Recently, I have had several deaths in the family and I think it's brought upon a sense of doom amongst family members. I found this book to be comforting in this trying time and plan to share it with other members of my family. I'm still young, but even the young have feelings of aging and death sometimes, so I would recommend this book to anyone (except not children). There is a trace of courage in this book - even in the face of death - and I found that inspiring. It is full of much wisdom and humor, two things that are invaluable especially as aging does horrible things to your body. Aging is about self-discovery, as this book explains. A for-sure must-read.

A real perspective changer. Life is really depressing if you're stuck in your own world watching your health and life deteriorate before your eyes and your friends pass away almost daily. This book brought me to tears several times with the absolutely genuine nature behind Mr. Dass and his writing. What a journey! I really thought of him as a survivor and pioneer when it was all said and done. At first he seemed to suffer from psychosis, but I really like where he was going with the observations about his wife and what it felt like when his child died. Unbelievable pain, but so much wisdom and beauty came from it, I think this is for mature audiences, but very rewarding when taken correctly.

I am hopeful again. With the economy in shambles, the health not keeping up, kids growing; this is probably a good sign. If you often feel like you are making rounds in a struggle to survive and have recurring doubts, read this book. It will make you hopeful.
30 years before Ram Dass told us the importanc of meditation. Those were days in which East was exotic and it was almost another religion which many embraced heartily. The same Ram Dass, comes back now with a forceful insight into survival. He is no longer the one who is going all out to help people, to make them aware, giving speeches, speaking at gatherings. Instead, since his stroke in 1997, he is now more into a survival mode. But That; he wants us to understand; is the key. He has managed to survive. And by that he does not mean that he managed to live. He managed to keep his faculties with him. All of them. He is still witty (as will be evident in the book), he does not indulge into self-pity but states his helplessness during the period after the stroke as matters of fact and something which is just another hurdle to cross. Fascinating read. Go for it!