A \ reflective eloquent [and] inspiringly written\ (The New York Times) collection of essays about learning to live richly in the face of loss \ Astonishing . . . sometimes heartbreaking . . . sometimes hilarious.\ --The Boston Globe WINNER OF THE BOOKS FOR A BETTER LIFE AWARD S BEST SPIRITUAL BOOK Philip Simmons was just thirty-five years old in 1993 when he learned that he had ALS or Lou Gehrig s disease and was told he had less than five years to live. As a young husband and father and at the start of a promising literary career he suddenly had to learn the art of dying. Nine years later he succeeded against the odds in learning the art of living. In this surprisingly joyous and spirit-renewing book he chronicles his search for peace and his deepening relationship with the mystery of everyday life. From our first faltering steps Simmons says we may fall into disappointment or grief fall into or out of love fall from youth or health. And though we have little choice as to the timing or means of our descent we may as he affirms \ fall with grace to grace.\ With humor hard-earned wisdom and a keen eye for life s lessons--whether drawn from great poetry or visits to the town dump--Simmons shares his discovery that even at times of great sorrow we may find profound freedom. And by sharing the wonder of his daily life he offers us the gift of connecting more deeply and joyously with our own.