Learning to Fall: The Blessings of an Imperfect Life
by Philip Simmons
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Description
Now I find myself in late August, with the nights cool and the crickets thick in the fields. Already the first blighted leaves glow scarlet on the red maples. It's a season of fullness and sweet longings made sweeter now by the fact that I can't be sure I'll see this time of the year again....-- from Learning to Fall Philip Simmons was just thirty-five years old in 1993 when he learned that he had ALS, or Lou Gehrig's disease, and was told he had less than five years to live. As a young show more husband and father, and at the start of a promising literary career, he suddenly had to learn the art of dying. Nine years later, he has succeeded, against the odds, in learning the art of living. Now, in this surprisingly joyous and spirit-renewing book, he chronicles his search for peace and his deepening relationship with the mystery of everyday life. Set amid the rugged New Hampshire mountains he once climbed, and filled with the bustle of family life against the quiet progression of illness, Learning to Fall illuminates the journey we all must take -- "the work of learning to live richly in the face of loss." From our first faltering steps, Simmons says, we may fall into disappointment or grief, fall into or out of love, fall from youth or health. And though we have little choice as to the timing or means of our descent, we may, as he affirms, "fall with grace, to grace." With humor, hard-earned wisdom and a keen eye for life's lessons -- whether drawn from great poetry or visits to the town dump -- Simmons shares his discovery that even at times of great sorrow we may find profound freedom. And by sharing the wonder of his daily life, he offers us the gift of connecting more deeply and joyously with our own. show lessTags
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Member Reviews
Simmons describes this book as an essay; in many ways it is indeed a study or reflection. Fluid and sometimes poetic prose shield the reader somewhat from the mortality showing like bones under the mountains and trees, the struggle and skull beneath the skin. For anyone dealing with chronic or terminal illness, this book offers lessons in holding onto the essentials in life--the grounding, the love of nature, family and God; even while dealing with the loss of the more superficial parts of our physical existence. It is well worth reading.
The author of this book was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's disease when he was 35 years old . In 12 essays, Simmons charts his search for peace and his deepening relationship with the mystery of everyday life. Whether finding answers to life's questions in turtle behavior or Buddhist philosophy, Robert Frost's poetry or daily life in his small New England town, he offers us the gift of connecting more deeply and joyously with our own imperfect lives.
In 12 essays the author charts his search for peace and deepening relationship with the mystery of everyday life after learning that he had ALS, or Lou Gehrig;s Disease.
Something I benefited from reading some years back. You might also.
This work was the winner of the 2002 Books for a Better Life Award for Best Spiritual Book. The author, who died in 2002, drew on resources such as Complete Poems by e. e. cummings, The Essential Rumi and Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu in writing this work. Simmons suffered from ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease), but found ways to celebrate his life in spite of his disabilities.
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Published Reviews
ThingScore 100
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Author Information
2 Works 249 Members
Awards and Honors
Awards
Common Knowledge
- People/Characters
- Philip Simmons
- Important places
- New Hampshire, USA
Classifications
- Genres
- Nonfiction, Religion & Spirituality, Biography & Memoir, General Nonfiction
- DDC/MDS
- 291.4 — Religion Other religions [Formerly: General Religious Topics] Religious experience, life, practice
- LCC
- BL65 .S85 .S56 — Philosophy, Psychology and Religion Religions. Mythology. Rationalism Religions. Mythology. Rationalism Philosophy of religion. Psychology of religion. Religion
- BISAC
Statistics
- Members
- 248
- Popularity
- 130,215
- Reviews
- 5
- Rating
- (3.88)
- Languages
- English
- Media
- Paper, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 8
- UPCs
- 2
- ASINs
- 4
