Life Lessons ─ Two Experts on Death & Dying Teach Us About the Mysteries of Life and Living

Ten years after Elisabeth Kubler-Ross’s death: “An inspiring…guide to life, distilled from the experiences of people who face death” (Kirkus Reviews)—the beloved classic now with a new introduction and updated resources section.

Is this really how I want to live my life? Each one of us at some point asks this question. The tragedy is not that life is short, but that we often see only in hindsight what really matters.

In her first book on life and living, Elisabeth Kubler-Ross joined with David Kessler to guide us through the practical and spiritual lessons we need to learn so that we can live life to its fullest in every moment. Many years of working with the dying have shown the authors that certain lessons come up over and over again. Some of these lessons are enormously difficult to master, but even the attempts to understand them can be deeply rewarding. Here, in fourteen accessible chapters, from the Lesson of Love to the Lesson of Happiness, the authors reveal the truth about our fears, our hopes, our relationships, and, above all, about the grandness of who we really are.

Elisabeth Kubler-Ross, MD,?[1926–2004] was a Swiss-born psychiatrist, humanitarian, and co-founder of the hospice movement around the world. She was also the author of the groundbreaking book On Death and Dying, which first discussed The Five Stages of Grief. Elisabeth authored twenty-four books in thirty-six languages and brought comfort to millions of people coping with their own deaths or the death of a loved one. Her greatest professional legacy includes teaching the practice of humane care for the dying and the importance of sharing unconditional love. Her work continues by the efforts of hundreds of organizations around the world, including The Elisabeth Kubler-Ross Foundation:?EKRFoundation.org.

David Kessler is the world’s foremost expert on grief. His experience with thousands of people on the edge of life and death has taught him the secrets to living a fulfilled life, even after life’s tragedies. He coauthored On Grief and Grieving and Life Lessons with Elizabeth Kubler-Ross. On his own, he is the author of?Finding Meaning, Visions, Trips, and Crowded Rooms, and The Needs of the Dying, which received praise from Mother Teresa. He also coauthored You Can Heal Your Heart: Finding Peace After a Breakup, Divorce or Death with Louise Hay.

David’s work has been discussed in the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Business Week, and Life Magazine, and has been featured on CNN, Fox, NBC, PBS, and CBS. David’s volunteer work has included serving for decades as a Los Angeles Police Department Specialist Reserve Officer and having served on the Red Cross Aviation Disaster Team. He now lectures for physicians, nurses, counselors, police, and first responders about end of life, trauma, and grief, as well as leading talks and retreats for those dealing with grief around the world.