Join Amazon Prime and ship Two-Day for free and Overnight for $3.99. Already a member? Sign in.
Learning to Fall: The Blessings of an Imperfect Life and over 300,000 other books are available for Amazon Kindle – Amazon’s new wireless reading device. Learn more

 

or
Sign in to turn on 1-Click ordering.
 
   
More Buying Choices
64 used & new from $3.90

Have one to sell? Sell yours here
 
   
Learning to Fall: The Blessings of an Imperfect Life
 
 
Start reading Learning to Fall: The Blessings of an Imperfect Life on your Kindle in under a minute.

Don’t have a Kindle? Get yours here.
 
  

Learning to Fall: The Blessings of an Imperfect Life (Paperback)

by Philip Simmons (Author)
4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (29 customer reviews)

List Price: $15.00
Price: $10.20 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. Details
You Save: $4.80 (32%)
In Stock.
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com. Gift-wrap available.

Want it delivered Tuesday, July 7? Choose One-Day Shipping at checkout. Details
32 new from $7.36 32 used from $3.90
Also Available in: List Price: Our Price: Other Offers:
Kindle Edition (Kindle Book) $9.99
Hardcover (1) 45 used & new from $1.86
Paperback (1) 18 used & new from $1.53

Best Value

Buy Learning to Fall: The Blessings of an Imperfect Life and get Let God's Light Shine Forth: The Spiritual Vision of Pope Benedict XVI at an additional 5% off Amazon.com's everyday low price.

Learning to Fall: The Blessings of an Imperfect Life + Let God's Light Shine Forth: The Spiritual Vision of Pope Benedict XVI
Buy Together Today: $19.65

Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought

I Remember Running: The Year I Got Everything I Ever Wanted - and ALS

I Remember Running: The Year I Got Everything I Ever Wanted - and ALS

by Darcy Wakefield
4.8 out of 5 stars (21)  $11.66
When Things Fall Apart: Heart Advice for Difficult Times (Shambhala Classics)

When Things Fall Apart: Heart Advice for Difficult Times (Shambhala Classics)

by Pema Chodron
4.6 out of 5 stars (134)  $10.15
Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Mission to Promote Peace . . . One School at a Time

Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Mission to Promote Peace . . . One School at a Time

by Greg Mortenson
I Choose to Live: A Journey Through Life with ALS

I Choose to Live: A Journey Through Life with ALS

by William Sinton
4.7 out of 5 stars (3)  $14.95
If They Could Only Hear Me: A collection of personal stories about ALS and the families that have been affected.

If They Could Only Hear Me: A collection of personal stories about ALS and the families that have been affected.

by Ed Rice
5.0 out of 5 stars (2)  $14.99
Explore similar items

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
Living fully in the face of a debilitating fatal illness is the challenge Simmons, then an associate professor of English at Lake Forest College in Illinois, faced when he was told in 1993 he had ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease) and had less than five years to live. As his illness progressed, a wheelchair-bound Simmons moved with his wife and two children to southern New Hampshire, near the rugged mountains he once had climbed. Writing in his cabin in view of an old dump, Simmons describes the wonders of nature remembered and still visible from his abode. He tells of his search for life's meaning in a variety of religious and secular texts, among them the story of Jesus, the philosophy of Zen, Sufi and Buddhist masters, medieval Christian mystics, Emerson's essays and the poetry of Yeats. In a wry disclaimer, Simmons notes that learning to live richly in the face of loss is a highly individual undertaking, and adds, "I'm not in the business of issuing directives, offering tips, imposing lists of spiritual dos and don'ts, or providing neat, comforting formulas." Indeed, his little book of thoughtful essays offers no easy solutions to dealing with suffering and sorrow, but it does chronicle how the experience of living at the edge can become an extraordinary connection to the eternal. Agent, Bob Markel. (Jan. 9)Forecast: Few books on loss and death manage to break out to a mass audience, but Bantam's promised publicity and advertising campaign may help this well-written chronicle of a spiritual journey make a strong showing in the marketplace. Xlibris published it last year to much acclaim.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

Stricken with Lou Gehrig's disease (ALS) at age 35, Simmons left his position as a professor of English to return to his native New Hampshire. The author of numerous articles and one previous book, he has crafted essays out of his reflections, understanding, and observations of everyday rural life. Interwoven throughout is Simmons's theme of letting go as a necessary means of embracing life. With a knack for blending the esoteric and the mundane, Simmons presents his own insight into the well-known messages of Western and Eastern spiritual masters, such as Rumi, the Dalai Lama, Thomas Merton, Thich Nhat Hahn, and Meister Eckhart. As a family man with a degenerative disease, he writes with a marvelous understanding of acceptance, always knowing that tomorrow you still have to do the laundry. Eschewing the saccharine found in other works of this kind, these engaging essays are recommended for public libraries. Andy Wickens, King Cty. P.L., WA

Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

  • Paperback: 176 pages
  • Publisher: Bantam (April 29, 2003)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 055338158X
  • ISBN-13: 978-0553381580
  • Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.5 x 0.4 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (29 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.com Sales Rank: #47,056 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

    Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

    #81 in  Books > Biographies & Memoirs > Specific Groups > Special Needs
    #100 in  Books > Health, Mind & Body > Death & Grief > Grief & Bereavement

Look Inside This Book
Browse Sample Pages:
Table of Contents


What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This Item?

Learning to Fall: The Blessings of an Imperfect Life
94% buy the item featured on this page:
Learning to Fall: The Blessings of an Imperfect Life 4.7 out of 5 stars (29)
$10.20
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: A Guide for Patients and Families
2% buy
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: A Guide for Patients and Families 4.4 out of 5 stars (5)
$29.16
I Remember Running: The Year I Got Everything I Ever Wanted - and ALS
2% buy
I Remember Running: The Year I Got Everything I Ever Wanted - and ALS 4.8 out of 5 stars (21)
$11.66
On Any Given Day
1% buy
On Any Given Day 5.0 out of 5 stars (6)
$17.56

Tags Customers Associate with This Product

 (What's this?)
Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
Check the boxes next to the tags you consider relevant or enter your own tags in the field below.
(3)
(1)

Your tags: Add your first tag
 
Help others find this product — tag it for Amazon search
No one has tagged this product for Amazon search yet. Why not be the first to suggest a search for which it should appear?

 

Customer Reviews

29 Reviews
5 star:
 (26)
4 star:
 (1)
3 star:    (0)
2 star:    (0)
1 star:
 (2)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
4.7 out of 5 stars (29 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
Share your thoughts with other customers:
Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
26 of 26 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars A Timeless Legacy & Oasis, May 27, 2002
During a very dark time in my life, I happened to pick up this book, sarcastically thinking that it was going to be a positive thinking fluff ball of well-intentioned writing, but I thought I could use it anyway. Thank heavens my temporary cynicism did not deter me from one of the greatest gifts ever to be in print! This book is a spiritual power tool for anyone coping with loss, a candle lit by a stranger in our stormiest nights. This book looks death in the face with the quiet rage of a human being and the grace of a sage- and offers a bridge over the roughest waters of our lives. God bless you, Mr. Simmons for your hard-earned wisdom and generosity of spirit. May your journey lead to all of the riches you've given us in this book and this life. Just knowing someone has been there has meant meant everything. You have given us a legacy that will last a long, long time. I pity those indifferent souls who find no other better thing to do with their idle lives and self-righteous overblown intellects than to criticize this literary jewel. For the "urban fella" below, you have a long way to go, buddy... and a very hard fall. Only then will you know the value of this book and this man's experience. Marlene' M. Druhan- Author (Naked Soul, Llewellyn 1998)
Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)



 
26 of 26 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars A Spiritual Gift, July 16, 2001
By M. Henderson (Warner, NH USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
This review is from: Learning to Fall (Paperback)
Phil's book is best read without anticiptation or preparation. Like life itself, like the disease which is slowly claiming Phil's abilities, it is the imperfection of our vulnerabity that opens us to the ephiphanies that surround us. If you are seeking to open yourself to a wider reality, if you are able to be blessed by the path others have trod, Phil's book has much to offer. You might come to the book to learn how Phil has dealt with his disability, but you will come away from it with deeper insights into how to deal with your own. This is not so much a book to be enjoyed as it is to savored and keep close at hand.
Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)



 
22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Learning to Fall -- Spiritual Handbook for Mortals, December 27, 2000
By Brad Stuart (Forestville, CA USA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Learning to Fall (Paperback)
This book is what every post-modern spiritual seeker is after -- a humane, down-to-earth exploration of the essence of soul, as seen from inside a full, thoughtful, suffering and joyful life. There are lots of references to spiritual "authorities," from Buddha to Emerson, but these just serve to ground the stories and insights. The author himself speaks with such gentle and frank authority that really nothing from outside is needed.

What is special about this book is Simmons' own experience of illness -- he has amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or Lou Gehrig's disease -- and how he has found his way through despair to redemption. Without resorting to any religious "teaching," Simmons still manages to achieve what he calls the chief function of religion: to explore "the harrowing business of rescuing joy from heartbreak."

Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)


Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
 
 
Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars The Perfection of Being Imperfect
Philip Simmons (1958-2002) was a professor of Humanities at Lake Forest College. When he was diagnosed with Amylotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS, usually known as "Lou Gehrig's... Read more
Published 6 months ago by J. H. Minde

5.0 out of 5 stars The best book ever!
This is about the 7th copy of this book that I have purchased. I keep giving them away because the message is so poignant. Read more
Published 14 months ago by Susan Hofstetter

5.0 out of 5 stars A Keeper
I have read this book once a year at the end of winter since its publication because reading it is a great way to herald in the spring given its life-affirming message. Read more
Published 15 months ago by C. Prideaux

5.0 out of 5 stars A Masterpiece
Just a quick note to add my voice to others who love this book by the late Philip Simmons. As moving and beautiful and wise as any creative nonfiction ever written. Read more
Published 18 months ago by Nachem

5.0 out of 5 stars An Incredible Book of Truth
My brother was diagnosed with ALS this last October. I bought this book for everyone in my family...it has allowed us to cherish life and the moments we have with him. Read more
Published 19 months ago by Cathy J. Norman

1.0 out of 5 stars Not my type of book
I didn't enjoy this book at all - its just not my type of book. I was expecting a biography of his life - but this book is a series of short stories about life in general, not... Read more
Published 20 months ago by Iris

5.0 out of 5 stars A Blessing In A Book
I was in a book store last evening and this book lay on a display table surrounded by fifty other books. What attracted me to to it? The simple yet beautiful cover art? Read more
Published on June 24, 2007 by Daydream Believer

5.0 out of 5 stars Recommended suffering the loss of a loved one or going through an emotional trauma
This book is one of compassion and caring, without being leaden or self-serving. It is a learned book of considerations of life as a transient condition of being. Read more
Published on June 12, 2007 by John B. Collins

5.0 out of 5 stars Learning to Fall: The Blessings of an Imperfect Life
Philip Simmons has a very good ability with words and his discriptions of the seasons and his own experience of losing physical abilities. Read more
Published on May 19, 2007 by Ms. Marty J. Ziemer

5.0 out of 5 stars Good and simple reading
I found this book at a mens retreat this past fall. I found his stories very easy to follow and helpful. Read more
Published on February 15, 2007 by David J. Andrews

Only search this product's reviews



Customer Discussions

 Beta (What's this?)
New! See all customer communities, and bookmark your communities to keep track of them.
This product's forum (0 discussions)
  Discussion Replies Latest Post
  No discussions yet

Ask questions, Share opinions, Gain insight
Start a new discussion
Topic:
First post:
Prompts for sign-in
  [Cancel]


   


Product Information from the Amapedia Community

Beta (What's this?)


So You'd Like to...


Look for Similar Items by Category


Avon: Free Shipping

Avon Mark Just Pinched Instant Blush Tint
Get free shipping on all Avon orders of $25 or more. Shop Avon's award-winning makeup, skin care, bath & body items, and more.

Shop Avon now

 

Best Books of 2008

Best of 2008
Find our top 100 editors' picks as well as customers' favorites in dozens of categories in our Best Books of 2008 Store.
 

Craftsman Tools and Yard Equipment

Shop for Craftsman Tools
Craftsman, America's most-trusted tool brand, combines rugged durability, reliable performance, and inspired design in its quality products for the home.

Shop now

 
Shop for pet grooming tools
Pamper Your PetEasily and safely trim your pet's nails with a pet nail-grooming rotary tool.
 

 

Feedback

If you need help or have a question for Customer Service, contact us.
 Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
Is there any other feedback you would like to provide?

Your comments can help make our site better for everyone.


Where's My Stuff?

Shipping & Returns

Need Help?

Your Recent History

  (What's this?)
You have no recently viewed items or searches.

After viewing product detail pages or search results, look here to find an easy way to navigate back to pages you are interested in.

Look to the right column to find helpful suggestions for your shopping session.

Continue shopping: Top Sellers
Paranoia
Paranoia by Joseph Finder
Glenn Beck's Common Sense
Glenn Beck's Common Sense
Darkfever
Darkfever by Karen Marie Moning

Conditions of Use | Privacy Notice © 1996-2009, Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates