Mark Nepo

Mark Nepo is my age. His questions are my questions, his concerns also concern me.

My body is showing its age. Less than a decade ago I used to walk 10,000 steps a day. Now my knees don’t like stairs or getting up from chairs. My hands have lost their strength and I can’t open jars. We installed grab bars at the entryways to the house and a walk-in shower. I know where this is going. I know my days are limited.

What do I do with the time that’s left?

I make quilts, still designing new show more patterns, but have given up hand quilting. I read books and continue to write and share reviews. My mind is still sharp. But hiking, singing in choirs, extensive gardening, and traveling are all behind me. Overwhelmed by expressway traffic, we even gave up season tickets to the orchestra and purchased only five concerts. One by one, some pleasures slip away. Aging, Nepo quotes Jungian analyst Helen Luke, is a journey into simplicity.

All things aren’t just or fair. But all things are true. No more. No less. from The Fifth Season by Mark Nepo

Nepo’s book looks at how to age, given the limitations and challenges of growing old. How can we live a fulfilling and creative life? How do we deal with loss? How do we embrace each stage of life with an open heart and mind? How do we stay engaged as we age?

Each chapter addresses a theme and ends with “Questions to Walk With,” activities, conversations, or journaling activities to explore the lessons offered.

Nepo, a poet and cancer survivor, writes about hard things and deep feelings and fears, drawing from literature, psychology, philosophy, and myth to illustrate his insights.

This is not a book to sped through in one reading. Take it one chapter at a time. Let the message sit in you. Return to reread it. Let yourself be open.

I am so busy living–cooking my anti-inflammatory whole foods diet, with my work as a reviewer and creative passion of quilting, sharing time with my spouse and family, that I am considering hiring a house cleaner as I can’t find time for it! I need a book like this, to slow me down, to be aware and thoughtful. So when the time comes, I can look back assured that I have used my days wisely and can accept the last, final, mystery of life.

Thanks to the publisher for a free book through NetGalley. show less

This slim collection of poems fell into my hands when I needed it most - after the loss of my beloved companion of 15.2 years, my dog Sunny. This book helped me start the healing process (and was the only thing I could even read amidst such deep grief) and was filled with tiny reflections of "moments" in a life. The moments are of spiritual wanderings and God (or like, whatever a person chooses for their God, if he/she does), but also just very quiet and real slices of time amongst friends, show more lovers, grandparents, parents, family and of course, there are a few wonderful pieces on the love for and received from dogs. Nepo just "fits" for the way I hope to experience life, with an open heart and full of all of its complexity and wonder. I highly recommend this book for anyone who just wants to connect more with their loved ones (two legged or four legged) and/or wants to live a more meaningful life. I know that is is a LOT to say about a tiny collection of poems, but it is really that good. Highly recommended. Oh, and even if you don't like poetry, give these a chance. I almost want to call them miniature essays, as they are more reality based, but with the beautiful language of poetry. show less

Ugh. I was so looking forward to this book. Sign me up for philosophy and creativity, art and writing, poetry and self-expression! Those are all things I love and care deeply about. Unfortunately, Nepo's writing style made my eyes glaze over, and I had difficulty focusing on what he was trying to say. I also struggled to discern the meaning of many of his essays, which seemed to meander all over the place.

I was also struck by how self-absorbed Nepo came across in many essays. As though his show more method of processing creativity is -- or should be -- valid for everyone else. Many of his points are also repetitive and vague, lacking in any kind of applicable takeaways that a reader could then bring to their own studios. I'm clearly in the minority here since most of the reviews for this book are glowing, but I'm glad to be done with it! show less

This is the best "book of days" I've ever read, and I've read many over the years. Nepo is a poet, which makes his ability to turn a phrase magical. He's a philosopher, which makes the reader ponder deeply. And yet, the book isn't all heavy thinking. It makes me smile many mornings. A true pleasure to start my day with awakening.