A Reason to Live

by Melody Beattie (Editor)

Offers those contemplating suicide ways to find a reason to live, suggests immediate activities to help, and tells how to help stop a person from committing suicide

Genres: Self Help

167 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 1991

About the author

Melody Beattie was an American self-help author best known for her groundbreaking work on codependency. Born in 1948 in Minnesota, she endured a traumatic childhood marked by abuse and early substance addiction. After achieving sobriety, she became a licensed addiction counselor and began writing to help others navigate emotional recovery. Her 1986 book Codependent No More became a bestseller, selling eight million copies and helping to bring the concept of codependency into mainstream awareness. Over her career, she authored 18 books, including Beyond Codependency, The Language of Letting Go, and Make Miracles in Forty Days. Though her work is often associated with Co-Dependents Anonymous, her books were independent of the program.
Beattie’s personal life reflected many of the struggles she addressed in her work, including four marriages and the loss of a son. Her writing often drew from her own experiences with grief, addiction, and healing. In early 2025, she was forced to evacuate her Malibu home due to wildfires and died shortly after at her daughter’s home in Los Angeles from heart failure.

Reviews

[Liaken · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book has a lot of good ideas, both long term and short term, to help people who are struggling with a will to live. Much of the book is in a list form, which gets repetitive. Also, some of the things suggested for "when you just can't go on" are things that might not be possible. For instance, walking on the beach, holding a new baby, etc. The concept of the book is good. I wish it had been presented with better context and connecting ideas and materials to make a more cohesive whole. It needs more momentum and draw, especially for its target audience.

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good suggestions and thoughts if you are considering suicide.

[Mindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book saved my life in 1993.