Amazing comments from the author and book critic, Joanna Rakoff!

"... slim, powerful, absurdly timely volume you see here: HEARTWOOD: The Art of Living with the End in Mind, which is out today. Ostensibly a series of linked essays reflecting on America’s “death-shy” culture, to me, this beautiful, complicated book reads as an autobiography through the lens of loss, the story of a life defined by the early knowledge that someone had to die in order for Barbara to live (a knowledge I live with, too, as many of you know). I love this book and think you will, too. If you like the work of Rebecca Solnit, this book is for you. And here is the rub: In the book’s final chapter, Barbara reflects on her mortality. A few weeks ago, Barbara was diagnosed with breast cancer. Today, instead of launching her book, she is in surgery. She’s handled this turn of events with typical grace and humor, but I still feel like my heart is breaking for her. Tonight, we were supposed to be in conversation via our friend and neighbor’s bookstore; instead, we recorded the event yesterday, and I urge you to give it a watch—link in bio—and bask in her wisdom and beauty. And buy this book, which has so much to teach us about how to live."