To be honest, I never finished this one. Not because I didn't like it, but I found it a little bit difficult to read. I think it was my lack of focus to blame here, yet I still managed to memorise some stories and words to live by.

-

"Oni koji nas istinski vole nikad neće svesno tražiti od nas da budemo ono što nismo."

"Poražavajuća je istina da vas izvrsnost i izuzetnost ne mogu noću grejati i da vam, što sam naučio dok sam bio bolestan, to što ste preterano zahtevni ili prefinjeni neće pomoći da preživite."

"Morate upriličiti susret spoljašnjeg sveta sa svojim unutrašnjim svetom. Ili će vas postojanje slomiti."

"Jurimo kroz život kao vozovi, ubrzavajući po šinama koje su postavili drugi, jureći tako brzo da ono pokraj čega prolazimo izgleda zamagljeno. Onda kažemo da smo tu već bili. Istina je da proleteti pored nečeg tako da ga vidimo samo nejasno, nije isto što i doživeti to."

"Živite dovoljno glasno u svom srcu i nećete imati potrebu da pričate."

There is beautiful wisdom in this book. Reading it little by little each day let it land deeper and connect with me deeply. It's designed for daily reading and it's a great book to start the first day of the year. I came upon it later in the year and structured my reading so I completed it Dec 31.

Because I did not and do not have cancer, the writing about it eventually got old for me. However, the wisdom of each day did not.

I didn't finish reading this book because I thought that it was going to be a regular book but instead is a kind of "calendar book" for lack of a better term. It has a little story and exercise for each day of the year. It could be a fantastic book but I wish it was clearer in the title that this was the format of the book, as it's nearly impossible to gain anything from this by just reading it in one sitting.

This book is amazing.
I grew up in a very secular environment and I've never had any interest for reading anything else than programming manuals and the like. So picking up this book was very unusual for me. In fact, I don't even know how to categorize it - Spirituality? Meditation? Philosophy? Poetry? For me it was all of the above. One chapter per day, a 3 minute read, left me deeply fulfilled in a place inside, for which I can't even find a name. Some of the chapters stayed with me for the whole day, or even until now.
Very accessible yet very fulfilling.

These daily lessons have been good reminders to feed my soul and keep me grounded in finding happiness. At times it is a bit too trusting in God for me, but it’s much more spiritual than religious. I plan to visit it daily for years to come since and maybe even try the daily meditations at some point.

An exquisite book of daily meditations. One of my very favorites.

a beautifully written book of daily meditations. Set up to coincide with the calendar. thought-provoking, calming, insightful

Finished thos on Dec. 31st and had a little yearning to start it all over again this year. I think I will move on to something else this year and come back to it next year. Really liked this one. Neop pulls quotes from wellj-known and not so wellj-known authors as well as his own thoughts and expands on one each day to help the reader gain a better knowledge of themselves. Spiritual, insightful, full of good things to give you a different perspective on people, life and the world.

I found each daily entry thought provoking and inspiring. Mark Nepo's book is balanced and creatively written with great reflective questions. He gently nudges you to become more aware, awake and present. His book touched me deeply by his simple storytelling "awakening" a sense of longing for better living and connection within me.

Daily reads take 2-3 minutes, are filled with great quotes, subtle humor and a touch of mysticism. Wholesome soul food at its best.

This is a placeholder review for myself. This book came recommended somewhere in other readings. I don't really need another "daily devotional" to read as I get good ones by email each day from my denomination and from a former student now friend. But what I do like about this book are the three to five directions at the end of each devotional that are bodily practices for meditation. Those are a consideration toward buying a copy of the book . . . .

Beautiful book in almost every respect, consisting of 365 days of:
-a thought provoking quote or one of the author's poems
-a 1 page dissertation a topic related to the quote
-a guided meditation

Overall it is very well done although the level of focus on his "rib cancer" seemed high and I am not sure it was ever clear what his diagnosis actually was (but as a physician that may be a nongeneralizable need to know on my part.)

Nonetheless, a beautiful book. One of the best daily reading books. I hope to spend another year with it sometime.

"It's such a simple thing, but in a moment of ego we refuse to put down what we carry in order to open the door. Time and time again, we are offered the chance to truly learn this: We cannot hold on to things and enter. We must put down what we carry, open the door, and then take up only what we need to bring inside."

This is a master piece of living life insights--not so much of a self help book, but one of just think about this concept or ponder on this way of looking at a particular aspect of life. You will especiallt like this if you are a lover of the natural wold and see and experice in the natural order of things.

Philosopher-poet and cancer survivor, Mark Nepo opens a new season of freedom and joy--an escape from deadening, asleep-at-the wheel sameness--that is both profound and clarifying. His spiritual daybook is a summons to reclaim aliveness, liberate the self, take each day one at a time, and to savor the beauty offered by life's unfolding. Reading his poetic prose is like being given second sight, exposing the reader to life's multiple dimensions, each one drawn with awe and affection. The Book of Awakening is the result of his journey of the soul and will inspire others to embark on their own. Nepo speaks of spirit and friendship, urging readers to stay vital and in love with this life, no matter the hardships. Encompassing many traditions and voices, Nepo's words offer insight on pain, wonder, and love. Each entry is accompanied by an exercise that will surprise and delight the reader in its mind-waking ability.