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On Depression: Drugs, Diagnosis, and Despair in the Modern World
by S. Nassir GhaemiLasting happiness comes not from chasing the American dream but from living an authentic life—which includes despair.In a culture obsessed with youth, financial success, and achieving happiness, is it possible to live an authentic, meaningful life? Nassir Ghaemi, director of the Mood Disorder Program at Tufts Medical Center, reflects on our society's current quest for happiness and rejection of any emotion resembling sadness. On Depression asks readers to consider the benefits of despair and the foibles of an unexamined life. Too often depression as disease is mistreated or not treated at all. Ghaemi warns against the "pretenders" who confuse our understanding of depression—both those who deny disease and those who use psychiatric diagnosis "pragmatically" or unscientifically. But experiencing sadness, even depression, can also have benefits. Ghaemi asserts that we can create a "narrative of ourselves such that we know and accept who we are," leading to a deeper, lasting level of contentment and a more satisfying personal and public life. Depression is complex, and we need guides to help us understand it, guides who comprehend it existentially as part of normal human experience and clinically as sometimes needing the right kind of treatment, including medications. Ghaemi discusses these guides in detail, thinkers like Viktor Frankl, Rollo May, Karl Jaspers, and Leston Havens, among others. On Depression combines examples from philosophy and the history of medicine with psychiatric principles informed by the author's clinical experience with people who struggle with mental illness. He has seen great achievements arise from great suffering and feels that understanding depression can provide important insights into happiness.
On Doing Nothing: Finding Inspiration in Idleness
by Roman MuradovIn an age of obsessive productivity and stress, this illustrated ode to idleness invites you to explore the pleasures and possibilities of slowing down.Beloved author and illustrator Roman Muradov weaves together the words and stories of artists, writers, philosophers, and eccentrics who have pursued inspiration by doing less. He reveals that doing nothing is both easily achievable and essential to leading an enjoyable and creative life. Cultivating idleness can be as simple as taking a long walk without a destination or embracing chance in the creative process. Peppered with playful illustrations, this handsome volume is a refreshing and thought-provoking read.“Whimsical, clever, and companionable . . . On Doing Nothing provides a much-needed correction to our distracted, anxiety-ridden, and increasingly disembodied culture. Muradov has written and illustrated a kind of Situationist, Oulipian Ways of Seeing—a manual for clarity and presence, a book which issues a call to attention; a call to pay attention. The smart yet approachable philosophical reflections unfold like a leisurely stroll through a beautiful and unfamiliar city, provoking thoughtfulness and eliciting in the reader a spirit of discovery.” —Peter Mendelsund, author of What We See When We Read
On Fear
by J. KrishnamurtiOn Fear is a collection of Krishnamurti's most profound observations and thoughts on how fear and dependence affect our lives and prevent us from seeing our true selves. Among the many questions Krishnamurti addresses in these remarkable teachings are: How can a mind that is afraid love? And what can a mind that depends on attachment know of joy? He points out that the voice of fear makes the mind dull and insensitive, and argues that the roots of hidden fears, which limit us and from which we constantly seek escape, cannot be discovered through analysis of the past. Questioning whether the exercise of will can eliminate the debilitating effects of fear, he suggests, instead, that only a fundamental realization of the root of all fear can free our minds.
On Fear of Flying
by Lewis GrizzardGrizzard is a lover of trains, but he has to fly (if he wants to keep his job, which he does, of course, because Catfish, his black lab, is always hungry.) And, it isn't the flying that is the problem--it is the crashing!
On Fire: The 7 Choices to Ignite a Radically Inspired Life
by John O'LearyIn the bestselling tradition of Brene Brown's Daring Greatly and Nick Vujicic's Life Without Limits comes a rousing 7-step plan for living a life on fire, filled with hope and possibility--from an inspirational speaker who survived a near-fatal fire at the age of nine and now runs a successful business inspiring people all around the world.When John O'Leary was nine years old, he was almost killed in a devastating house fire. With burns on one hundred percent of his body, O'Leary mustered an almost unimaginable amount of inner strength just to survive the ordeal. The insights he gained through this experience and the heroes who stepped into his life to help him through the journey--his family, the medical staff, and total strangers--changed his life. Now he is committed to living life to the fullest and inspiring others to do the same. An incredible and emotionally honest account of triumph over tragedy, On Fire contains O'Leary's reflections on being that little boy, the life-giving choices made then, and the resulting lessons he learned. O'Leary very clearly shares that without the right people providing the right guidance, at the right time, he never would have made it through those five months in the hospital, let alone the years that followed as he struggled to regain mobility, embrace his story, and ignite clarity of his life's purpose. On Fire encourages us to seize the power to choose our path and transform our lives from mundane to extraordinary. Once we stop thinking solely on the big moments in our lives, we can begin to focus on those smaller opportunities that tend to pass us by. These are the events--the inflection points in our lives--that can determine how we feel about life now, where we are headed in the future, and how many lives we can impact along the way. We can't always choose the path we walk, but we can choose how we walk it. Empowering, inspiring, remarkably honest, and heartfelt, O'Leary's strength and incredible spirit shine through on every page.
On Getting Out of Bed: The Burden and Gift of Living
by Alan NobleWe aren't always honest about how difficult normal human life is. For the majority of people, sorrow, despair, anxiety, and mental illness are everyday experiences. While we have made tremendous advancements in therapy and psychiatry, the burden of living still comes down to mundane choices that we each must make—like the daily choice to get out of bed. In this deeply personal essay, Alan Noble considers the unique burden of everyday life in the modern world. Sometimes, he writes, the choice to carry on amid great suffering—to simply get out of bed—is itself a powerful witness to the goodness of life, and of God.
On God
by J. KrishnamurtiOn God contemplates our search for the sacred. "Sometimes you think life is mechanical, and at other times when there is sorrow and confusion, you revert to faith, looking to a supreme being for guidance and help." Krishnamurti explores the futility of seeking knowledge of the "unknowable" and shows that it is only when we have ceased seeking with our intellects that we may be "radically free" to experience reality, truth, and bliss. He present "the religious mind" as one that directly perceives the sacred rather than adhering top religious dogma.
On Gratitude
by Todd Aaron JensenWhat Are You Most Grateful For?Ricky Gervais says . . . Pajamas.I've started wearing pajamas out, because they're more comfortable than trousers. (Laughs) I started out with jeans, then went to sweatpants about ten years ago. Now it's just pajamas. I wore them to the White House. I've gone whole hog.Dolly Parton says . . . Humble Roots.I think being brought up dirt poor left with me with a feeling of what it was like to go without, so I can relate when people are having a hard time. In my case, being a songwriter, I'm able to write not only for and about myself, but for what I know other people are feeling, even if they don't always have the means to get their voices heard.Anne Rice says . . . Clackety-Clack.My stepmother, who was a very practical, wonderful woman, took me into Dallas before I went into college to buy me a typewriter. She picked out this wonderful little portable one, black and white keys, and it was real fast. I still have it. I won't give it up.In this enlightening and engaging collection, celebrities from Seth Rogen and Sheryl Crowe to Joyce Carol Oates and B.B. King share the people, places, and things for which they are most grateful. Alternately sentimental and surprising, wise and wacky, these heartfelt "gratitude bucket lists" as described by some of our most beloved artists are sure to inspire readers everywhere to make their own lists--and live their own lives with more love, affection, and thanksgiving.
On Gratitude: Sheryl Crow, Jeff Bridges, Alicia Keys, Daryl Hall, Ray Bradbury, Anna Kendrick, B.B. King, Elmore Leonard, Deepak Chopra, and 42 More Celebrities Share What They're Most Thankful For
by Todd Aaron JensenWhat Are You Most Grateful For?Ricky Gervais says...Pajamas.I've started wearing pajamas out, because they're more comfortable than trousers. (Laughs) I started out with jeans, then went to sweatpants about ten years ago. Now it's just pajamas. I wore them to the White House. I've gone whole hog.Dolly Parton says...Humble Roots.I think being brought up dirt poor left with me with a feeling of what it was like to go without, so I can relate when people are having a hard time. In my case, being a songwriter, I'm able to write not only for and about myself, but for what I know other people are feeling, even if they don't always have the means to get their voices heard.Anne Rice says...Clackety-Clack.My stepmother, who was a very practical, wonderful woman, took me into Dallas before I went into college to buy me a typewriter. She picked out this wonderful little portable one, black and white keys, and it was real fast. I still have it. I won't give it up.In this enlightening and engaging collection, celebrities from Seth Rogen and Sheryl Crowe to Joyce Carol Oates and B.B. King share the people, places, and things for which they are most grateful. Alternately sentimental and surprising, wise and wacky, these heartfelt "gratitude bucket lists" as described by some of our most beloved artists are sure to inspire readers everywhere to make their own lists--and live their own lives with more love, affection, and thanksgiving.
On Gratitude
by Todd Aaron JensenWhat Are You Most Grateful For? Ricky Gervais says. . . Pajamas. I've started wearing pajamas out, because they're more comfortable than trousers. (Laughs) I started out with jeans, then went to sweatpants about ten years ago. Now it's just pajamas. I wore them to the White House. I've gone whole hog. Dolly Parton says. . . Humble Roots. I think being brought up dirt poor left with me with a feeling of what it was like to go without, so I can relate when people are having a hard time. In my case, being a songwriter, I'm able to write not only for and about myself, but for what I know other people are feeling, even if they don't always have the means to get their voices heard. Anne Rice says. . . Clackety-Clack. My stepmother, who was a very practical, wonderful woman, took me into Dallas before I went into college to buy me a typewriter. She picked out this wonderful little portable one, black and white keys, and it was real fast. I still have it. I won't give it up. In this enlightening and engaging collection, celebrities from Seth Rogen and Sheryl Crowe to Joyce Carol Oates and B. B. King share the people, places, and things for which they are most grateful. Alternately sentimental and surprising, wise and wacky, these heartfelt "gratitude bucket lists" as described by some of our most beloved artists are sure to inspire readers everywhere to make their own lists--and live their own lives with more love, affection, and thanksgiving.
On Grief and Dying: Understanding the Soul's Journey
by Diane SteinDrawing from the wisdom of various sources-the contemporary Goddess movement, powerful psychic techniques, and the ancient traditions of Buddhism and Greek mythology-healer and writer Diane Stein leads the reader on a remarkable journey toward loving acceptance, affirmation, and hope. ON GRIEF AND DYING offers a healing perspective and important insights on the central issues of death and loss.From the Hardcover edition.
On Grief and Grieving: Finding the Meaning of Grief Through the Five Stages of Loss
by David Kessler Elisabeth Kübler-RossShortly before her death in 2004, Elisabeth Kübler-Ross and David Kessler, her collaborator, completed the manuscript for this, her final book. On Grief and Grieving is a fitting completion to her work. Thirty-six years and sixteen books ago, Kübler-Ross's groundbreaking On Death and Dying changed the way we talk about the end of life. Now On Grief and Grieving will profoundly influence the way we experience the process of grief. On Death and Dying began as a theoretical book, an interdisciplinary study of our fear of death and our inevitable acceptance of it. It introduced the world to the now-famous five stages: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. On Grief and Grieving applies these stages to the process of grieving and weaves together theory, inspiration, and practical advice, all based on Kübler-Ross's and Kessler's professional and personal experiences, and is filled with brief, topic-driven stories. It includes sections on sadness, hauntings, dreams, coping, children, healing, isolation, and even the subject of sex during grief. "I know death is close," Kübler-Ross says at the end of the book, "but not quite yet. I lie here like so many people over the years, in a bed surrounded by flowers and looking out a big window....I now know that the purpose of my life is more than these stages....It is not just about the life lost but also the life lived." In one of their final writing sessions, Kübler-Ross told Kessler, "The last nine years have taught me patience, and the weaker and more bed-bound I become, the more I'm learning about receiving love." On Grief and Grieving is Elisabeth Kübler-Ross's final legacy, one that brings her life's work profoundly full circle.
On Grief and Grieving
by Elisabeth Kubler-Ross David KesslerOne of the most important psychological studies of the late twentieth century, On Death and Dying grew out of Dr. Elisabeth Kubler-Ross's famous interdisciplinary seminar on death, life and transition. In this remarkable book, Dr. Kubler-Ross first explores the now-famous stages of death: denial and isolation, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance. Through sample interviews and conversations, she gives the reader a better understanding of how imminent death affects the patient, the professionals who serve that patient, and the patient's family, bringing hope to all who are involved. This new edition will include an introduction by Dr. Ira Byock, a prominent palliative care physican and the author of Dying Well.
On Leadership: Lessons for the 21st Century
by Tony BlairThe leadership manual Tony Blair wishes he had when he became prime minister, with personal insights and global examples that show aspiring leaders how to go from talking about change to making change.Sir Tony Blair learnt the precepts of governing the hard way: by leading a country for over ten years. In that time he came to understand that there were certain key characteristics of successful government that he wished he had known when he started.Now Sir Tony has written the manual on political leadership that he would have wanted back in 1997, sharing the insights he has gained from his personal experience and from observing other world leaders at first hand, both while he was in office and since, through his Institute&’s work with political leaders and governments globally.Written in short, pithy chapters, packed with examples drawn from all forms of political systems from around the world, the books answers the key questions: How should a leader organize the center of government and his or her own office? How should he or she prioritize and develop the right plan and hire the right personnel, cope with unforeseen events and crises, and balance short-term wins with long-term structural change? What&’s the best way to deal with an obstructive or inert bureaucracy, to attract investment, to reform healthcare or education, and to ensure security for the citizen? And how should governments harness the massive opportunities of the 21st-century technological revolution?This is a masterclass on leadership in general, and political leadership in particular, from a master statesman.
On Leadership: Starting With Trust: An Interview
by Scott Jeffrey Miller Stephen R. CoveyOn Leadership—A New FranklinCovey eBook Mini-seriesLearn the secrets of successful leadership from the experts. On Leadership: Starting with Trust, An Interview is the first in a new eBook mini-series based on the Scott Miller podcast series On Leadership With Scott Miller. FranklinCovey’s executive vice president of thought leadership, Scott Miller, has interviewed many of the top leaders and industry icons in the world, and now you can learn their secrets for successful leadership.On Leadership With Scott Miller is one of the industry’s fastest growing podcasts, dedicated to improving leadership capabilities. Now these timeless conversations are available in eBook format for readers everywhere. Each book follows Scott’s unique conversation with one of the world’s leading innovators, taking readers through all of the challenges, insights, and needed disciplines for character-based leadership. No leadership topic is out-of-bounds—all is discussed and revealed, from the secrets of trademarked leadership programs, to timeless books like The Speed of Trust, The 4 Disciplines of Execution, and more.In this first of the On Leadership eBook mini-series, Scott sits down with Stephen M.R. Covey, co-founder and Global Practice Leader of FranklinCovey’s Speed of Trust Practice. FranklinCovey’s Speed of Trust Practice helps organizations better manage change and create high-performing teams that are agile, collaborative, innovative, and engaged.In On Leadership: Starting With Trust, An Interview you will discover:There is nothing more impactful on people and work performance than trustThe immense effect trust has on results—when trust goes up, efficiency rises and costs go downActionable strategies to nurture and inspire trust in every encounterIf you were inspired by Brené Brown’s Dare to Lead or the timeless bestseller The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey, you will love On Leadership, the latest mini-series from the thought leaders at FranklinCovey.
On Living
by Kerry Egan"Illuminating, unflinching and ultimately inspiring... A book to treasure." -People Magazine "Equal parts memoir and meditative text on the nature of life....this beautiful book will speak to parts of your heart that you didn't even realize were hurting. What's more: It might help heal them." --Refinery29 "This is not just a book about dying. It's one that will inspire readers to make the most of every day." --Publishers Weekly (starred)A hospice chaplain passes on wisdom on giving meaning to life, from those taking leave of it. As a hospice chaplain, Kerry Egan didn't offer sermons or prayers, unless they were requested; in fact, she found, the dying rarely want to talk about God, at least not overtly. Instead, she discovered she'd been granted an invaluable chance to witness firsthand what she calls the "spiritual work of dying"--the work of finding or making meaning of one's life, the experiences it's contained and the people who have touched it, the betrayals, wounds, unfinished business, and unrealized dreams. Instead of talking, she mainly listened: to stories of hope and regret, shame and pride, mystery and revelation and secrets held too long. Most of all, though, she listened as her patients talked about love--love for their children and partners and friends; love they didn't know how to offer; love they gave unconditionally; love they, sometimes belatedly, learned to grant themselves. This isn't a book about dying--it's a book about living. And Egan isn't just passively bearing witness to these stories. An emergency procedure during the birth of her first child left her physically whole but emotionally and spiritually adrift. Her work as a hospice chaplain healed her, from a brokenness she came to see we all share. Each of her patients taught her something--how to find courage in the face of fear or the strength to make amends; how to be profoundly compassionate and fiercely empathetic; how to see the world in grays instead of black and white. In this poignant, moving, and beautiful book, she passes along all their precious and necessary gifts.From the Hardcover edition.
On Loneliness: How to Feel Less Alone In an Isolating World
by Terri Laxton BrooksIn this no-holds-barred, provocative book, Terri Laxton Brooks tells a story that often remains hidden— that of a successful professional who has many friends and family and yet all her life has struggled with a loneliness she&’s never revealed to anyone. Terri thinks her feelings of isolation will end with her marriage to her childhood sweetheart and their move from a farm town to the city of Chicago. But once the sheen of newlywed passion wears off, her husband, by nature reticent, grows even more emotionally distant. In her new job as a reporter for a Chicago paper, Terri hides her loneliness under a flurry of bylines and deadlines. But she can&’t shake a feeling she&’s had since childhood—of failure to connect, not just as a wife but also as a daughter, friend, and colleague—and soon she and her husband separate. Adrift, Terri contemplates suicide. Could a move to different city, to a fresh start, solve her problem? Terri&’s decision to transplant herself to New York City forces her hand in a way she never imagined: it plunges her into a loneliness so total that out of desperation she grabs the key to her own salvation— ; love of interviewing, researching, hearing people&’s stories. After starting therapy, her curiosity leads her into four years of soul-searching conversations with America&’s leading psychologists and psychiatrists about how to cope with loneliness, why it is a normal and necessary stage of healthy growth, and how to stop resisting it. She explores with growing understanding intimate details of her dreams, her past traumas, and her role in her own loneliness—and learns not only how to live comfortably with that loneliness but how to use it to her advantage.
On Love and Loneliness
by J. KrishnamurtiIn 1950 Krishnamurti said: "It is only when the mind is not escaping in any form that it is possible to be in direct communion with that thing we call loneliness, the alone, and to have communion with that thing, there must be affection, there must be love." On Love and Loneliness is a compelling investigation of our intimate relationships with ourselves, others, and society. Krishnamurti suggests that "true relationship" can come into being only when there is self-knowledge of the conditions which divide and isolate individuals and groups. Only by renouncing the self can we understand the problem of loneliness, and truly love.
On Love & Psychological Exercises
by A. R. OrageAn invaluable resource for students of self-development, especially those with a particular interest in the ideas of George Gurdjieff and Pyotr Ouspensky.While editing a publication he cofounded, The New Age, A. R. Orage formed a study group of practicing psychologists—including Dr. Maurice Nicoll, one of Jung’s foremost exponents—to study psychoanalysis. They reached the conclusion that the need in psychology was not psychoanalysis but, psycho-synthesis. Upon his introduction to P. D. Ouspensky, and the ideas of Gurdjieff, Orage informed his group that psycho-synthesis had arrived.Orage wrote On Love after spending years working with Gurdjieff and the Fourth Way System. The three essays, “On Love,” “On Religion,” and “What Is the Soul?” explore personal self-development. These essays are still practical, timely, and important to students who seek a clear understanding of the self.Psychological Exercises is the result of work with both Gurdjieff and Ouspensky and was written during the seven years Orage spent organizing Fourth Way study groups for Gurdjieff in the United States. It presents 200-plus psychological exercises designed to increase the flexibility and scope of our minds by working with numbers, words, verses, and images. These exercises pick up where conventional education leaves off, teaching us to hone the conscious and deliberate manipulation of our mental resources. Included are 15 essays covering various aspects of self-development such as: how not to be bored, economizing personal energy, acquiring intuition, controlling our tempers, and learning to observe and think.
On Manners (Thinking in Action)
by Karen StohrMany otherwise enlightened people often dismiss etiquette as a trivial subject or--worse yet--as nothing but a disguise for moral hypocrisy or unjust social hierarchies. Such sentiments either mistakenly assume that most manners merely frame the "real issues" of any interpersonal exchange or are the ugly vestiges of outdated, unfair social arrangements. But in On Manners, Karen Stohr turns the tables on these easy prejudices, demonstrating that the scope of manners is much broader than most people realize and that manners lead directly to the roots of enduring ethical questions. Stohr suggests that though manners are mostly conventional, they are nevertheless authoritative insofar as they are a primary means by which we express moral attitudes and commitments and carry out important moral goals. Drawing primarily on Aristotle and Kant and with references to a wide range of cultural examples--from Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice to Larry David's Curb Your Enthusiasm--the author ultimately concludes that good manners are essential to moral character.
On Marriage: On Birth; On Marriage; On Death (How to Find God #2)
by Timothy Keller Kathy KellerFrom New York Times bestselling authors Timothy Keller and Kathy Keller, a book devoted to helping you start your marriage strong and keeping it strong as the years passSignificant events such as birth, marriage, and death are milestones in our lives in which we experience our greatest happiness and our deepest grief. And so it is profoundly important to understand how to approach and experience these occasions with grace, endurance, and joy.In On Marriage, Timothy and Kathy Keller bring forty-five years of personal experience with marriage, as well as a deep understanding of God's resources in the Bible for those who want to find them. With wisdom, empathy, and compassion, the Kellers teach us to understand how to begin and nourish your marriage well.The perfect gift for anyone thinking about relationships and the institution of marriage, On Marriage is a short, powerful book that gives us the tools to understand the meaning of marriage within God's vision of life.
On Muscle: The Stuff That Moves Us and Why It Matters
by Bonnie TsuiFrom the bestselling author of Why We Swim comes a mind-expanding exploration of muscle that will change the way you think about what moves us through the world. &“Remarkable . . . A singular book about the true meanings of strength and flexibility, about our ability to define who we are and who we might be.&” —Ed Yong, New York Times bestselling author of An Immense World and I Contain Multitudes In On Muscle, Bonnie Tsui brings her signature blend of science, culture, immersive reporting, and personal narrative to examine not just what muscles are but what they mean to us. Cardiac, smooth, skeletal—these three different types of muscle in our bodies make our hearts beat; push food through our intestines, blood through our vessels, babies out the uterus; attach to our bones and allow for motion. Tsui also traces how muscles have defined beauty—and how they have distorted it—through the ages, and how they play an essential role in our physical and mental health. Tsui introduces us to the first female weightlifter to pick up the famed Scottish Dinnie Stones, then takes us on a 50-mile run through the Nevada desert that follows the path of escape from a Native boarding school—and gives the concept of endurance new meaning. She travels to Oslo, where cutting-edge research reveals how muscles help us bounce back after injury and illness, an important aspect of longevity. She jumps into the action with a historic Double Dutch club in Washington, D.C., to explain anew what Charles Darwin meant by the brain-body connection. Woven throughout are stories of Tsui&’s childhood with her Chinese immigrant artist dad—a black belt in karate—who schools her from a young age in a kind of quirky, in-house Muscle Academy. On Muscle shows us the poetry in the physical, and the surprising ways muscle can reveal what we&’re capable of.
On My Own: The Liberation of Living Alone
by Florence FalkON MY OWN sends the refreshingly positive, and supportive, message that being alone is not a sign of failure but can be an empowering and liberating experience. Society can be cruel in its assessment of a woman alone, regarding her as defective or deserving of pity. Similar pressures cause women to be ashamed of losing the status of mother, wife or girlfriend, and to dread the prospect of 'going it alone'. But, as the author of this inspiring book points out, being on your own can be a vital, intensely creative experience in which you can find your own voice and live a fulfilling life. The case histories and positive view of ON MY OWN will resonate with every woman, young and old, since it touches on a sensitive nerve shared by women all over the world.
On My Own
by Diane RehmIn a deeply personal and moving book, the beloved NPR radio host speaks out about the long drawn-out death (from Parkinson's) of her husband of fifty-four years, and of her struggle to reconstruct her life without him. With John gone, Diane was indeed "on her own," coping with the inevitable practical issues and, more important, with the profoundly emotional ones. What to do, how to react, reaching out again into the world--struggling to create a new reality for herself while clinging to memories of the past. Her focus is on her own roller-coaster experiences, but she has also solicited the moving stories of such recently widowed friends as Roger Mudd and Susan Stamberg, which work to expose the reader to a remarkable range of reactions to the death of a spouse. John's unnecessarily extended death--he begged to be helped to die--culminated in his taking matters into his own hands, simply refusing to take water, food, and medication. His heroic actions spurred Diane into becoming a kind of poster person for the "right to die" movement that is all too slowly taking shape in our country. With the brave determination that has characterized her whole life, she is finding a meaningful new way to contribute to the world. Her book--as practical as it is inspiring--will be a help and a comfort to the recently bereaved, and a beacon of hope about the possibilities that remain to us as we deal with our own approaching mortality.From the Hardcover edition.
On My Own
by Diane RehmIn a deeply personal and moving book, the beloved NPR radio host speaks out about the long drawn-out death (from Parkinson’s) of her husband of fifty-four years, and of her struggle to reconstruct her life without him. With John gone, Diane was indeed “on her own,” coping with the inevitable practical issues and, more important, with the profoundly emotional ones. What to do, how to react, reaching out again into the world—struggling to create a new reality for herself while clinging to memories of the past. Her focus is on her own roller-coaster experiences, but she has also solicited the moving stories of such recently widowed friends as Roger Mudd and Susan Stamberg, which work to expose the reader to a remarkable range of reactions to the death of a spouse. John’s unnecessarily extended death—he begged to be helped to die—culminated in his taking matters into his own hands, simply refusing to take water, food, and medication. His heroic actions spurred Diane into becoming a kind of poster person for the “right to die” movement that is all too slowly taking shape in our country. With the brave determination that has characterized her whole life, she is finding a meaningful new way to contribute to the world. Her book—as practical as it is inspiring—will be a help and a comfort to the recently bereaved, and a beacon of hope about the possibilities that remain to us as we deal with our own approaching mortality.