A Year to Live: How to Live This Year as If It Were Your Last

Levines book differs from most books on death by providing some experiential exercises so the individual can gain personal insight rather then be directly fed the pre-digested great wisdom of so-called experts on death.This along with some of Sylvia Brownes books and 18 Mortal Acts could be used to learn more about ones own mortality and put it in a personal journal. In addition, Mr. Levine makes some sharp penetrating insights into how people deal or don't deal with death. The exercises he advocates are interesting and well constructed. A valuable book for those actively and openly exploring their mortality and who want to go beyond conforming to ideas from experts.

Having suffered a near death experience myself it makes me realize how uncertain life is and how soon it can come to an end. One never knows when Basil will pay us a visit. Living your life as if each day is your last really makes you live life to the fullest and you learn to appreciate the little things in life. As a person who tries to follow the spiritual path this book was truly enlightening for me. It truly puts a new meaning to life. Stephen Levine's 'A Year to Live' is truly an inspiration

"Meditating on death in order to fully live " could be the sub-title of this book. In dealing with illness and approaching death in our family, I've read almost all of Kubler-Ross's books and while they have been inspirational and her work certainly groundbreaking, I found this book more helpful in terms of describing the experience of dying in a way that allows me to be more able to be at the bedside of our family memeber. Simply in reading it gives one a profound yet extremly practical perspective on dying and of one's own eventual death.

Levine is a Buddhist and his book 'A Year To Live' reflects that. It's not a book that will appeal to those who bask smugly in their own self-sufficient world and think not of others. It is a book that can provide deep insight into the true nature of the human condition -- that all life is suffering with occasional happy moments. I'd recommend 'A Year To Live' to anyone suffering from a bereavement, or expecting one; to those struggling with elderly parents or relatives; to those trying to find some meaning in the life process and interested in 'what comes after' and above all, to all who are frightened of death.

This book has changed my whole outlook on the world. Because of S. Levine & his insightful thinking, I went out on my birthday and wrote down my goals for the year based on what his book discussed. I am truly thankful for reading this book as it helped me to realized that NOW is the time to make changes if you are not happy with anything in your life. Don't wait for someday. I want to thank Stephen for this beautiful book and hope that it is as special and life-changing for others as it was for me.