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Why Live?: The Beautiful and Painful Mess of Learning to Love Life
"Why Live?" is a story of vulnerability and transformation. In the face of depression and trauma, Faolan Sugarman-Lash learns to love his life despite his pain. In this book, he shares his mistakes, lessons, stories, and advice for how to overcome mental health challenges by experiencing each part of life fully and finding meaning. He offers the full spectrum of his life experience from relationships to travel and from trauma to spirituality. This book is a manifestation of Faolan's vision for a vulnerable, open, and courageous world. If you have ever wondered why you're here, this is the book for you. WHY LIVE?
INTRODUCTION
"Do you think trees wonder why they're alive?" - me
If you have ever wondered why you're alive or, like me, wanted to die, then this book is for you. This mission is for you. As long as there is one person who doesn't want to live, and when I say "live" I mean Thoreau-marrow-sucking-YARP living, then this book matters, this effort matters, we matter, because we are here to LIVE, not simply exist.
The Each of us living as our true selves, wanting and experiencing every second of our lives, beauty, pain, mediocrity, and wonder included. Truth be told, we're a long way from this utopia. I don't want to prattle off statistics to you about high suicide, depression, and addiction rates. I don't want to even accept that people do kill themselves, whether it be slowly, day-by-day, moment-to-moment slippage or all at once. I don't want to talk about any of this because it hurts. It hurts to feel the pain of knowing people don't want to live and to have known that pain myself. It hurts to write about the pain and to stand up for healing it...
But it is necessary work for me because in my pain lies my purpose. We are all intimate with the existential pain of being alive and thus we all have a source to draw from. Deep inside our pain, we hold unique truths that only we can offer the world. We have our own stories to share using our own art forms, and maybe that's what it means to be human.
Hundreds of people have shared their life stories with me, and I have never been bored. Each of us carries a whole human soul ripe with spectrums of emotions, thoughts, goals, expectations, and traumas. Because we're autonomous beings, we all face the same "Why Live?"
This question comes in two forms. When I'm experiencing depression, it haunts me. When I'm fully present to life with joy and gratitude, it piques my curiosity and becomes a beacon on the horizon. In my story you will see how this question transforms from darkness into light.
This book is a tale of suffering and trauma, of failure and mistakes, and of healing, love, and hope. This book is my answer to the question that has brought me tears of pain and tears of joy.
In my story, I hope that you may see your own. As I was lost, so you may be. As I found my answer, you will assuredly find yours. Do not lose hope. May you find your answer mirrored in the pages of my story and may you live as only you can, as you.
Let curiosity guide you to ever-present light. Welcome, and enjoy. This Why Live?
INTRODUCTION
"Do you think trees wonder why they're alive?" - me
If you have ever wondered why you're alive or, like me, wanted to die, then this book is for you. This mission is for you. As long as there is one person who doesn't want to live, and when I say "live" I mean Thoreau-marrow-sucking-YARP living, then this book matters, this effort matters, we matter, because we are here to LIVE, not simply exist.
The Each of us living as our true selves, wanting and experiencing every second of our lives, beauty, pain, mediocrity, and wonder included. Truth be told, we're a long way from this utopia. I don't want to prattle off statistics to you about high suicide, depression, and addiction rates. I don't want to even accept that people do kill themselves, whether it be slowly, day-by-day, moment-to-moment slippage or all at once. I don't want to talk about any of this because it hurts. It hurts to feel the pain of knowing people don't want to live and to have known that pain myself. It hurts to write about the pain and to stand up for healing it...
But it is necessary work for me because in my pain lies my purpose. We are all intimate with the existential pain of being alive and thus we all have a source to draw from. Deep inside our pain, we hold unique truths that only we can offer the world. We have our own stories to share using our own art forms, and maybe that's what it means to be human.
Hundreds of people have shared their life stories with me, and I have never been bored. Each of us carries a whole human soul ripe with spectrums of emotions, thoughts, goals, expectations, and traumas. Because we're autonomous beings, we all face the same "Why Live?"
This question comes in two forms. When I'm experiencing depression, it haunts me. When I'm fully present to life with joy and gratitude, it piques my curiosity and becomes a beacon on the horizon. In my story you will see how this question transforms from darkness into light.
This book is a tale of suffering and trauma, of failure and mistakes, and of healing, love, and hope. This book is my answer to the question that has brought me tears of pain and tears of joy.
In my story, I hope that you may see your own. As I was lost, so you may be. As I found my answer, you will assuredly find yours. Do not lose hope. May you find your answer mirrored in the pages of my story and may you live as only you can, as you.
Let curiosity guide you to ever-present light. Welcome, and enjoy. This Why Live?
274 pages, Paperback
Published February 28, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
January 30, 2024
There are parts that spoke to me and reminded me of my younger days when I was his age a long long time ago although it also made me think that about a comparison of who had a tougher life and so it does not resonate on that level as my struggles are not his and therefore how it affects his life and what measures be took to overcome will also not entirely land on me , the word is Empathy - we need to care enough about another human who have different struggles from us and not to judge one life with another , such as what is essential or a struggle for one may not be for another the weight of it for example, but I think it calls us to read with empathy, appreciation of another life and one needs to have
care and curiosity for another human, the book is written very sincerely and honestly imo as if a love letter to oneself that the author shares with others so we get to know him better at the end. I was actually thinking there would be answers to why live and at some parts I confess i skipped through as I wanted to get answers fast and confess also that I was not always entirely engaged in his world and life at parts that did not resonate with me - so it does become a personal memoir almost sort of read an done needs to be interested in the person in the beginning. For me , although not every part landed and resonated , I would say that it helped me to look back j to my own life and find my own answers to Why Live and I believe that is the gift of Faolan in his book to us.
care and curiosity for another human, the book is written very sincerely and honestly imo as if a love letter to oneself that the author shares with others so we get to know him better at the end. I was actually thinking there would be answers to why live and at some parts I confess i skipped through as I wanted to get answers fast and confess also that I was not always entirely engaged in his world and life at parts that did not resonate with me - so it does become a personal memoir almost sort of read an done needs to be interested in the person in the beginning. For me , although not every part landed and resonated , I would say that it helped me to look back j to my own life and find my own answers to Why Live and I believe that is the gift of Faolan in his book to us.
May 13, 2022
Faolan is wise beyond his years and has written a book, at age 24, that could exist among the spiritual classics. Faolan asks the question- “Why Live?”, a question of a generation that is overwhelmed by negativity, anxiety, and lack of purpose. Except Faolan, through asking and answering the question, takes the readers on a journey of pain, laughter, tears, and heart-bursting joy.
Faolan uses his story to weave in his perspectives on life and god and art and dharma. It would be impossible to not feel inspired and called to a greater purpose after reading this book. Faolan leads by example, in an authentic, vulnerable, humble, self-reflective way, while always telling the truth- whether it is pretty or not.
This book is for everyone- whether you’ve begun your hero’s journey or not, this book will provide guidance, questions, and pointers along the way. It will tap into the deepest part of your heart and soul and force that inner calling and wisdom to rise to the surface, in some shape or form.
Thank you Faolan. I am so grateful this book crossed my path, although I know it was no coincidence 😌.
Faolan uses his story to weave in his perspectives on life and god and art and dharma. It would be impossible to not feel inspired and called to a greater purpose after reading this book. Faolan leads by example, in an authentic, vulnerable, humble, self-reflective way, while always telling the truth- whether it is pretty or not.
This book is for everyone- whether you’ve begun your hero’s journey or not, this book will provide guidance, questions, and pointers along the way. It will tap into the deepest part of your heart and soul and force that inner calling and wisdom to rise to the surface, in some shape or form.
Thank you Faolan. I am so grateful this book crossed my path, although I know it was no coincidence 😌.
April 25, 2022
I have heard myself ask this question at many points in my life, at times in awe, a couple of times in utter despondence, many times curiously. I have always loved listening to people's perspectives on why they think we live.
Quite often, the philosophies I've grown up with seemed to over jargonise the discussion and somehow the answers never came across to me in ways I find palatable.
This book which is Faolan's life's work until now, summed up, is such a precious gift to the world. I cried, I laughed, I smiled, I gasped, I sat staring at the oblivion, not because I related to his life experiences completely. It is all in his narration how the life events become experiences. And like I always say, an event becomes an experience based on the awareness you bring to it. It is these insights that got me. Can I say I found and re-found my pockets of awakening while reading the book?
Some parts weren't easy to read, for me. But that is what made me savour the book. I read it a crazy 3 times! I am sure I will revisit it. Life is like that too. Not easy, mucky, but has to be savoured, can be savoured.
So often healing is not respected enough as a spiritual journey in itself, thanks to religious dogma. This book invites you to HEAL, to ALLOW yourself to heal, to LET GO of the fear of the mess, to CREATE a life you want while ACCEPTING and BBREATHING meaning into your life as it is NOW.
The beautiful letter Faolan writes to himself (it features at the end of the book) is as much a gift as this book.
All of those verbs captialised above are synonymous with living!
I deeply urge you to read this book if you have asked this question, and I beseech you to read it if you haven't ever asked the question.
Do you crave for moments when you want to feel the ever-present Universe's love and wondered what effort you can put in to feel it? Well, then now you know you have to read this piece of art! 😊
PS- What I love about the book is the author. Here is a 24-year-old who has gotten his hands dirty in the mire of life and learned to love it. If this is not love and spirituality, then what is? Proud and grateful. That is it.
Quite often, the philosophies I've grown up with seemed to over jargonise the discussion and somehow the answers never came across to me in ways I find palatable.
This book which is Faolan's life's work until now, summed up, is such a precious gift to the world. I cried, I laughed, I smiled, I gasped, I sat staring at the oblivion, not because I related to his life experiences completely. It is all in his narration how the life events become experiences. And like I always say, an event becomes an experience based on the awareness you bring to it. It is these insights that got me. Can I say I found and re-found my pockets of awakening while reading the book?
Some parts weren't easy to read, for me. But that is what made me savour the book. I read it a crazy 3 times! I am sure I will revisit it. Life is like that too. Not easy, mucky, but has to be savoured, can be savoured.
So often healing is not respected enough as a spiritual journey in itself, thanks to religious dogma. This book invites you to HEAL, to ALLOW yourself to heal, to LET GO of the fear of the mess, to CREATE a life you want while ACCEPTING and BBREATHING meaning into your life as it is NOW.
The beautiful letter Faolan writes to himself (it features at the end of the book) is as much a gift as this book.
All of those verbs captialised above are synonymous with living!
I deeply urge you to read this book if you have asked this question, and I beseech you to read it if you haven't ever asked the question.
Do you crave for moments when you want to feel the ever-present Universe's love and wondered what effort you can put in to feel it? Well, then now you know you have to read this piece of art! 😊
PS- What I love about the book is the author. Here is a 24-year-old who has gotten his hands dirty in the mire of life and learned to love it. If this is not love and spirituality, then what is? Proud and grateful. That is it.
September 14, 2022
Disclaimer I do not typically like/enjoy/read self-help books or self-help memoirs, but I tried not to let that affect my opinion of the book itself.
Sugarman-Lash has a real gift for writing, and that is evident throughout in his use of language, poetry, and within his stories about writing and how it’s shaped his life. I especially enjoyed the poetry and will not lie it moved me to action in my own life.
I gave the book 4 stars because for it to be 5, it would really have to be something phenomenal, which I don’t think it is. But I have a feeling Sugarman-Lash has that in him. I felt that some of the concepts that he writes about were at times too abstract or conceptual so that they were hard to retain and really get a grasp on. Sometimes it was a bit too positive, too look-how-beautiful-this-flower-is type stuff which drives me nuts sometimes. And ultimately I didn’t feel especially satisfied with the conclusion of the book and the answer to why live.
The parts I enjoyed the most were the perspectives on his major college relationship, depression as a call to action (mostly), and again the poems.
It’s very Faolan. (:
Sugarman-Lash has a real gift for writing, and that is evident throughout in his use of language, poetry, and within his stories about writing and how it’s shaped his life. I especially enjoyed the poetry and will not lie it moved me to action in my own life.
I gave the book 4 stars because for it to be 5, it would really have to be something phenomenal, which I don’t think it is. But I have a feeling Sugarman-Lash has that in him. I felt that some of the concepts that he writes about were at times too abstract or conceptual so that they were hard to retain and really get a grasp on. Sometimes it was a bit too positive, too look-how-beautiful-this-flower-is type stuff which drives me nuts sometimes. And ultimately I didn’t feel especially satisfied with the conclusion of the book and the answer to why live.
The parts I enjoyed the most were the perspectives on his major college relationship, depression as a call to action (mostly), and again the poems.
It’s very Faolan. (:
June 1, 2022
Wow.
Here's my interview with Faolan: https://youtu.be/b-cG3U1nrV0
Here's my interview with Faolan: https://youtu.be/b-cG3U1nrV0
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews