is John's greatest accomplishment in life?