Learning to Fall

Praise

Praise for Philip Simmons and Learning to Fall
 
“Reflective, eloquent . . . inspiringly written.”—The New York Times

“Astonishing . . . sometimes heartbreaking . . . sometimes hilarious.”—The Boston Globe
 
“Philip Simmons writes with clarity and a passion for honesty, laced with wit. An extraordinary book.”—Elaine Pagels, Princeton University, author of The Gnostic Gospels
 
“Generous and genuine, like water from a deep well, halfway between a meditation and a dance, this book is an act of grace.”—Jack Kornfield, author of A Path with Heart and After the Ecstasy, the Laundry
 
“Learning to Fall is for anyone who loves life—or needs to love it more . . . A wonderful achievement.”—Balfour Mount, M.D., Professor of Palliative Medicine, McGill University

“Not only has Philip Simmons figured out the meaning of life for himself; with prodigious literary grace he has figured out how to tell us too. Required reading for Basic Humanity 101.”—Rabbi Lawrence Kushner, author of Invisible Lines of Connection
 
“May become a spiritual classic—deservedly.”—Booklist

“As intelligent as it is inspirational, Learning to Fall glows with vitality and honest hope.”—Thomas Moore, author of Care of the Soul and Original Self
 
“Gentle, beautifully realized, and completely inspirational. A wonderful meditation on fallibility in a world of grace.”—Scott Turow 

“Brilliant, earthy, amusing, and tough . . . a heroic journey to awareness taken with compassion and love—for others and for himself . . . His work will be of interest to that vast audience of readers who seek enlightenment about the deepest mysteries of life.”—Rebecca Pepper Sinkler, former editor, The New York Times Book Review

“Phil Simmons’s eloquence and clarity will bring tears, joy, and a renewed sense of purpose to both our patients and ourselves.”—Dan Lowenstein, M.D., Dean for Medical Education, Harvard Medical School 

“Learning to Fall is a wonderfully open—arms flung wide, running to meet the new day—affirmation of life in the face of impending death. This is a book for all those who know that life is hard, but may have forgotten that it is also full of marvelous grace.”—Rev. Dr. Leroy Rouner, Boston University