The Book of Awakening: Having the Life You Want by Being Present to the Life You Have (20th Anniversary Edition)

In The Book of Awakenings, Mark Nepo breaks open the harried existence we call life and folds it into bite-sized nuggets of wisdom that nudge us along toward expansion, a more open mind, a more indulgent spirit, all in service to elevating the soul. Nepo writes like a man who has crossed the desert and made it to the oasis for the revitalizing drink, then decided the oasis was a pretty fine place to be. A poet and philosopher by trade, Nepo is also a cancer survivor. While he fought the disease, life changed, became scary, possibly shorter, but decidedly different. Nepo suddenly saw the world through slow eyes, coming through the trauma more receptive and mature, and ultimately decided to write down his observations which turned out to be a boon for the rest of us. Just like tempered glass needs a little heat to coax it to its super state of existence, Nepo needed a little cancer to get his 3-D priorities right with his Soul. The work comes across as if time is infinite (spoiler alert: it is), so why not settle down and make note of a few things while you can. A calendar book, meaning you can read the day’s entry or you can skip around and read it in any order you like, The Book of Awakenings is not about deadlines, but lifelines. I am reading it slowly, savoring it like I would an expensive box of chocolates, but in orderly fashion, leaving randomness for the second round that I know there will be. You can’t absorb this book through a single read; it’s too rich with its lifetime worth of wisdom crammed into a bit more than 400 pages. The Book of Awakenings is a perfect read for anyone who feels as though they’re muddling through: losing life, losing purpose, losing love, identity, focus, or worse, the malaise has manifested as a dis-ease in the body and there you are, broken, alone, clueless as to how to break the cycle. It’s also perfect for someone with no problems, but many questions. If any of these scenarios sound like yours, I have a suggestion: read The Book of Awakenings. While not a guarantee of success — only you can do that — it will help you find a path in the worst of times. The Book of Awakenings shows you why everything is a blessing, even cancer, and why there is no such thing as curses, only cursed thinking, which with a little work can be changed. Nepo wants you to celebrate life by seeing the good in all things, but don’t misunderstand. This is not a touchy-feely self-help book. Rather, it’s a retreat for the mind and Soul that will provide the self-loving space for the body to follow. It’s hard to imagine a more beautiful book ever having been written. A modern day Rumi, Nepo meets you where you are and turns you from the outside in. You owe it to yourself to follow.

This is a must read for your soul and spirit! It will help you view life in a different positive way!

Mark Nepo's insights are wonderful. He is so kind, caring, thoughtful, and REAL. I attended one of his retreats this summer and am a real fan of his.

Well, I feel gifted to have this gem in my hands. I say that because am only on my 4th month of this 365-daily reading rituals, and can sincerely say that it has positively impacted my life. First of all, it's an early-morning motivational piece of advice we keep bringing every single day. It also creates such a positive habit to spend 10 minutes every morning working on something positive/mindful, helping us to set the direction of the day. It's somehow special to have short steps for reflections/meditations/breaths at the end of each daily message in order to complement our daily message. Mark Nepo shares his journey in such a pure and sincere manner, empowering ourselves to be and love who we are. It's a revealing journey, a company to bring wherever we are. It's my first book from him, but I do believe his other books/writings are equally special. I purchased both the kindle and physical versions, so that it's always with me wherever I go. I like the kindle version because we can download the books wherever we are, in all our devices. Besides that, it's easy to find the passages we highlighted and took notes, and even to reread them afterwards. But again, having the physical book is just unique. Finally, as a side note, when I purchased it, I also gifted my good friend with the same book. Although we live in different countries at the moment, I do think of him every day when we both read the passage in our own time. I say that because it can be a unique present to a loved one. Haical

This book is a classic read. It can be read day after day and year after year. Mark Nepo is a phenomenal writer and he’s very inspiring.

Good!

I had a copy of this book and read it and made notes but had to move about 8 years ago and I had to let go of a lot of things, including this book. It did help me make a lot of difficult decisions at a very tuff part of my life. And now, I wanted a new copy - to see where I am and also, help me through the next hard things I have to face in life. I saw this on TV as part of a book club recommedation. And it is in the top handful of books, that have made a difference in my life. It's a good pick, the author is a counselor himself but he was using all of his own resources that helped him get through his own personal trials. The author draws from many sources of wise spiritual counsel as well as practical steps to take too. Thoughtful questions at the end of each day's message, to use on yourself at home. Highly recommend this book!

I’ve had my book for a good 15 years or so. I just go right back to January when the year is over. I love it l, and have gifted it to many for birthdays and Christmas. It’s always a great gift to those I know who will be open and receptive. It’s not affiliated with a 12 step program, which is something i love about it. I absolutely love Mark Neil’s writing, I picture such beautiful images. There’s a quote before his writing then he finished it off with a small meditation you can reflect on breathe with.

I grabbed this book on a whim during a tough stretch—needed something to ground me without overwhelming. For its price, it’s a steal for a year’s worth of bite-sized reflections. Mark Nepo’s poetic style shines through short entries on presence, gratitude, and embracing the mess of life What I loved: Each day’s read (just 1-2 pages) nudges you to slow down and savor the now—like his take on “precious human birth” reminding me to appreciate the chaos. It’s not preachy; stories from his cancer journey feel real and relatable, sparking “aha” moments over coffee. Downside: Some entries lean a bit flowery for my taste, and if you’re not into spiritual vibes, it might feel too introspective. I’ve dipped in for a month now, and it’s already shifted how I handle stress—perfect starter for anyone craving quiet inspiration. If life’s got you spinning, this’ll help you breathe easier!

I ordered this book because people say it is very good. i was very impressed with it and it is the kind you can read daily and reflect on it all day!

Je lis le chapitre correspondant à chaque jour et je suis à chaque fois surprise de voir que les mots résonnent avec mon vécu. Ce livre est une aventure sur 365 jours, que l'on peut revivre pendant des années, ré-interpréter ce que l'auteur propose selon l'évolution de notre vie. Un livre à avoir !

É engraçado como cada mensagem é exatamente aquilo que você está precisando. excelente livro para acalmar a alma e achar nosso equilíbrio.

Really a beautiful book! とても美しい本です。心が洗われます！毎日少しずつ読むようになっているので毎朝読むとその日が変わります。