What do you think?
Rate this book
Learning to Breathe: One Woman's Journey of Spirit and Survival
A searing and uplifting account of one woman’s spiritual journey from surviving a terrible accident to a triumphant ascent of Kilimanjaro
On the second day of this century, world- renowned photojournalist Alison Wright was traveling on a windy mountain road in Laos when the bus she was riding in collided with a logging truck and was severed in half. As Alison waited for help to arrive—in excruciating pain and believing she was moments from death—she drew upon her years of meditation practice and concentrated on every breath as if it were her last.
Learning to Breathe is an extraordinary spiritual memoir about the will to survive. After the bus collision, Alison spent fourteen hours without proper medical attention (her arm was first sewn up by a boy with a needle and thread) and endured months of surgeries and grueling physical therapy. She struggled to remain positive while doctors discouraged her from expecting a return to her previous life. Never one to accept defeat, Alison set herself a goal: to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro.
Alison did climb Kilimanjaro, reaching the summit on the morning of her fortieth birthday. Gasping for air once again, she stood at the highest point in Africa, thankful for every moment she’d had since the accident and determined to never again take one single breath for granted. Bringing the story full circle, she retraces her steps in Laos to thank those who helped her, and she has since resumed traveling the world photographing children and the underprivileged.
On the second day of this century, world- renowned photojournalist Alison Wright was traveling on a windy mountain road in Laos when the bus she was riding in collided with a logging truck and was severed in half. As Alison waited for help to arrive—in excruciating pain and believing she was moments from death—she drew upon her years of meditation practice and concentrated on every breath as if it were her last.
Learning to Breathe is an extraordinary spiritual memoir about the will to survive. After the bus collision, Alison spent fourteen hours without proper medical attention (her arm was first sewn up by a boy with a needle and thread) and endured months of surgeries and grueling physical therapy. She struggled to remain positive while doctors discouraged her from expecting a return to her previous life. Never one to accept defeat, Alison set herself a goal: to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro.
Alison did climb Kilimanjaro, reaching the summit on the morning of her fortieth birthday. Gasping for air once again, she stood at the highest point in Africa, thankful for every moment she’d had since the accident and determined to never again take one single breath for granted. Bringing the story full circle, she retraces her steps in Laos to thank those who helped her, and she has since resumed traveling the world photographing children and the underprivileged.
269 pages, Hardcover
First published August 14, 2008
48 people are currently reading
892 people want to read
About the author
Dalai Lama XIV
1,559 books6,168 followersJetsun Jamphel Ngawang Lobsang Yeshe Tenzin Gyatso (born Lhamo Döndrub), the 14th Dalai Lama, is a practicing member of the Gelug School of Tibetan Buddhism and is influential as a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, the world's most famous Buddhist monk, and the leader of the exiled Tibetan government in India.
Tenzin Gyatso was the fifth of sixteen children born to a farming family. He was proclaimed the tulku (an Enlightened lama who has consciously decided to take rebirth) of the 13th Dalai Lama at the age of two.
On 17 November 1950, at the age of 15, he was enthroned as Tibet's ruler. Thus he became Tibet's most important political ruler just one month after the People's Republic of China's invasion of Tibet on 7 October 1950. In 1954, he went to Beijing to attempt peace talks with Mao Zedong and other leaders of the PRC. These talks ultimately failed.
After a failed uprising and the collapse of the Tibetan resistance movement in 1959, the Dalai Lama left for India, where he was active in establishing the Central Tibetan Administration (the Tibetan Government in Exile) and in seeking to preserve Tibetan culture and education among the thousands of refugees who accompanied him.
Tenzin Gyatso is a charismatic figure and noted public speaker. This Dalai Lama is the first to travel to the West. There, he has helped to spread Buddhism and to promote the concepts of universal responsibility, secular ethics, and religious harmony.
He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989, honorary Canadian citizenship in 2006, and the United States Congressional Gold Medal on 17 October 2007.
Tenzin Gyatso was the fifth of sixteen children born to a farming family. He was proclaimed the tulku (an Enlightened lama who has consciously decided to take rebirth) of the 13th Dalai Lama at the age of two.
On 17 November 1950, at the age of 15, he was enthroned as Tibet's ruler. Thus he became Tibet's most important political ruler just one month after the People's Republic of China's invasion of Tibet on 7 October 1950. In 1954, he went to Beijing to attempt peace talks with Mao Zedong and other leaders of the PRC. These talks ultimately failed.
After a failed uprising and the collapse of the Tibetan resistance movement in 1959, the Dalai Lama left for India, where he was active in establishing the Central Tibetan Administration (the Tibetan Government in Exile) and in seeking to preserve Tibetan culture and education among the thousands of refugees who accompanied him.
Tenzin Gyatso is a charismatic figure and noted public speaker. This Dalai Lama is the first to travel to the West. There, he has helped to spread Buddhism and to promote the concepts of universal responsibility, secular ethics, and religious harmony.
He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989, honorary Canadian citizenship in 2006, and the United States Congressional Gold Medal on 17 October 2007.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 170 reviews
October 12, 2011
Despite the cheesy title and subtitle, this is the story of a remarkable woman, her incredible energy, experiences and grit. Alison Wright is a photojournalist who specializes in documenting the plight of underprivileged children throughout the world. In 2000, Wright survived being a victim in a debilitating bus accident in which all of her major organs were shoved up under her left shoulder. Because the bus collision happened on a rural mountanside in Laos, she didn't receive real medical attention nor anesthesia for fourteen hours after the accident. Her almost impossible survival and subsequent endurance through a difficult convalescence reminded me of Aaron Ralston (Between a Rock and a Hard Place/127 Hours--as does her chronic risk-taking and grit in the face of adversity--but her selflessness and self-questioning replace Ralston's cocky egotism. Likewise, Wright's participation in eastern religion and search for enlightenment is reminscient of Elizabeth Gilbert's in Eat, Pray, Love, but minus the self-absorption and incessant focus on romantic relationships. Wright seems to be a true bodhisattva--transforming a fear of intimacy created by negative childhood experiences into an insatiable appetite for experience and helping others.
December 23, 2012
What an amazing life this woman has had. What was most striking to me is that her near-death experience didn't really lead to a big change in her life; instead, it helped her see with even more clarity how she'd been living the life she truly wanted. How many people can say that?
I also love how her life of travel is so meaningful. She touches, and is touched, by many people along the way.
The reason I didn't give this 5 stars is related to the fact that she's done so much: there were significant experiences that she glossed over in an attempt to cover so much. I hope she writes a new book to expand on these stories.
I also love how her life of travel is so meaningful. She touches, and is touched, by many people along the way.
The reason I didn't give this 5 stars is related to the fact that she's done so much: there were significant experiences that she glossed over in an attempt to cover so much. I hope she writes a new book to expand on these stories.
December 17, 2009
I loved this book. It was fun to live vicariously through her many life adventures as well as seeing her strength and motivation during her recovery.
Last night as I finished it and was falling asleep, I did wonder how much easier it is to stay in the present moment when traveling around the world on endless adventures, because you have to. That is the beauty of traveling, everything is new and fresh. Staying present in the day in an day out of typical life with kids and soccer practice and dinners to get ready while still being grateful and seeing the beauty and adventure in the ordinary, well that is another challenge all in itself. One in which most of us embark on. Not looking for that next great adventure to bring us true happiness, which won't happen, but finding true happiness IN us instead.
Regardless of figuring life out based on my own life conditions, I did really enjoy this book. And would recommend it to anyone who loves travel narratives, adventure stories, spirituality in the depth of crisis, and anyone who needs a vicarious adventure right now! She is very strong. That we are not left wondering about...
Last night as I finished it and was falling asleep, I did wonder how much easier it is to stay in the present moment when traveling around the world on endless adventures, because you have to. That is the beauty of traveling, everything is new and fresh. Staying present in the day in an day out of typical life with kids and soccer practice and dinners to get ready while still being grateful and seeing the beauty and adventure in the ordinary, well that is another challenge all in itself. One in which most of us embark on. Not looking for that next great adventure to bring us true happiness, which won't happen, but finding true happiness IN us instead.
Regardless of figuring life out based on my own life conditions, I did really enjoy this book. And would recommend it to anyone who loves travel narratives, adventure stories, spirituality in the depth of crisis, and anyone who needs a vicarious adventure right now! She is very strong. That we are not left wondering about...
April 20, 2015
This is an amazing story of a one woman's journey to wellness after a devastating accident. It is truly remarkable how she was able to stay alive through the ordeal and to stick to her desire to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro by her 40th birthday (which she acheived).
However, I gave it three stars because I felt that she failed to really convey the emotions of the enormity of what happened to her. Nor was she able to articulate her struggles in a way that allowed the reader to share the journey. She came across as a bit narcisistic. But, given the wonderful support system she had and the enormous number of close friends she had, I believe she is probably a very open and loving person, it was just hard to see that in her narrative.
All that said, there are a lot of genuine pearls of wisdom embedded in the book and I do recommend it. And it is inspiring. After all, if she was able to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro after shattering her pelvis then I should be able to cycle 50 miles when my only physical issue is a swollen wrist. Right?
However, I gave it three stars because I felt that she failed to really convey the emotions of the enormity of what happened to her. Nor was she able to articulate her struggles in a way that allowed the reader to share the journey. She came across as a bit narcisistic. But, given the wonderful support system she had and the enormous number of close friends she had, I believe she is probably a very open and loving person, it was just hard to see that in her narrative.
All that said, there are a lot of genuine pearls of wisdom embedded in the book and I do recommend it. And it is inspiring. After all, if she was able to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro after shattering her pelvis then I should be able to cycle 50 miles when my only physical issue is a swollen wrist. Right?
July 25, 2018
I really wanted to give this book 5 stars just because the author is such an amazing person. Threading her story of recovery from what should have been a fatal accident, Wright weaves in tales of her past adventures with her spiritual growth and challenges. Her travel stories are fascinating, but what I loved was the author’s heart, her concern for the lives of other people and cultures.
She’s a journalist so I shouldn’t really expect an emotional read, but in the end, I stopped short of a fifth star for this very reason - maybe the book should have been longer so she could have spent more time developing the stories, or perhaps she could have left out a few stories and given more detail, being more evocative and emotional, with the ones she did include.
At any rate, a great read and an inspiring story by an unselfish human being.
She’s a journalist so I shouldn’t really expect an emotional read, but in the end, I stopped short of a fifth star for this very reason - maybe the book should have been longer so she could have spent more time developing the stories, or perhaps she could have left out a few stories and given more detail, being more evocative and emotional, with the ones she did include.
At any rate, a great read and an inspiring story by an unselfish human being.
January 20, 2011
Alison Wright was in a severe bus accident in Laos when a logging truck hit the bus head on. Alison was sprawled on the pavement, covered in blood with life threatening injuries. The pain was excruciating and combined with her difficulty breathing, she was hanging onto life by a thread. She had practiced meditation for years and applied her tools of the trade and concentrated as intently as she could on every single breath she took, she was determined she wasn’t going to allow herself to die.
After many, many hours she was finally at a hospital receiving treatment then spending many weeks in the Intensive Care Unit with a breathing tube, she vowed to herself that she’d get well and climb Mt. Kilimanjaro in Africa!
Her story of rehabilitation is nothing short of courageous and brave. This is a woman with an immense amount of self-motivation, a deep will to live and the emotional strength to overcome the odds stacked against her to once again “live” life.
Learning to Breathe will leave you with a greater appreciation for what it really means to be alive!
After many, many hours she was finally at a hospital receiving treatment then spending many weeks in the Intensive Care Unit with a breathing tube, she vowed to herself that she’d get well and climb Mt. Kilimanjaro in Africa!
Her story of rehabilitation is nothing short of courageous and brave. This is a woman with an immense amount of self-motivation, a deep will to live and the emotional strength to overcome the odds stacked against her to once again “live” life.
Learning to Breathe will leave you with a greater appreciation for what it really means to be alive!
November 4, 2015
Maybe 2.5 stars. Contrary to the subtitle, this book is heavy on survival and rather light on spirit. I agree with the reviewer who said this might have been better left as a magazine article, which it had been at one time. It seemed superficial to me with a bit of name-dropping thrown in. Alison Wright's life just seems to be a series of vignettes and has the feel of a travel log. The author struggled to reclaim her former self physically and largely succeeded. However, the impact of a near-fatal accident appears to have left her largely unchanged. There's nothing inherently wrong with this, it's just that I was hoping for more.
December 27, 2009
this is a typical struggle back from adversity story. I found it more tedious than inspiring. Lots of errors and repetition. Her story might have made a good magazine article.
May 8, 2010
The author annoyed me. She seems like a suicidal maniac who sabotaged her own recovery over and over again. She reminds me of that guy who died in the book Into the Wild.
January 8, 2019
Exceptional and moving in both senses. This personal account will inspire and motivate you. We are making a trip to India. Will add to this review following our experience.
March 31, 2022
I don’t remember who passed this book on to me but it has sat on my shelf for years. The author survived a horrific crash in Southeast Asia and used climbing Kilimanjaro as a goal for healing. I’ve always enjoyed reading about other people’s experiences to places I have traveled (and, in this case, it makes me feel extremely grateful that my travels to those locations went as planned). Curious about what the author is doing today, I googled her only to find that she passed away 6 days ago. She suffered a heart attack while diving in the Azores at age 61. Her love of adventures (including diving) was the point of this book, so in her case, she truly died doing something she loved.
May 28, 2018
Everyone should read this truly inspiring tale
January 20, 2009
Learning to Breathe is a memoir by photojournalist Alison Wright. In her book she describes barely surviving a horrific bus crash in Laos and her subsequent recovery.
What is truly amazing about Wright's story is that she really should not have survived given the extent of her internal injuries and the fact that it was nearly 24 hours before she was even able to get to a hospital in Thailand with just adequate enough care to operate on her.
What remains so vivid for me about her story is how her first level of care was in a remote Laotian village where she was only able to receive stitches by a non-medically trained man with something that looked like an upholstery needle. The building was in a pasture, unclean and surrounded by livestock. From there she endured an excruciating journey in the back of a pick up truck with only the stars and her meditation techniques to focus on and to help divert her pain.
Eventually, after surgery in Thailand and a lengthy recovery time there, she was able to fly to her home town of San Francisco where she would endure many more surgeries on her fragile and wrecked body, and years of recovery and physical therapy. Interspersed with her medical experiences are stories of her travels all over the world, her photos, and her deepening sense of Buddhist spirituality.
Hers is an incredible story and her memoir is well worth the read, particularly if you like adventure and travel books. I will admit to feeling like her life and her experiences were almost too incredible to be believed, and I wondered if perhaps I had been "James Freyed". Because her story and her life are so absolutely incredible, I found myself wondering if we will see Ms. Wright on Oprah one day admitting to doctoring the details? Or is it just that the scope of her experiences lies so far outside my realm of life experiences that it is hard to imagine? I choose to believe the latter unless I hear otherwise.
I enjoyed her descriptions of Nepal and Tibet in particular. I was moved by her thoughts on human love, the interconnectedness of every being on this planet, and the power to find joy and peace even in the face of suffering.
What is truly amazing about Wright's story is that she really should not have survived given the extent of her internal injuries and the fact that it was nearly 24 hours before she was even able to get to a hospital in Thailand with just adequate enough care to operate on her.
What remains so vivid for me about her story is how her first level of care was in a remote Laotian village where she was only able to receive stitches by a non-medically trained man with something that looked like an upholstery needle. The building was in a pasture, unclean and surrounded by livestock. From there she endured an excruciating journey in the back of a pick up truck with only the stars and her meditation techniques to focus on and to help divert her pain.
Eventually, after surgery in Thailand and a lengthy recovery time there, she was able to fly to her home town of San Francisco where she would endure many more surgeries on her fragile and wrecked body, and years of recovery and physical therapy. Interspersed with her medical experiences are stories of her travels all over the world, her photos, and her deepening sense of Buddhist spirituality.
Hers is an incredible story and her memoir is well worth the read, particularly if you like adventure and travel books. I will admit to feeling like her life and her experiences were almost too incredible to be believed, and I wondered if perhaps I had been "James Freyed". Because her story and her life are so absolutely incredible, I found myself wondering if we will see Ms. Wright on Oprah one day admitting to doctoring the details? Or is it just that the scope of her experiences lies so far outside my realm of life experiences that it is hard to imagine? I choose to believe the latter unless I hear otherwise.
I enjoyed her descriptions of Nepal and Tibet in particular. I was moved by her thoughts on human love, the interconnectedness of every being on this planet, and the power to find joy and peace even in the face of suffering.
March 11, 2018
I found this book and the author very annoying. She’s so self absorbed and in love with herself and contradictory and acting stupidly so many times. Just a few examples that annoyed me:
- She seems to be obsessed with accents. It reminds of me those close minded native English speakers that are appalled that people don���t speak English or don’t do it with a native accent. Also what’s the point stating that a couple of Germans chatted with a German accent. Surely they simply spoke German to each other?
- She dumps medication in the toilet. How stupid do you have to be first to do it and second to boast about it?
- She ignores beliefs of her Hindu guides and lets them eat beef when they are not aware they do it
- She feels guilty to kill worms in her lungs with medication and does a special ceremony because of that but then she goes on cooking fish and attempting to catch it herself
- She writes pointless sentences such as I arrived in San Franco without money for a phone call so I had to call a friend to pick me up
- She writes that a doctor in Thailand arranged her an ambulance ride whenever she wanted, once she was perfectly alright and didn’t need it
- She does bungee jumping when she’s not fully recovered yet
- She actually uses the term third world countries
What a relief to finally finish this torture of a book.
- She seems to be obsessed with accents. It reminds of me those close minded native English speakers that are appalled that people don���t speak English or don’t do it with a native accent. Also what’s the point stating that a couple of Germans chatted with a German accent. Surely they simply spoke German to each other?
- She dumps medication in the toilet. How stupid do you have to be first to do it and second to boast about it?
- She ignores beliefs of her Hindu guides and lets them eat beef when they are not aware they do it
- She feels guilty to kill worms in her lungs with medication and does a special ceremony because of that but then she goes on cooking fish and attempting to catch it herself
- She writes pointless sentences such as I arrived in San Franco without money for a phone call so I had to call a friend to pick me up
- She writes that a doctor in Thailand arranged her an ambulance ride whenever she wanted, once she was perfectly alright and didn’t need it
- She does bungee jumping when she’s not fully recovered yet
- She actually uses the term third world countries
What a relief to finally finish this torture of a book.
July 16, 2010
My wish for this book was that it could have been separated into two parts. I found both the story of Alison Wright's accident and journey to recovery and her accounts of all the amazing things that she has done in her life inspiring, it was just a little bit too much for one book. It felt a little bit like she thought this might be her only chance to write about her life, so she wanted to get as many stories in as she could. Switching from her recovery to memories of her earlier life to her hopes for the future was just a little bit too much for one book and I think she could have achieved an equally inspiring story (or several) with better flow. The story also comes off as a bit cheesy at times, which is too bad because I think it really was an amazing experience that she went through. However, beyond my critique of how the book was approached, the story is fascinating and inspiring. I very greatly enjoyed it and very much admire Alison Wright for all she has been through. I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in the powers of spirituality and inner strength and anyone who is in need of a little pick-me-up.
May 22, 2011
This was a pretty amazing story of a woman adventurer who was critically injured in a bus accident in Tibet. She only survives because of the actions of the strangers who came to her aid and transported her--with great difficulty--to a hospital. Despite the severity of her injuries, and the years of subsequent rehabilitation and ailments, she draws upon her inner strength, an unfailing optimism and her spirituality to conquer and thrive.
It was a relief, almost, to follow the story of a woman who doesn't let circumstances get her down, who was a victim, but never acted like one. She switched doctors and therapists when they weren't giving her the answers she wanted. She didn't want to hear what she couldn't or never would do again, she wanted people who could help her get back what she had lost. Even the doctors who supported her ambitions were surprised that she was able to do the things she did, like ascending Kilimanjaru.
This is not normally my type of book, but I do reccomend it.
It was a relief, almost, to follow the story of a woman who doesn't let circumstances get her down, who was a victim, but never acted like one. She switched doctors and therapists when they weren't giving her the answers she wanted. She didn't want to hear what she couldn't or never would do again, she wanted people who could help her get back what she had lost. Even the doctors who supported her ambitions were surprised that she was able to do the things she did, like ascending Kilimanjaru.
This is not normally my type of book, but I do reccomend it.
Read
March 5, 2011Written by my dear friend Alison who went through a horrible bus accident that has changed her life. This is her account of her journey to recovery along with flashbacks of her life of adventures as a world traveling professional photographer. If only one of the events in her life had happened to me, I'd be working that story the rest of my life, but for Alison, her adventures are just a day in the life. Thankfully, God has kept her safe! From war zones to base camp at Everest to the Amazon to the mountains of Laos, Alison has been impacted by and impacted many people along the way. This is also a spiritual journey for her. She follows Buddhism and has had many questions about her death-to-life experience and what happens in the after life.
December 2, 2012
I enjoyed the incidents in her life as a world wanderer. I was amazed with what she survived. I felt at times that she was an adrenaline junkie, albeit with all good intentions on her part. I liked her basic message of connection and living in the moment. I was a little disappointed in the lack of detail about aspects of her spiritual growth. I do definitely think it is worth reading just for the survival and her basic message of connectedness.
There was a wonderful quote at the end which applies to me and my current friend: An invisible red thread connects those who are destined to meet regardless of time, place, or circumstance. The thread may stretch or tangle but it wil never break. (Chinese proverb)
There was a wonderful quote at the end which applies to me and my current friend: An invisible red thread connects those who are destined to meet regardless of time, place, or circumstance. The thread may stretch or tangle but it wil never break. (Chinese proverb)
April 22, 2011
I have been a bit disappointed with this book. I thought the writer was going to tell about some of her experiences in the East. Instead is seems to be a book about a near death by a bad bus ride experience and how she overcame the odds of surviving. I feel that the book is something the author needed to write for her own healing but it has not been that exciting. She is a noted photographer and has published several photo books but her ability to tell an interesting story did not raise it's head during the telling of this story. I am sorry it did not interest me much because I was hoping for some great tales and adventures.
August 7, 2011
I guess I picked up this book because my daughter got in an accident,and I wanted to read about someone who had it much worse, but was still okay at the end. This woman's life is completely incredible. The misfortune keeps following her, and every time she comes out of it stronger and better than before. I am glad I read it. Things are possible, I guess, with the right attitude. It was very interesting to read about Tibet. I hope to pick up more books on the same topic.. The book reminded me a little about Eat, Pray, Love. I could not shake off how damned that road in Laos was... ugh... Anyway, I do not want to give away the book. Interesting and easy read.
May 16, 2012
What an excellent book! It's not just the awesome story of survival, but the spiritual journery the authoer, Alison Wright has been on her entire life that was so satisfying about this book. Wright is definitely an excellent writer as well as photographer. Her life is exciting, dangerous, and lonely; but somehow also filled with joy, comfort, and lots of strong relationships. I could almost start reading this again right away, I liked it that much. Highly recommend this read.
July 6, 2023
Learning to deal with anxiety is one of those things you just do - or don't. How many paths must you travel? How many doors must you go through? How many meditative clinics or seminars are "enough"? Seemed far-fetched and a lot of fruitless searching with variable degrees of success. Not my path or one I could afford, but if it floats your boat or "lotus blossom", well.... float away.
September 2, 2021
"And now, years later, I appreciated how a little adversity can make you a stronger person in the long run. If you survive it."
“All I know is that one person can’t save the world. But if you have touched just a single person then that’s something worth living for.”
"I believe that our actions today create our future experiences: we get what we give."
"We are all on individual paths, and we just need to listen to the stillness in our heart to know what our life’s purpose is. The signs are all around us if we pay attention and slow down enough to become aware of them. We all have this ability; it just gets overwhelmed by what society dictates and feelings of what we “ought” to be doing."
"we have about sixty-six thousand thoughts a day and that two-thirds of them are fear based."
“I feel that life and its emotions are so fluid,” I had written to Meia at one point. “Maybe life’s purpose is not to strive to obtain constant happiness, but to find fulfillment in our lives, in whatever way is meaningful to each of us.”
"When you get right down to it, the fear of death is nothing compared to the fear of having not lived a life to its greatest extent, with authenticity, awareness, and gratitude."
“All I know is that one person can’t save the world. But if you have touched just a single person then that’s something worth living for.”
"I believe that our actions today create our future experiences: we get what we give."
"We are all on individual paths, and we just need to listen to the stillness in our heart to know what our life’s purpose is. The signs are all around us if we pay attention and slow down enough to become aware of them. We all have this ability; it just gets overwhelmed by what society dictates and feelings of what we “ought” to be doing."
"we have about sixty-six thousand thoughts a day and that two-thirds of them are fear based."
“I feel that life and its emotions are so fluid,” I had written to Meia at one point. “Maybe life’s purpose is not to strive to obtain constant happiness, but to find fulfillment in our lives, in whatever way is meaningful to each of us.”
"When you get right down to it, the fear of death is nothing compared to the fear of having not lived a life to its greatest extent, with authenticity, awareness, and gratitude."
July 25, 2021
3.5 stars
This was an interesting story with so much good in it. I liked the positive vibe and the inspiration of coming back from near death and bodily ruin from an accident to health and wellness. Alison is certainly a trooper and with her attitude, she couldn't help but marshal the forces of the universe and God on her behalf.
I felt that it was much too long and repetitive at times as well as a little preachy. I think I would have liked it more if it were about half as long, I had to push myself to finish. It is a remarkable story, and I would like to see her photographic work. It would also be interesting to see where her life goes from here.
In addition, it was an interesting look at Buddhism/Buddhist traditions and the Tibetan's struggle, and life of a professional photographer globetrotting in some very dangerous places and situations.
This was an interesting story with so much good in it. I liked the positive vibe and the inspiration of coming back from near death and bodily ruin from an accident to health and wellness. Alison is certainly a trooper and with her attitude, she couldn't help but marshal the forces of the universe and God on her behalf.
I felt that it was much too long and repetitive at times as well as a little preachy. I think I would have liked it more if it were about half as long, I had to push myself to finish. It is a remarkable story, and I would like to see her photographic work. It would also be interesting to see where her life goes from here.
In addition, it was an interesting look at Buddhism/Buddhist traditions and the Tibetan's struggle, and life of a professional photographer globetrotting in some very dangerous places and situations.
May 14, 2020
Although this book made me think outside of how I view other religions and spirituality, I couldn't get past that I felt "othered" as a person of color. The way the author describes other cultures and countries reminds me that yes, it was a different time when this book was written, but if you can't accept other cultures/races/ethnicities for who they are and not portraying them as developing/third world, maybe you should not immerse yourself in only one part (religion) of different cultures. Having family in Asia, I could totally get behind the loving and amicable personalities of people in South-East Asia, but I could not get behind how medical and spiritual practices were described as less than anything but normal.
August 27, 2019
In parts spiritual and reflective, in others frenetic and all over the place, the author's story of survival after a harrowing accident is compelling reading. She clearly leads a very engaging life and her indomitable spirit is quite inspiring. I also found myself googling her for her photography, which is outstanding. She has a healthy and honest perspective on living, which puts her in the middle of so many chart-topping, life-altering, bucket-list level situations, I found my mind spinning when she circled back to a Buddhist anecdote and one-on-one sessions with the Dalai Lama and Richard Gere. Certainly captures ones attention!
July 4, 2023
Wow.
I’m sure this book has inspired many in various ways, but Alison Wright managed to put into words my own experiences in processing significant life changes after a should-have-been-fatal crash. Adjusting to the “new normal” is rough, and she managed to get that process on paper in a way I’ve struggled to explain.
I always say, nothing will stop me. And nothing does, but it sure does take a lot more planning and preparation than it used to! Thanks for sharing your story, and making it accessible to others with one of the most unwanted club memberships: “why me?”
There’s still adventure to be had, and this book gets us there.
I’m sure this book has inspired many in various ways, but Alison Wright managed to put into words my own experiences in processing significant life changes after a should-have-been-fatal crash. Adjusting to the “new normal” is rough, and she managed to get that process on paper in a way I’ve struggled to explain.
I always say, nothing will stop me. And nothing does, but it sure does take a lot more planning and preparation than it used to! Thanks for sharing your story, and making it accessible to others with one of the most unwanted club memberships: “why me?”
There’s still adventure to be had, and this book gets us there.
May 24, 2018
Wonderful, Heartfelt Story
Alison Wright tells her story with candor and good humor as she winds her way back to good health after a near fatal accident. I loved her tales of years of Asian travel that were peppered throughout the book. And I was especially moved by her love and compassion towards the people she met, photographed, and learned from. And so thrilled to find myself back in the sacred lands of Nepal and Tibet. She calls us all into our humanity...reminds us to be loving, kind, and giving. Truly a fabulous, moving book.
Alison Wright tells her story with candor and good humor as she winds her way back to good health after a near fatal accident. I loved her tales of years of Asian travel that were peppered throughout the book. And I was especially moved by her love and compassion towards the people she met, photographed, and learned from. And so thrilled to find myself back in the sacred lands of Nepal and Tibet. She calls us all into our humanity...reminds us to be loving, kind, and giving. Truly a fabulous, moving book.
July 5, 2018
Based on the description of this book, I thought the author’s ascent of Mount Kilimanjaro would be the culmination of the story. Rather, it seemed anticlimactic when the story reached that point. I found the flashbacks throughout to be a little jarring at times to the flow of the story. However, it truly is amazing what Alison survived and the overall message of compassion and healing is a great one.
May 3, 2021
The story of Alison Wright and her survival and the experiences she had in her life pre-injury and post-injury are incredible. But maybe so incredible and beyond a normal person’s life that it’s hard to relate to her.
It was cool to read about the places she went and people she met and the good she was doing. And she was obviously meant to survive. But for me, personally, it wasn’t something I connected with.
It was cool to read about the places she went and people she met and the good she was doing. And she was obviously meant to survive. But for me, personally, it wasn’t something I connected with.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 170 reviews