This week I finished reading Mary Pipher's new book, Seeking Peace: Chronicles of the Worst Buddhist in the World. The book is a memoir that explores the lessons of her life, including her "meltdown" after the huge success of her book, Reviving Ophelia.Near the end of "Seeking Peace," Pipher offers an instructive view of her life questions:
"My questions about my life are all of our eternal questions: How can we best develop our gifts and use them to help others? How can we keep growing until we stop breathing? How can we stay present? How can we be happy? The answers are universal answers: Pay attention, tell the truth, be kind, and find things to appreciate and enjoy every day. Try to learn something from everyone. Be open to wonder."
If you are a "fan" of Mary Pipher's writing and have read any of her books (Another Country: Navigating the Emotional Terrain of Our Elders, The Shelter of Each Other: Rebuilding Our Families, Writing to Change the World, and others), you'll find her candid and moving account of her life so far (at age 60) a worthwhile book to put on your summer reading list.
###
1 comment:
Reviving Ophelia is presently on our shelf and I have passed on your recommendation to the lady who is the Head Librarian for the Berg Center for Domestic Living. One of my daughter's friends, observing our overflowing bookcases and books stacked in the corners, was overheard to say, "They're just for show. Nobody reads this many books." She's wrong, but things may have gotten out of hand over the years.
Post a Comment