Finding Inner Courage

by Mark Nepo

Mark Nepo is a beloved teacher, poet, and storyteller, and the author of the bestseller The Book of Awakening. In his latest book he invites us to live in our inner core in ways small and large every day. That is all we can do in life, and all we need todo for our lives to bear witness, to make the world a better place. To read the stories in this book is to find our place of peace and courage.

Genres: Self Help, Spirituality, Nonfiction, Philosophy, Inspirational, Personal Growth, Essays

445 pages, Hardcover

First published February 1, 2011

About the author

Mark Nepo is a poet and spiritual teacher whose work explores inner transformation and the courage to stay open to life. Known for the bestselling The Book of Awakening, he has written more than twenty books and created numerous audio projects that invite readers to reflect, heal, and deepen their relationships. A cancer survivor, he often describes his illness as a turning point that shaped his understanding of presence and vulnerability. After many years teaching literature and poetry, he devoted himself to writing and guiding others through workshops and retreats. His reflections have been featured widely, including on Oprah Winfrey’s Super Soul Sunday, and he continues to write about living with authenticity and attention.

Reviews

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

This Nepo title is a little more challening as the essays are three or four pages. The author has a unique way of presenting viewpoints from many faiths and also naming a particular concept in a faith and explaining that this is the name for it in other faiths. There is much to learn from Nepo's writing and he is definately in the category of mine called "on going reads" the books you can't give up reading because there are more nuggets of wisdom to know.

[C2015 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mark Nepo is a wonderful writer. I don't enjoy him so much in audio though as i listened to this book. The reasons are twofold: his writing is so rich its like being rushed down a gourmet buffet, it's too fast to absorb much and it gets frustrating because you only get quick tastes. The other is his voice. Now this may be very telling about me and my personality but his voice is usually dripping with compassion and it gets to me after awhile. The tone is that he is letting you down easy and I find it annoying. He has a perfectly good reading voice the odd time. Anyway. This is a wonderful group of little essays on what it means to be courageous in the world. Lovely use of words.

[Viktor Nilsson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was interested in building courage and so I stumbled onto this book. Honestly, in big parts I had no idea what I was reading. Philosophy, poetry, metaphors and spirituality is just not my language. I'm a numbers guy. But somehow I just couldn't let go of it, I knew there was something in there for me, and so I just kept on reading it.

My lack of understanding for this made me see a need to develop some part of myself that I didn't know exists.
From about the one quarter of it that I could grasp, I found a lot of wisdom, things worth thinking about, good things for my soul. It's a reading sensation I haven't ever felt before.
I will definitely read something more by Nepo.

[Rene · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. Reading this book has introduced me to my new favorite author, Mark Nepo. This guy is deeper than deep! "Finding Inner Courage" is written so eloquently and is profoundly meaningful. Great insights about living a more authentic life, finding meaning in life's struggles, and embracing darker moments in life in order to become more fully alive. This is one of those books you want to read twice because there is so much to take in.

[Annette · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book very much. I want to read it again, because I know at least some of it went over my head. The guy is deep. He is real deep. (He is a real deep poet.) Hence, I need to read it again. :)

[Unconventional · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beautifully written. The book taught me what questions to ask myself.

[Matriarchy]

Got this for a book discussion group - hope it's good!

[Loretta · Rating 2 out of 5]

While I find that Mr. Nepo does reference a large variety of faiths and belief systems through out this book, he provides beautiful life lesson examples. I do not agree with the deity complex that is implied in several instances. While this is an interesting read, I would not recommend this as a religiously founded tome as much as a universarian approach to spiritualism. I also found it hard to connect Nepo to his own life examples except with a dis-associative calm. Nepo does read his own book (audiobook) in a soothingly hypnotic tone with a zen cadence which lends a note of insincerity, but looking beyond his voice and tone, and reading only the ink upon the page there are moments of genuine epiphany and humility.

[Leah Wescott · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lovely messages, albeit a bit haphazard. Sadly, my favorite parts are the stories he attributes to other authors. This was my first Mark Nepo book and I don't want to give up. I have a feeling I would like his poetry more than his prose.

[Sienna · Rating 3 out of 5]

There were pieces of this book that really spoke to me. Overall I found the language maybe a little too flowery, too self-consciously poetic. I really liked his section on Ganesha as not only the remover but also the provider of obstacles.

[Philippa · Rating 5 out of 5]

A poet’s journey into what it means to be courageous. Thoughtful insights into life and how we might better choose to live. If you need wisdom, hope or encouragement to be courageous and live your Truth, read this book!

[Ade Adeniji · Rating 5 out of 5]

Precious!

Filled with many precious pearls of wisdom. I have now read the book three times, and no doubt will return to this treasure and it’s rich tender stories again and again. Thank you Mark!

[Greg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Much longer snd more wandering devotionals than in Nepo's _Awakening_, but still transformative

[Joey Rajewski · Rating 5 out of 5]

If Mark writes it. I read it. Poetic language that moves you to think differently and shifts the way you move through the world 🌎. Do yourself a favor & read it. You won’t regret it.

[P · Rating 2 out of 5]

I must admit first off that I have only read two chapters of this book and a bit in the back. From this I gathered that it is important to stand by one's inner self, one's core, and that is true courage. That was helpful. For those of you interested, Nepo does not seem to be a Christian, but rather appears to be a universalist. I started getting worn out with the chapter in the book referring to wrestling with God in the valleys, as Jacob/Israel did at Bethel, to find our inner core (not, the author clarifies, to be power struggling against God). Nepo's overall approach appears to be that it is most important to embrace the dark times and that is how we find inner courage. I must partially disagree with him. To some extent he is right, but on the other hand, to stand by one's core or find 'that angel in the midst of the darkness' it is important not to stay in the darkness. I think that Nepo has some interesting insights, such as the one which says 'no two instruments of the same type plays the same music the same way; they are each unique,' but I think his overall approach is only partly correct and will not work for everyone. Perhaps I will someday finish this book and change my mind. If you read this book, remember that you decide what parts are ok for you to apply-to really stand by your core.

[Krista · Rating 5 out of 5]

stunning!

[Willette · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first time I've read Mark nepo and so far it's a wonderful book. His writing is nothing less than eloquent. It's come along at a summer in my life that has been challenging, sad, and difficult. This reading has helped me turn those feelings into hope and awakening. It was a book I will go to again and again.

[Abby · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some stories spoke to me more than others. It pushed for further courage to love deeper and tread deeper into pain to allow for transformation.

It took me a while to get through the book. In the right life timeline.

[Lee F. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really really good. I am using it as a resource book for retreat. use it as a meditation book

[Effie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish I could give this book 6 or even 10 stars. It's that amazing.

[Terry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inspirational and beautifully written. Has gotten me through some tough times.

[Mae · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Mark Nepo and his beautiful way with words. He is a true artist and this book was very inspiring.

[Sheena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved it. His style of writing is just so beautiful.

[Michael Beyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full of spiritual insight! !

This is the book if you are searching for inner courage. I definitely want to read more Mark Nepo books now.

[Gita Algali · Rating 5 out of 5]

beautifully written.

[Kerri]

it was good

[Kathy Meyerson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm finding my inner courage

I read this book to gain the courage I need to help me stand up to a controlling person. It is helping me - one step at a time.

[Christine Hiester · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorites of his. Right behind 7000 ways to listen.

[Carrie E. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meditative.