How to Die

In doing research for the documentary that we are developing, I’ve picked up a few books to read, Chasing Daylight (http://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/30/books/30masl.html?ex=1296277200&en=447a4efcce8c6a8e&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss), Not Fade Away (http://www.bookreporter.com/reviews/1579546889.asp), and True Grit (http://www.achillesheel.freeuk.com/br16_7.html). They are all very inspirational books about people that have had their lives cut short due to illness and must confront their mortality in a very direct way. The books are great follow-ons to How We Die by Sherwin Nuland (http://www.uh.edu/engines/epi1103.htm) that read earlier in the year. These books are a lot more personal and in depth that How We Die and I found myself sheding a few tears, just finishing Chasing Daylight. It’s been a while since I’ve read a book that has been able to do that. I think part of what was so moving was the beauty of him living his way (planning and goals, etc.) until the very end, trying to manufacture “perfect moments” (in actuality, each moment is a perfect moment). I am also half way through Space, Time, and Medicine (http://members.aol.com/RSLTS/stm.html) which is an excellent complement to the above three books. The book discusses our relationship with time and the consequences of Type A personalities which I can fully sympathize with, having such tendencies withim myself at times. It is interesting to see the kinds of disease that arise from different personality types.

For the biographical books, the transformations are very insightful and inspiring. Many parables such as the importance of accepting what is, finding inner stillness, cultivating presence, etc. are well worth learning while we still have the time.

It’s a beautiful weekend here in Hong Kong. I will be in Taiwan next week to give a talk at a conference (http://el.ntue.edu.tw/toygame/2007/) and Vietnam with my wife the following week.