Having served 30 years on the bench in the Maryland court system, 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 Forrest Gump of politics." Capturing his fascinating life, interspersed with well-known historical figures, the author 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. Judge Platt's memoir opens a window to the thoughts and opinions, as well as personal, cultural, and political anecdotes derived from his journey through the worlds of law, economics, and politics.