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Lift
Written as a letter to her children, Kelly Corrigan’s Lift is a tender, intimate, and robust portrait of risk and love; a touchstone for anyone who wants to live more fully. In Lift , Corrigan weaves together three true and unforgettable stories of adults willing to experience emotional hazards in exchange for the gratifications of raising children.
Lift takes its name from hang gliding, a pursuit that requires flying directly into rough air, because turbulence saves a glider from “sinking out.” For Corrigan, this wisdom becomes a metaphor for all of life’s most meaningful endeavors, particularly the great flight that is parenting.
Corrigan serves it up straight—how mundanely and fiercely her children have been loved, how close most lives occasionally come to disaster, and how often we fall short as mothers and fathers. Lift is for everyone who has been caught off guard by the pace and vulnerability of raising children, to remind us that our work is important and our time limited.
Like Anne Morrow Lindbergh’s Gift from the Sea , Lift is a meditation on the complexities of a woman’s life, and like Corrigan’s memoir, The Middle Place , Lift is boisterous and generous, a book readers can’t wait to share
Lift takes its name from hang gliding, a pursuit that requires flying directly into rough air, because turbulence saves a glider from “sinking out.” For Corrigan, this wisdom becomes a metaphor for all of life’s most meaningful endeavors, particularly the great flight that is parenting.
Corrigan serves it up straight—how mundanely and fiercely her children have been loved, how close most lives occasionally come to disaster, and how often we fall short as mothers and fathers. Lift is for everyone who has been caught off guard by the pace and vulnerability of raising children, to remind us that our work is important and our time limited.
Like Anne Morrow Lindbergh’s Gift from the Sea , Lift is a meditation on the complexities of a woman’s life, and like Corrigan’s memoir, The Middle Place , Lift is boisterous and generous, a book readers can’t wait to share
Audio CD
First published January 1, 2010
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About the author
Kelly Corrigan
21 books1,565 followersKelly Corrigan is a New York Times bestselling author whose writing has appeared in O Magazine, Glamour and Good Housekeeping. Her newspaper columns for the Bay Area News Group cover everyday matters from the power of an unequivocal apology to the contagious nature of weight gain, extramarital affairs and going green."
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 916 reviews
October 21, 2010
I feel bad giving such a low score for this book, because she is likely a lovely person and a fine writer, but this "love letter" reads more like an "apology letter to me," from an obviously compassionate, caring, attentive, intelligent, loving mother who has nothing whatsoever to apologize for. She feels horrible that she stopped breast-feeding too soon, she talks about her "obvious and hidden limitations" and about "possibly wrecking" her daughters, and I think this culture of mothers beating up on themselves for not being perfect has got to stop. If we judge ourselves as mothers that harshly, then we also judge other mothers harshly. I will tell you this in my brief experience as a foster-to-adopt mother: the truly bad mothers who have a lot to apologize for are NOT apologizing.
Secondly, I had a lot of trouble accepting her statement that she would rather her daughters have cancer than infertility. Perhaps she means that she would rather her daughters, like her, have battled cancer and survived than have experienced infertility? Cancer can be a fatal disease. Infertility is not fatal. And there are other ways to parent.
Third, a book this size for seventeen bucks???
Fourth, I had trouble with some of her assertions, such as that despite knowing the importance of families sitting down together to dinner every night, that she's a terrible cook, so she can't do that. What, has she never heard of Trader Joe's? Canned spaghetti sauce? I have never been a worse cook since I became a mother, but the kid doesn't care! Again, I think her expectations on herself are too high. The kids aren't expecting gourmet. Pizza on an English muffin doesn't matter, but the family sitting down together does.
Such an odd little book.
Secondly, I had a lot of trouble accepting her statement that she would rather her daughters have cancer than infertility. Perhaps she means that she would rather her daughters, like her, have battled cancer and survived than have experienced infertility? Cancer can be a fatal disease. Infertility is not fatal. And there are other ways to parent.
Third, a book this size for seventeen bucks???
Fourth, I had trouble with some of her assertions, such as that despite knowing the importance of families sitting down together to dinner every night, that she's a terrible cook, so she can't do that. What, has she never heard of Trader Joe's? Canned spaghetti sauce? I have never been a worse cook since I became a mother, but the kid doesn't care! Again, I think her expectations on herself are too high. The kids aren't expecting gourmet. Pizza on an English muffin doesn't matter, but the family sitting down together does.
Such an odd little book.
February 13, 2025
I love Kelly Corrigan, her words touch so many true unspoken thoughts. She is as authentic as they come.
January 17, 2011
I totally respect Kelly Corrigan, and I've heard that her first book, "The Middle Place", is just great. I feel like "Lift" is the chunk of text that was on Corrigan's "Clipboard" in MS Word. You know, where you "cut" text, and MS Word asks you, do you want to use this large amount of text in another ap when you quit? I think Corrigan thought, why, yes, I can turn this into a little book. In fact, it's a bit unfair to call it a book. It's more like a bookLET.
I'm a big fan of short books, but I thought this was a little self-indulgent, rambling on about various crises in her children's lives, like one really long sentence. Though well written, I think I would have liked the stories about her kids' throwing tantrums or her younger child's near death fever had they been framed within a stronger narrative. I also wonder if mothers out there would find these stories unique or written uniquely. Doesn't every mom go through these things?
The "Lift" concept is cool but underdeveloped. The foundations of a really enjoyable book are here. They just need some walls on top of them and a roof!
I'm a big fan of short books, but I thought this was a little self-indulgent, rambling on about various crises in her children's lives, like one really long sentence. Though well written, I think I would have liked the stories about her kids' throwing tantrums or her younger child's near death fever had they been framed within a stronger narrative. I also wonder if mothers out there would find these stories unique or written uniquely. Doesn't every mom go through these things?
The "Lift" concept is cool but underdeveloped. The foundations of a really enjoyable book are here. They just need some walls on top of them and a roof!
April 1, 2010
A letter to my kids... of course I love the idea of this book. Of course it made me cry when I saw myself as Kelly in more then one part of this very short book. I am loving most moments of being a mom to a 2 and half year old and an 8 month old. I feel blessed each day and love that even the rough moments make my life better and more memorable. I think the hardest thing is that I feel like each moment is here and gone before I fully lived it. I am excited for my babies to grow but at the same time desperately want them to stay the same age forever. I feel like I am constantly in a state of panic... trying to fully enjoy each amazing wonderful moment and each amazingly difficult moment.
One line from this book that took my breath away was "I've had cancer twice and if I had to pick one fate for you, cancer or fertility problems, I'd pick cancer." I feel like I could discuss that one line for hours.
Kelly still made me laugh but this book more made me want to go upstairs, rip James and Avery from their cribs and snuggle them for the rest of the night.
Last quick comment- and I felt the same way with Middle Place- too much crammed in one book. Too many meaningful thoughts combined with her fun writing style made me feel like I needed to reread it. But more then that I'd just like to sit in a starbucks with Kelly Corrigan and chat about life.
One line from this book that took my breath away was "I've had cancer twice and if I had to pick one fate for you, cancer or fertility problems, I'd pick cancer." I feel like I could discuss that one line for hours.
Kelly still made me laugh but this book more made me want to go upstairs, rip James and Avery from their cribs and snuggle them for the rest of the night.
Last quick comment- and I felt the same way with Middle Place- too much crammed in one book. Too many meaningful thoughts combined with her fun writing style made me feel like I needed to reread it. But more then that I'd just like to sit in a starbucks with Kelly Corrigan and chat about life.
June 13, 2011
Lift has adorned my shelf for more than a year, but was, until now, unread. Not long ago, my ten year old daughter picked it up and read it in an afternoon. I decided to follow suit. The timing was just right. With a busy weekend packed with hosting out of town guests, there wasn't much time for reading, so this slim volume was perfect for reading a few lines before bed and in other quiet moments.
Lift was written as a letter to Corrigan's daughters, Georgia and Claire. This type of book can easily veer into sentimentality, but Lift avoided that trap. The author is honest about the pitfalls, inevitable failure and great reward that peppers parenting. Like me, being a parent is the hardest job she's ever had. Like me, she wouldn't trade a moment of it.
Lift made me want to better document the everyday moments I have with my daughters. Not just so that they'll remember what these days were like, but so that I'll remember who they were all those years ago. Because they are changing before my very eyes. Be forewarned that Lift may make you want to journal, scrapbook, blog or paint some reminders of life with your children. Know that it's worth the risk to read the book and be encouraged to document, remember and live every moment fully.
If you're in a particularly discouraging season of parenting, if your children are heading out of childhood and into adolescence or if you just have a few hours one afternoon to kill, read Lift. It might not change your life, but it's still worth doing.
Lift was written as a letter to Corrigan's daughters, Georgia and Claire. This type of book can easily veer into sentimentality, but Lift avoided that trap. The author is honest about the pitfalls, inevitable failure and great reward that peppers parenting. Like me, being a parent is the hardest job she's ever had. Like me, she wouldn't trade a moment of it.
Lift made me want to better document the everyday moments I have with my daughters. Not just so that they'll remember what these days were like, but so that I'll remember who they were all those years ago. Because they are changing before my very eyes. Be forewarned that Lift may make you want to journal, scrapbook, blog or paint some reminders of life with your children. Know that it's worth the risk to read the book and be encouraged to document, remember and live every moment fully.
If you're in a particularly discouraging season of parenting, if your children are heading out of childhood and into adolescence or if you just have a few hours one afternoon to kill, read Lift. It might not change your life, but it's still worth doing.
April 27, 2010
I wanted to like this book because I enjoyed Corrigan's first book, The Middle Place. However, this sparse book, which I read in its entirety in the waiting room while my son sat in the orthodontist chair, seemed like a hastily thrown-together obligation Corrigan promised her publishers. Written as a letter for her 6- and 8-year-old daughters to read someday, the book wanders around the topic of parenting being the greatest thing ever, but not very convincingly. I imagine this book is supposed to be inspirational and its size (and butterfly on the cover) will probably translate into many Mother's Day gifts, but it just fell flat for me. A big problem is that a mom who hasn't hit the teen years (and lived to tell) cannot justifiably write about parenting without regrets and unconditional love. (I'm a mom in the midst of the teen years and hope to live to tell.) Skip this one and read The Middle Place instead.
February 7, 2017
This is a beautiful, raw, and touching letter from a mother to her daughters. A letter that when they are mothers they will cherish and use it to understand the feelings and actions they find themselves going through. Having heard Kelly speak in person her voice, humor and straight forward personality comes through with every page.
January 27, 2018
I loved the Ms. Corrigan's writing style--funny, self-deprecating, wry, open, and honest. Her writing made me feel like I was having a conversation with someone I would like to have as a friend.
But when she started talking about how having children was the only worthwhile thing she had done in her life, and how her life wouldn't have been complete without her children, and then when she started in on her single friend and how she needed to have a child to fully experience life--and further goes on to play coy matchmaker through the pages of her book--Ms. Corrigan completely lost me. I support anyone's decision to have a child, and how that experience makes them feel, as an individual, well, that's fine. Maybe it IS the most worthwhile thing she has done in her life. That's a lovely thing. But just because someone doesn't have a child, either through choice or through circumstance, it doesn't mean they have done nothing of consequence and that their lives are somehow less or incomplete. Ultimately that is how this book made me, a middle-aged woman with no children, feel.
But when she started talking about how having children was the only worthwhile thing she had done in her life, and how her life wouldn't have been complete without her children, and then when she started in on her single friend and how she needed to have a child to fully experience life--and further goes on to play coy matchmaker through the pages of her book--Ms. Corrigan completely lost me. I support anyone's decision to have a child, and how that experience makes them feel, as an individual, well, that's fine. Maybe it IS the most worthwhile thing she has done in her life. That's a lovely thing. But just because someone doesn't have a child, either through choice or through circumstance, it doesn't mean they have done nothing of consequence and that their lives are somehow less or incomplete. Ultimately that is how this book made me, a middle-aged woman with no children, feel.
February 2, 2015
I am your mother, the first mile of your road. Me and all my obvious and hidden limitations. That means that in addition to possibly wrecking you, I have the chance to give to you what was given to me: a decent childhood, more good memories than bad, some values, a sense of tribe, a run at happiness. You can't imagine how seriously I take that - even as I fail you. Mothering you is the first thing of consequence that I have ever done.
A lovely, lovely book. I felt a deep connection to many of her comments on motherhood: guilt and fear and heart-squeezing love. I'm not an overly sentimental person, but some of the writing had me feeling emotional. I read part of this at my son's swim lesson, and I had to pretend I had an eyelash in my eye so that I didn't give in and do the ugly cry in public.
September 29, 2018
Oh.my.word.
I cannot verbally express how much this book moved me. I was bawling, laughing, biting my lip. Kelly Corrigan wrote this for me. I get it. I want her to be my spirit guide - well - along with Maria Shriver.
Not everyone will love this as much as I do and that's OK. I thank her from the bottom of my soul for this book.
I will read this always.
PS Read all of her other books, they are fantastic.
I cannot verbally express how much this book moved me. I was bawling, laughing, biting my lip. Kelly Corrigan wrote this for me. I get it. I want her to be my spirit guide - well - along with Maria Shriver.
Not everyone will love this as much as I do and that's OK. I thank her from the bottom of my soul for this book.
I will read this always.
PS Read all of her other books, they are fantastic.
January 21, 2019
I just love Kelly Corrigan! This is a letter of sorts to her daughters, and it brought me as close to sentimental tears as I get!
July 22, 2011
I read Kelly Corrigan's book The Middle Place which told the story of when she and her dad had cancer at the same time. It was a loving tribute to a man that she loves dearly. As a person who felt the same way about her father, it certainly touched a cord. (I also loved a video that I saw where Kelly was telling the story of how her mom went to Barnes and Noble every day when the book first came out to check on where the book was placed in the store and even to move it so that it would be seen better by folks coming in. It was so funny!)
In her second book she has written it to her daughters Georgia and Claire. She uses examples from her life, her life with her children and some friends to let them know how much she loves them and wanted to be a mother. Using her friend's story of hang gliding and how you need turbulence in order to get lift as a metaphor for life's endeavors and how sometimes the most meaningful experiences, like parenting, involve chaos but also joy.
It was worth reading but perhaps could have been a little more developed.
In her second book she has written it to her daughters Georgia and Claire. She uses examples from her life, her life with her children and some friends to let them know how much she loves them and wanted to be a mother. Using her friend's story of hang gliding and how you need turbulence in order to get lift as a metaphor for life's endeavors and how sometimes the most meaningful experiences, like parenting, involve chaos but also joy.
It was worth reading but perhaps could have been a little more developed.
April 25, 2013
I don't understand how some people get to publish books. This was garbage! This was a short book that was read in a quick sitting, and I kind of which I had that time back. The writing was all over the place and there was no actual point to anything in it.
One quote I did like in the book was:
"If John Lennon was right that life is what happens when you're making other plans, parenthood is what happens when everything is flipped over and spilling everywhere and you can't find a towel or a sponge or your 'inside' voice."
Ha - that is so true, living firsthand as a mom of 3 boys.
But, Corrigan wrote this as a letter to her daughters and it should have been hand written on pretty paper, packed up in a box and left for her daughters; I don't get why this was published.
I don't recommend this book at all.
One quote I did like in the book was:
"If John Lennon was right that life is what happens when you're making other plans, parenthood is what happens when everything is flipped over and spilling everywhere and you can't find a towel or a sponge or your 'inside' voice."
Ha - that is so true, living firsthand as a mom of 3 boys.
But, Corrigan wrote this as a letter to her daughters and it should have been hand written on pretty paper, packed up in a box and left for her daughters; I don't get why this was published.
I don't recommend this book at all.
March 22, 2019
A rambling narrative on what it means to be a mother, from Corrigan’s perspective, and heavy on Corrigan’s personal anecdotes. It’s a personal book, with just a few attempts to provide some deeper meaning or shared way to talk about this part of life. I found the stories were touching. I listened to this audiobook on the drive to visit my oldest daughter at college, one of the last times we’ll be doing this before she graduates. These stories, about Corrigan’s young daughters, good times and bad, really hit me. Even though I’m a Dad. We all share like stories, and while the circumstances are never exactly the same, the feelings are. There’s the bad, the feeling of lack of control or inadequacy, and the good, the funny things you remember forever, the acknowledgement of lost time, and the wonder of it all. Corrigan shares these with the reader and, in my case, made connections to my own experiences. Nicely done.
August 15, 2018
Read this book if you want to cry.
I see myself in 98 percent of Kelly Corrigan’s writing. Which makes her one of my favorite writers because I’m vain. Her honesty rips me to shreds and I love it. There will never be a Kelly Corrigan book that I won’t read.
I see myself in 98 percent of Kelly Corrigan’s writing. Which makes her one of my favorite writers because I’m vain. Her honesty rips me to shreds and I love it. There will never be a Kelly Corrigan book that I won’t read.
April 28, 2020
Love Corrigan's writing. this one is good, but very short. It is a letter to her children and there are some poignant moments. I still think Tell me More is the best one of hers that I have read.
April 27, 2023
If I were an author, I'd hope my words would be like Kelly Cortigan's- real, thoughtful, poignant, and not too sappy.
May 23, 2010
A short book that can be finished in a single sitting, Lift is a letter from Kelly to her daughters. In this book she describes the unique and special love that exists between parents and children. Filled with both funny and poignant stories of her childhood as well as her children, Kelly perfectly captures the amazing experience of parenthood. There were so many times when I wanted to shout 'Yes! That's exactly how I feel.' Whether it's convincing her single friend that even the difficulty of parenting alone is worth the reward of having a child to describing the vulnerability all parents feel when a child is ill, she captures the essence of being a parent. Listening to a book like this makes me wish that I could express these emotions to my own children.
May 24, 2010
I'm conflicted about this book...I enjoyed most of it, and found some parts quite touching and impactful. It is a nice manifestation of one woman's love for her children. That was coupled with her very natural acknowledgement of mistakes made and her hope that the fallout from those mistakes won't last too long.
On the other hand, there were occasional sidetrips into political and personal philosophies that I find disagreeable or even abhorrent. They distracted from the main message of the book, and left me wondering - was she trying to explain herself to her daughters, excuse herself and her friends, or not-so-subtly influence her readers? Either way, those sidetrips were not only unnecessary, but actually diminished the otherwise comforting and loving message of the book. Too bad.
On the other hand, there were occasional sidetrips into political and personal philosophies that I find disagreeable or even abhorrent. They distracted from the main message of the book, and left me wondering - was she trying to explain herself to her daughters, excuse herself and her friends, or not-so-subtly influence her readers? Either way, those sidetrips were not only unnecessary, but actually diminished the otherwise comforting and loving message of the book. Too bad.
April 1, 2010
The knowledge of impermanence that haunts our days is their very fragrance ~Rilke
Corrigan cites this quote from Rilke in her new book, Lift, and I have to say it captures part of her theme perfectly. Readers who loved The Middle Place might be disappointed in Lift, only because it's more of a snapshot than the complete photo album that The Middle Place was. Despite being a quick read, Lift has several passages that will make parents of any age want to linger. It's a beautiful, touching book - just too short!
Corrigan cites this quote from Rilke in her new book, Lift, and I have to say it captures part of her theme perfectly. Readers who loved The Middle Place might be disappointed in Lift, only because it's more of a snapshot than the complete photo album that The Middle Place was. Despite being a quick read, Lift has several passages that will make parents of any age want to linger. It's a beautiful, touching book - just too short!
August 12, 2024
I chose the audio version of this book which is read by the author. I loved every second and was weepy within the first few sentences. Motherhood is articulated in a way that resonated with me more than anything has before. It was so honest and beautiful. It reminds you of what's really important in this world and how bittersweet it all is.
May 18, 2021
Kelly Corrigan’s writing is perfection. As a writer myself, I only wish to one day be able to express and emote about motherhood, marriage and simply living the way that she does. A super quick read, the audio book clocks in at under two hours - I started this on my morning walk and was finished before my coffee got cold.
March 27, 2013
This is a lovely read- rather short- but sweet. This book is an intimate letter to Kelly Corrigan's two daughters about parenthood and her love really shines through. Made me appreciate being a mom and remembering how fleeting my kids' childhoods are.
April 10, 2017
I loved her book Glitter and Glue so much. This one, while much shorter, gave me the same feeling. I love Corrigan's honest, witty, emotional perspective on life, loss, motherhood and the art of keeping going when life gives you crazy.
February 17, 2013
My sweet friend Annette gave me this book. :) Loved it. Every mom should read it. Very touching. We are so blessed to be mommies.
May 7, 2020
A beautiful meditation on parenting young children, recognizing the beauty in that chaos, and also seeing yourself clearly (well intentioned and constantly flawed). It was beautifully written, reassuring, soul-crushing and funny all at once. I read this at the perfect time - while quarantined at home with my kids, alternating between days/hours when I feel like I’m crushing it and those when I feel totally inept.
December 3, 2021
I loved this short but powerful memoir about parenthood and its soaring joys and crushing pains. Warm, intimate, funny, and inspiring.
Read my full review & listen a sample of the excellent audio, read by the author:
https://bookbybook.blogspot.com/2021/...
Read my full review & listen a sample of the excellent audio, read by the author:
https://bookbybook.blogspot.com/2021/...
May 3, 2019
I couldn’t think of a better way to spend a delay at the airport. I was surprised that there was a Kelly Corrigan book I hadn’t read. Her take on motherhood had me weeping at my gate even while my kids were complaining about our delay.
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December 14, 2023I have one complaint: This was too short! I’m glad she has other books to make it up to me. I liked the interstitial songs added in to the audio version too. New author, new musical artist; big day for me.
May 5, 2018
Audio. Quick read/listen.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 916 reviews