Dr. Stephen Rue Turned Pain Into Purpose With Must, Winning 19+ Awards and Becoming an Amazon Bestseller
"your pain turns into purpose."
Dr. Stephen Rue, author of Must
Dr. Stephen Rue is a lawyer and a doctor who wrote Must: Becoming the Person You're Meant to Be out of his own history of loss and his mother's example. Since launching with Scribe in September 2025, the book has won more than 19 awards, become an Amazon bestseller in three categories, and drawn readers from around the world.
Pain Into Purpose
Rue writes from experience, not theory. His father left when he was six, and his stepfather died by suicide when he was 11. What he watched next shaped the book: his mother rebuilt her life around her two children and made them her purpose. That example became his framework for finding what he calls your must, the non-negotiables worth building a life around.
When he asked his mother what he should tell his readers, her answer became the heart of the book.
"tell them, Stephen, tell them to love and tell them to be loved."
- Dr. Stephen Rue, author of Must
The Results
Readers responded, and so did the awards circuit. Since the September 2025 launch, Must has been recognized widely.
"over 19 book awards and accolades from my book since it was originally launched in September of 2025 through Scribe."
- Dr. Stephen Rue, author of Must
It also found a commercial audience.
"my book is an Amazon bestselling book in three categories."
- Dr. Stephen Rue, author of Must
For Rue, the awards are not the point. The messages are.
"I've had countless people from actually around the world contact me."
- Dr. Stephen Rue, author of Must
The Investment
Rue spent long nights deciding whether to publish. Looking back, he frames the decision not as a marketing expense but as a bet on himself and his legacy.
"It's a spectacular investment. It's an investment in myself."
- Dr. Stephen Rue, author of Must
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