The Sky Is Not the Limit

"The Sky is Not the Limit" presents the accumulated wisdom of a life lived under extraordinary circumstances. The author grew up Jewish under the shadow of the Nazi regime and later participated in an anti-Communist uprising. A practicing physician, he immigrated to the United States to continue his pediatric practice. The principles he developed along the way are presented here in the form of aphorisms that readers can apply to daily living, accompanied by crisp works of art. Among the concepts Dr. Fisch advances are how suffering and hardship can lead to gratitude and appreciation. He stresses the importance of retaining our humanity on occasions when vengeance and hatred might seem to be the “natural” response. Dr. Fisch also emphasizes the importance of enjoying life fully through art, music, and play. Veins of humor run through even his most dire reflections on life and death, and the book also contains chapters on aging, love, marriage and family, and the emotions.

Robert O. Fisch is a native of Budapest, Hungary, and a survivor of the Holocaust. After escaping from Hungary, he became a medical intern at the University of Minnesota and was a professor of pediatrics there from 1979 until his retirement in 1997. Dr. Fisch is known internationally for his clinical research in phenylketonuria (PKU), a genetic disease. For his heroism, the Hungarian government awarded him a medal in 1995 and knighthood in 2000. An award-winning artist, Dr. Fisch's first book, "Light from the Yellow Star: A Lesson of Love from the Holocaust," is an eloquent portrayal of his Holocaust experience. His other books include "The Metamorphosis to Freedom," "Dear Dr. Fisch: Children's Letters to a Holocaust Survivor," and "Fisch Stories – Reflections on Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness."