“The great men and women of history had a certain kind of education. Find out how to duplicate it in Jamie McMillin’s excellent book! A great read for parents, teachers, and self-educators.”
- Oliver and Rachel DeMille, authors of the Thomas Jefferson Education books and resources (http://tjed.org)

Join the ranks of Legendary Learners – big thinkers, creators, leaders and achievers who earned success on their own terms. Read about famous homeschoolers such as:

  • Andrew Carnegie
  • Thomas Edison
  • Agatha Christie
  • Robert Frost
  • Louis Armstrong
  • John Muir
  • Theodore Roosevelt
  • Walt Whitman

Find out what these legends had in common, how they were raised and how they found success. Their fascinating stories will inspire you to think about homeschooling in a whole new way – beyond curriculum, test scores and “keeping up with the school kids.”

You will discover how to:

  • Unleash your child’s unique creative genius and power.
  • Cultivate passion and determination.
  • Allow your child to direct his or her own education.
  • Create an authentic atmosphere of learning.
  • Live, and exemplify, the habits of success.

Break free of conventions and standards to craft an education for your children unlike any other – an education for a lifetime of excellence.

“Jamie McMillin offers a well-researched and compelling look at what little-known factors bring forth the best in each child. This is a book every parent and educator should read.”
- Laura Grace Weldon, author of Free Range Learning: How Homeschooling Changes Everything

Homeschooling is nothing new.

People have been learning without school supervision for centuries – including notoriously successful people like Theodore Roosevelt, Andrew Carnegie, Margaret Mead, Robert Frost, Thomas Edison, Beatrix Potter, Pearl Buck, Ansel Adams, John Muir, and many others.

These individuals were not necessarily geniuses, but they each developed a passionate interest in their field and a strong determination to succeed. How did they do it?

Legendary Learning: A Famous Homeschoolers’ Guide to Self-Directed Education will tell you how they learned, what was important, and how you can do it too.

If you are confused about all the different homeschool programs, teaching styles and philosophies out there – this book will give you the long perspective. Homeschooling isn’t just about keeping up with the school kids, doing well on tests or getting into college. It’s about helping our kids do what they were meant to do, finding their passion and developing the determination to make it sing.

From the stories of Alexander Graham Bell listening to wheat grow, Louis Armstrong growing up in the worst neighborhood of New Orleans, Douglas MacArthur’s smothering mother, and other fascinating anecdotes, you will see that these greats do have some things in common. Things like a positive attitude, creativity, adversity, responsibility, and freedom.

In this book, you will learn about the paradox of self-education, mentorship, toughness, habits, goal-setting, initiative, visual media, exercise, outdoor time, and the role of home atmosphere. For more details, following is a list of contents:

Legendary Learning – Table of Contents

Part One — Passion

Chapter One: That Divine Spark

What does it mean to be successful? Warm …Warmer …Hot! Soaking It In; How Atmosphere Cultivates Success

Chapter Two: Wild Intelligence

What Does It Mean To Be Well Educated? Unschooling? John Holt; The Breakdown; Dislike of School; Various Homeschool Styles; Classical Education; Natural Inclinations

Chapter Three: Go Ahead — Be a Rebel

Indoctrination; Standards; Motivation; Parental Input; Gaps are OK; College Prep; Is College Necessary? Get Out of the Way

Chapter Four: The Barest of Basics

Reading; The Best Books; Math; Life Skills; So What Do I Do All Day?

Chapter Five: Cherry Goop

Free Time; Creativity Killers; Rewards and Praise; Praise With Your Heart—
Not Words; Freedom of Choice; Play; Fantasy; The Stages of Creativity; Albert
Einstein Through the Stages of Creativity; Your Role in the Creative Process

Chapter Six: Passion Into Possibility

Unintentional Mentors; Intentional Mentors; Finding Mentors

Part Two — Determination

Chapter Seven: Attitude is Everything

Mothers; Fathers; Grandparents; When Unconditional Love is Missing; You’re
Being Watched; It’s Never Too Late to Learn

Chapter Eight: Clear Grit

Nurturing Willpower; Tough Times; Ambition; Practicing Willpower; Charlotte
Mason; Work Ethic

Chapter Nine: Get Out of the Way

Connecting the Dots Backwards; Initiative vs. Discipline; Responsibility; Making
Choices—Wise or Unwise

Chapter Ten: Molting Time

Who Gets Weak? Who Gets Stronger? Learning From Adversity

Part Three — Atmosphere

Chapter Eleven: Keep it Real

“Education is an Atmosphere, a Discipline, a Life;” Conversation

Chapter Twelve: Habit Power

The Habit of Attention; Replacing Bad Habits; Training; Which Habits? It All
Starts With You

Chapter Thirteen: Nature’s Gymnasium

Time Outside; Nature Walks; Personal Power; Models of Health;

Chapter Fourteen: The Dreaded Screen Conundrum

Self-Education; Creativity; Dyslexia; Habits

Chapter Fifteen: Putting it All Together

Leading the Way; What do I do then? Atmosphere; Conclusion

Appendix: Helpful Resources

General Homeschooling; Self-Education; Charlotte Mason; Reading/Living
Books; Learning Styles/Problems; Creativity; Writing; Math; Logic; Science;
Outdoor Activities; Having Fun; Getting Ready for College; Successful Habits/
Setting Goals; Parenting/Discipline