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A review by saarahnina
Living and Dying with Confidence: A Day-By-Day Guide by Anyen, Allison Choying Zangmo
2.0
I don't believe this book was for me. This book focusses on taking the fear from our views of death, and even though, I don't exactly look forward to death, I do accept it- it's a way of life. That's a lesson we learn from experience. And, as much as I'd like to credit this book for bringing my acceptance, I'm afraid I can't.
You see, this book delves into spirituality to raise one's awareness of how death is visible all around, and pushes readers to silently contemplate their experiences with death, or their views on death. These are things I do on a daily basis anyway, I'm one of those over-thinkers, that combined with my mild insomnia, means these tasks weren't anything new. In fact, I didn't like how this book made it seem as if it were a chore, rather than the acquisition of a habit.
Additionally, I felt that the constant questions were very impersonal when dealing with a sensitive topic- for me, they just became an incessant drawl, but I imagine for others, they would introduce new thoughts, which may prove to only reinforce their current fears regarding death.
Similarly, there were selections I disagreed with. For example, in one of the chapters they write:
'We live in a deeply logical society. We are trained to look for patterns and connections. Yet for some reason, we struggle to apply what we see happening in the rest of the world to ourselves. We grasp onto the idea that we are somehow unique and different . We fail to understand our own mortality.' To which I could only respond, "Speak for yourselves, I, for one, completely understand that I am a mere mortal."
But, I did, indeed, appreciate the theology and the theoretical aims of this book. I recognise this work as a valuable resource in the self-help genre. It was just that the chapters were introduced mostly with baseless ideas and so, I felt this book was not for me. I suppose it is one of those books targeted at the more vulnerable among us, those who wish to venture on a journey of self discovery and self improvement. And not me, I fit into the other category of 'I am what I am', I look to improve myself but not to the extent that I can be fooled into believing anything.
I harbour no personal interest in this book, and so I cannot recommend it.
You see, this book delves into spirituality to raise one's awareness of how death is visible all around, and pushes readers to silently contemplate their experiences with death, or their views on death. These are things I do on a daily basis anyway, I'm one of those over-thinkers, that combined with my mild insomnia, means these tasks weren't anything new. In fact, I didn't like how this book made it seem as if it were a chore, rather than the acquisition of a habit.
Additionally, I felt that the constant questions were very impersonal when dealing with a sensitive topic- for me, they just became an incessant drawl, but I imagine for others, they would introduce new thoughts, which may prove to only reinforce their current fears regarding death.
Similarly, there were selections I disagreed with. For example, in one of the chapters they write:
'We live in a deeply logical society. We are trained to look for patterns and connections. Yet for some reason, we struggle to apply what we see happening in the rest of the world to ourselves. We grasp onto the idea that we are somehow unique and different . We fail to understand our own mortality.' To which I could only respond, "Speak for yourselves, I, for one, completely understand that I am a mere mortal."
But, I did, indeed, appreciate the theology and the theoretical aims of this book. I recognise this work as a valuable resource in the self-help genre. It was just that the chapters were introduced mostly with baseless ideas and so, I felt this book was not for me. I suppose it is one of those books targeted at the more vulnerable among us, those who wish to venture on a journey of self discovery and self improvement. And not me, I fit into the other category of 'I am what I am', I look to improve myself but not to the extent that I can be fooled into believing anything.
I harbour no personal interest in this book, and so I cannot recommend it.