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25th out of 86 books
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71 voters
My rating:
add to my books
A Year to Live: How to Live This Year as If It Were Your Last
In his new book, Stephen Levine, author of the perennial best-seller Who Dies?, teaches us how to live each moment, each hour, each day mindfully--as if it were all that was left. On his deathbed, Socrates exhorted his followers to practice dying as the highest form of wisdom. Levine decided to live this way himself for a whole year, and now he shares with us how such imme...more
Paperback, 192 pages
Published
October 7th 2009
by Harmony/Bell Tower
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I usually like Levine's work so I was disappointed with this rather weak offering. Composed more of exhortations and pronouncements about the qualities and meaning he ascribes to dying (but states as reality) than of activities and practices for a "one year to live" exploration, it lacked the intellectual rigor and logic that the Buddhist texts demonstrate. It was disorganized, and though at times I found it interesting, I primarily found it annoying. I do not believe in the continued ...more
"The next time you have a cold, practice dying. And in the spaciousness of surrender watch the fear of death bound through with its attendant scenarios. Take each breath as though with it might be the last. Watch your life pass before your eyes. Did you notice something left undone? Do it on the next clear day. Practice living." (Quote from Chapter 2 - Practice Dying) This book gave me a great gift - an insight to who and why, ...and how and when. I started the journey thru death in an...more
The concept isn't entirely new: "What would you do if you had only one year to live?" (And how do you know you have even that long?) Levine, who has worked for many years with the dying, describes his own experience in approaching life and death more mindfully. In the process, he offers specific recommendations for letting go of attachments, forgiving others and ourselves, and eliminating suffering without numbing ourselves to the entire range of feeling. The "soft-belly meditatio...more
I really enjoyed this book. Though I don't plan to actually do the "one year to live" experiment, there are many lessons and meditations throughout the book that are just helpful to live a more full life, deepen ones spirituality and get a deeper sense of oneself. The book definitely can help one to fully appreciate the present; we are, after all, always just a moment away from death really since nobody knows when they will, in fact, die.
I quite liked the life review, the s...more
I quite liked the life review, the s...more
drozda
rated it
Recommends it for:
anyone who will die someday
Recommended to drozda by:
s. wasserman
I suppose it's no surprise to hear that a book about the end of life was not an easy read, however it was more the writing style than the subject that made this a slow go for me. I felt it to be a a positive assignment and an obviously important topic so I kept at it till the end.
Levine has worked for decades helping people to adjust their thinking and release their demons so as to approach life's close as a natural leave taking.
He says on page 85, "It takes a thousand mo...more
Levine has worked for decades helping people to adjust their thinking and release their demons so as to approach life's close as a natural leave taking.
He says on page 85, "It takes a thousand mo...more
There's nothing like a book on dying that makes you want to live! I think the average person is afraid to look at his or her own mortality, and this book is a great guide to bring awareness holistically. Would you really hold onto grudges? Would you regret doing something or nothing? It makes you think about how you show up in the world and since we never know when we will leave, how will we be?
This was a book that I read because it sounded intriguing. There were some parts I did not enjoy or agree with, but there was something I learned that has stuck with me. We have good days and bad days. We need to have a grateful heart for the good days and be forgiving when the bad happens. I am truly trying to be congizant of this in my daily life.
Death is an inescapable part of our experiences here - both symbolically and literally. Stephen Levine offers deep insight into our resistance to dying and death, practices for clearing the resistance, and gentle wisdom for moving beyond our fear so that we can open fully to life.
A beautifull look at a way of ordering and coming to peace with your inner life (and so your outer) over a year. Looking at death as an invitation to live. The best preperation for death being to live every moment fully!
My friend recommended this book to me, but I have to say that I didn't get much out of it. It didn't really present any life-changing information for me. I'm not sure if I just wasn't open to it, or what. It mostly focused on preparing for death, which is just not something I want to spend my time on. There were some interesting meditations in it, but otherwise it was pretty boring.
I thought it was fascinating to learn what some people think about their lives on their deathbeds. Things they have valued and thought were important for decades suddenly become irrelevant when you are face-to-face with your death. Fascinating!
Satia
rated it
Shelves:
2010,
borrowed,
buddhism,
library-book,
non-fiction,
spirituality,
self-help,
philosophy,
poetry
An interesting book with a profound suggestion of how to live the next year of your life. Unfortunately, this is a book I wish I had read along with someone else, one that merits sharing experientially for one year. For more:
http://satia.blogspot.com/2010/09/year-t...
http://satia.blogspot.com/2010/09/year-t...
Proper perspective is all too scarce these days. This slim little book attempts to supply perspective by insinuating that death might be around the corner, so darn it, better enjoy yourself while you can! It was a decent book, very conversational and easy to read, but it really didn't deliver anything new in the Perspective Department. For a better treatment of the "Egads! We may die!" subject, I'd suggest The Denial of Death.
(However, I did like the portion about getting ...more
(However, I did like the portion about getting ...more
This book makes you think and puts things into perspective. Very positive advice.
A wonderful way to take stock of your life and remember what's truly important
I thought this would be interesting, but it was not. It's essentially a self-help book with many touchy-feely exercises, like "create a song of yourself," so unless you're already into that kind of thing, i wouldn't suggest you spend your precious last year reading this. instead, read some damn good fiction, take some drugs, get beat up or beat someone up (or both), and breathe deeply.
Overall, I thought it was very uneven. A couple of chapters were thought-provoking and several sentences merited a highlighted. It was too stream-of-consciousness for my tastes and could have used a better editor to achieve a cohesive final product.
I really liked reading this book. I think about it every so often in my life. I didn't practice "a year to live" but integrated some of the ideas of "living in this moment" into my life. I love the "Soft belly meditation".
Everyone who will eventually die (!) needs to read and
absorb this book. The exercise of contemplating and
preparing for our own death is an exercise that should not
be postponed or feared. Wonderful guide.
absorb this book. The exercise of contemplating and
preparing for our own death is an exercise that should not
be postponed or feared. Wonderful guide.
While interesting at times, this book is painfully dull the rest. Lofty ideas and complicated, grandiose language tainted what could have been an inspiring read.
Susan
rated it
Recommends it for:
anyone wanting to make peace with themselves
Recommended to Susan by:
The authors are my teachers
Stephen and Ondrea Levine are amazing teachers. This book and the audiobook are ones I pick up and read and listen to over and over again.
Still digesting this one; it is another gem from a heart-opened author. Stephen Levine offers so much to the world around death and dying.
I'm dying on June 10th, 2010.
enjoy my blog.....
http://rip6142010.blogspot.com/
if you want to follow along.
much METTA!
enjoy my blog.....
http://rip6142010.blogspot.com/
if you want to follow along.
much METTA!
Good to wake up and know that life is short - there is not enough love so bring some - don't waste a minute.
Yes.....what if this was the last year? What then? How would you live your life?
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must read
Desiree
marked it as to-read
Ryan Palmitier
marked it as to-read
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“Letting ourselves be forgiven is one of the most difficult healings we will undertake. And one of the most fruitful. (79)”
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20 people liked it
“Simply touching a difficult memory with some slight willingness to heal begins to soften the holding and tension around it. (74)”
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