Customer Reviews

The Art of Resilience: 100 Paths to Wisdom and Strength in an Uncertain World

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I found the Art of Resilience a worthwhile read, particularly for someone dealing with grief or loss of some type. The format would appeal to one who suffers as it is organized into brief chapters containing vignettes, philosophy, or advice. It is not a long, heavy read of how you SHOULD feel, but rather an uplifting look at how you could choose to confront an illness, a death, or just one of the many setbacks that we are all destined to encounter on the journey of life. It would be a wonderful gift to place into the hands of a friend in need.

"The Art of Resilience" will be one of my top 10 recommendations for my friends. Everyone can benefit from the wisdom in this book and use the tools provided throughout their entire life. Life naturally has its ups and downs and this book has helped me to relax and go with the flow more easily.

This book is both inspired and inspirational! I suggest you keep it on your nightstand and read a section every morning and night. The readings are short and to the point. Don't be surprised if this book becomes your best friend.

I have always been intrigued by the Law of Requisite Variety, which to me has this explicit meaning: in order to deal with a contantly changing world, our internal rate of change should equal or better than the external rate of change.

The Art of Resilience is just one of those books which I have come cross that offers readers simple tools to build & enhance the internal rate of change.

The author, a theologian by training, has beautifully crafted her book by creating one hundred different pathways to help readers find the wisdom & strength to rebound gracefully & productively against the forces of change in an uncertain world.

Her work is seemingly inspired by the teachings of spiritual masters from both Eastern & Western traditions. Each of her practical tip is weaved into humourous stories & touching anecdotes, encased in either a one- or two-page format. They are then logically arranged for readers to go through ten stages as follows:

Stage 1: Point of Impact;
Stage 2: Time to Regroup;
Stage 3: Signs of Spring;
Stage 4: The Authentic Life;
Stage 5: Unfinished Business;
Stage 6: Uncharted Territory;
Stage 7: Sacred Space;
Stage 8: A New Centre;
Stage 9: Higher-Quality Problems;
Stage 10: Beyond Resilience;

I have enjoyed reading this book & have found some of the stories/anecdotes to be humourous, while some are relatively thought provoking. From my personal perspective, I reckon a number of pathways may seem esoteric to some extent, but I believe pathway #100 entitled "Make Your Life a Work of Art" rightly sums up the whole book. In the author's own words: "...The art of resilience does not conclude with a specific result. Rather, it asks something much greater of you: that you make your whole life a work of art. The uncertainties of life, the pain & problems, let them become woven into the fabric of your being - alongside the joys & the triumphs."

To conclude my review, I would recommend this book to all readers who feel overwhelmed by the forces of change: Read it today. You won't be disappointed, but be prepared to be surprised.

I absolutely, wholeheartedly recommend this book. There is so much contained in it that allows you to transcend change/pain/discomfort and grow because of it. I learned that just because things happen, it's not the end of the world, that things do get better in life. I pull it off the shelf from time to time just to remind myself that I am not alone.

Psychological resilience is usually described as our capacity to cope with stress and adversity. There is a robust research literature and countless worthwhile programs for enhancing resilience.

Carol Osborn uses the term resilience in a slightly different way. For her, resilience is the acceptance and transcendence of painful experiences rather than denying them. I very much like this approach as a complement to more conventional resilience enhancement programs. The book contains one hundred ideas and suggestions, culminating in number 100: "Make your life a work of art."

As I was reading the book I was reminded of the quotation attributed to the Scottish Presbyterian Minister, Robert Leighton: "Adversity is the diamond dust with which Heaven polishes its jewels." This whole book is packed with diamond dust. Whether or not you or a loved one is facing adversity, I highly recommend this book of sage advice and wise insights. Even if you are sailing on a calm sea, adversity is usually an unavoidable part of life, so being prepared and shifting your perspective ahead of time is a thoroughly good idea. This is a terrific book for doing just that.

Anyone who delights in short essays that inspire you to greatness, will enjoy this book. It is witty, profoundly smart with words that will change your attitude.