How to Survive Life (and Death): A Guide for Happiness in This World and Beyond

by Robert Kopecky

Overview

When you nearly die three times, you learn a thing or two about how to live...

An Emmy-nominated art director for television, Robert Kopecky never dreamed he'd end up writing a book about how to survive life and death. But what else could he do? Over the years, Kopecky had not one but three near-death experiences. He discovered exactly what lives on the other side of our fears about dying--and living. And he had some stories he knew we'd want to hear. Even some very funny ones.

Read this book and you'll find yourself uncoiling, relaxing your shoulders, taking deeper breaths. You may even feel like you're floating as you begin to shed the weight of a lifetime of social and existential anxiety. You'll discover what Kopecky believes are the three keys to living more life:

• Radical Kindness
• Radical Forgiveness
• Radical Surrender.

And you'll find the calm determination to live your life accordingly.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781573246361
Publisher:	Red Wheel/Weiser
Publication date:	04/01/2014
Pages:	224
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.40(h) x 1.00(d)

About the Author

Robert Kopecky is an Emmy nominated art director. He designed the credits for Showtimes's Weeds, art directed WordWorld for PBS Kids, and has illustrated for The New York Times, Sports Illustrated, and many more. He contributes to Evolver.net, NewBuddhist.com, TheMindfulWord, and elsewhere. He lives in Brooklyn with his wife, Sue Pike, the Animal Talker.

Read an Excerpt

"When you travel simply and lightly, with humility and curiosity and open-heartedness, you're bound to discover the most beautiful things--about yourself, everyone else, and Life. You learn the rewards of simply showing up and being the best person you know how to be--without expecting anything in return, except maybe the chance to learn something new, and to share Love. Why not make your 'travel' plans through Life like that?" --from the book

Table of Contents

Preface ix

An Introduction to Aloha-Saying Hello and Goodbye xxv

Why Me-and Everybody Else? 1

So What's the Matter? 11

Are We on a Honky-Tonk Merry-Go-Round? 15

Wear What You've Got On-and Leave the Baggage Behind 23

I'll Have Extra Happiness-To Go! 29

Love Is the Medium, the Small, and the Large 35

Time to Tie Your Loose Ends Up 43

And Now a Few Scenes from Another Close Call 53

The Fat Lady Never Sings-Unless You're at the Opera 61

Fear Is Funny-Ask a Bear, a Crocodile, or the Elephant in the Room 69

It Hurts When I Do This 77

A Baby Boom Goes Boom! 93

Can a Person Get a Little Privacy Around Here? 105

You Can Get Away with It (If It's an Inside Job) 113

The Third Tip for True Happiness 121

The Hardest Part Is Always the Parting Part 127

How Dark Does "The Darkest" Have to Get? 141

The Last Time I Checked (Out), I Was in Arizona 149

Exit at the Top-Or May We Have Our Check Now? 161

How to Meet Anyone, Including Your Maker 179

Appendix: Some Parting Thoughts 183

Editorial Reviews

"Articulate, profound, and accessible guide to what it means to live a good life and experience a good death." -History Book Club

"This unabashedly positive book may not leave all readers confident that they can master the afterlife, but it will surely cause many to reconsider their fear of death and dying. And that may be mastery enough." -Barry Silverstein, Foreword Reviews

From the Publisher