Lessons From The Edge

by Nancy Boyd

218 pages, Paperback

Published May 29, 2025

About the author

Hi, I’m Nancy — an author, award-winning coach, and self-proclaimed Soul Mechanic (yes, it’s exactly what it sounds like: I help people when their “check engine” light is flashing). My books and programs are all about navigating life with more ease, wisdom, and a sense of humor — because honestly, transformation doesn’t always have to be so serious.

I’ve been pronounced dead three times (so you could say I’ve had some interesting research opportunities), survived a few plot twists life threw at me, and came out the other side with stories, strategies, and the determination to help others find their own way home.

When I’m not writing or teaching, you’ll probably find me cooking something delicious, meditating in the garden, or trying to convince my friends that “soul mastery” pairs well with coffee and laughter. If you enjoy books that make you think, laugh, and maybe change your life, you’re in the right place.

Reviews

[Musa · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a longtime member of the Minneapolis Sci-Fi (and sometimes Fantasy) Book Club, I’ll admit I was curious how a nonfiction book like Lessons From The Edge would land with us. To my surprise, it turned out to be one of the most thought-provoking reads we’ve had in a long time. Nancy Boyd takes this simple metaphor, life as a vehicle, and transforms it into something so vivid and relatable that I kept finding myself nodding along and thinking, ‘Yes, that’s exactly what it feels like.’

What impressed me most was how practical it is. Nancy doesn’t just inspire you, she equips you. I walked away with a new way of noticing my own “dashboard signals” before things spiral. It’s the kind of wisdom that sneaks up on you and stays with you, the kind that naturally sparks conversations that go deeper than just talking about the book.

In a club where we usually dive into imagined worlds, it was refreshing, and honestly a little startling, to read something that turned the mirror back on my own life. If you’ve ever felt close to the edge, this book will not only catch you, but it will also teach you how to steer clear of the cliff altogether.
A Minneapolis Sci-Fi & Fantasy Book Club Member

[Janet]

As a member of the Minneapolis Sci-Fi (and sometimes Fantasy) Book Club, I wasn’t sure what to expect from Nancy Boyd’s Lessons From The Edge. What surprised me most was how vivid and memorable her writing is. The section where she explains how to read your own ‘dashboard warning lights’ really stuck with me, it’s such a simple image, but once you see it that way, you can’t unsee it. I actually caught myself, a few days after finishing the book, noticing my own ‘check engine light’ moments in life and pausing to make better choices.

That’s what makes this book so powerful: it doesn’t just inspire; it changes the way you move through the world. In a club that usually dives into far-off galaxies and imagined realms, it was refreshing to read something that made my real life feel like the adventure worth paying attention to.

[Yakub Abdulganiy · Rating 5 out of 5]

The chapter about noticing your ‘dashboard signals’ before you crash hit me like a wake up call. I’ve read plenty of self-help, but Nancy Boyd makes it so relatable you can’t ignore it. Easily one of the most useful books our club has picked up this year

[Jerry Aubin · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite moment was when Nancy said clarity creates power. That sounds simple, but the way she explained it changed the way I think about decision-making. I’ve already made two tough choices this week with a lot more confidence.

[Ibrahim Azeez · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wasn’t sure nonfiction would grab me the way our usual sci-fi adventures do, but I was wrong. The section on turning past mistakes into ‘navigation data’ gave me goosebumps. It made me look at my own history in a new, empowering way.

[Ibrahim Azeez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honestly, I thought the car metaphor might wear thin, but it never did. Nancy takes it deeper with every chapter. My favorite part was when she explained how every person’s ‘life vehicle’ is designed differently. It made me feel less broken, more unique.

[Sophia Cardwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

In our Minneapolis club, we’re used to discussing fictional universes. Lessons From The Edge flipped that around and made us look at our own universe. The edge-as-threshold idea stuck with me, what feels like an ending might actually be the start of something bigger.

[Elle Nicoll · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first nonfiction I’ve read with the club, and I couldn’t put it down. The part about how your soul never lies, and how stress and intuition are signals felt like it was written just for me. I started listening to myself differently right away.

[Kamaldeen · Rating 4 out of 5]

There’s a scene where Nancy talks about edges not being endings, but thresholds. That reframing was huge for me. I’ve always dreaded ‘crisis moments,’ but this book gave me the courage to see them as doors instead of dead-ends.

[Serina Valea · Rating 5 out of 5]

I usually come to the book club for escapism. This time, I walked away with real tools for my own life. The ‘check engine light’ metaphor was my favorite; it made me realize how many warning signs I’ve been ignoring in myself.

[Ethan Favour · Rating 4 out of 5]

What stood out most for me was how conversational Nancy’s tone is. It felt like having a wise, funny coach in the room with me. The vehicle imagery never got old, it actually made me laugh out loud more than once.

[Diane M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

As someone who’s been part of this club for years, I can say this pick was different, in the best way. It’s one of those rare books that doesn’t just make you think, it makes you act. I’ve already started journaling about my own dashboard signals.

[Ebenezer Book · Rating 4 out of 5]

My big takeaway was Nancy’s idea that every edge moment is a wake-up call. That sentence alone was worth the read. It’s been echoing in my mind all week. I’m grateful this club introduced me to a book I probably wouldn’t have found on my own.