I need authors like Mark Nepo to keep me getting back up so I can move forward, even when it’s hard. Nepo frames our challenges as opportunities for deepening. He asks us to befriend our fears, pains, and griefs, not be crippled by them.

How? Like many spiritual teachers, Nepo advices that one way is to stay present in this moment because fear gains its power from the future and the past.

“Strength and resolve are always restored through the complete surrender of our naked attention.”

So stay aware of now. Pay attention to this. Face life here.

“Fear gains its power from not looking. Consider the proverbial boogeyman in the closet. The longer we don’t look, the bigger the boogeyman gets. Until some kind grandfather or aunt takes us by the hand, saying, ‘Well, why don’t we take a look in there, together?'”

And after we look under the bed—even if what we see causes us to fall down again—get back up, and be willing to accept help as needed.

“While nothing can minimize the pain and loss that comes from falling down, nothing can keep us from helping each other up.“

As Nepo says, “The inescapable truth is that we don’t travel from here to there, but from in to out.”

You bring what lives within you out into the world each time you get back up again.

I highly recommend this book.

My thanks to NetGalley + St Martin’s Press for the review copy.

A great spiritual teacher provides insight into developing a practice with thoughtful stories, poems, and prompts to move the seeker onward into the depths of self awareness. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking to slow down life and live in the moment.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Essentials for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Poet and spiritual teacher Mark Nepo’s writing is often beautiful, meditative, and metaphorical. It requires active reading with a patient, thoughtful approach. This book of spiritual lessons on coping with adversity, accepting paradox, finding balance, and developing resilience is written in dozens of short chapters, and it would be nice to read no more than one chapter per day so you have time to contemplate the content. Each chapter concludes with prompts for journaling and conversation to help you engage with the ideas.

As always with Nepo’s work, I found some of his stories eloquent and memorable, while others just didn’t resonate. I found the lessons on right-sizing fear and pain helpful. I also loved the idea that “healing often begins by removing what’s in the way within us, while justice often begins by removing what’s in the way between us.” However, Nepo provides no examples of how to do this, leaving it as an exercise for the reader.

I recommend this book for those who are interested in spiritual growth and enjoy poetry and contemplation. It’s more for those seeking interesting questions to ponder than practical answers.

I received an ARC through NetGalley, and I volunteered to provide an honest review.

FALLING DOWN AND GETTING UP by Mark Nepo is the quiet, wise, thought-provoking voice I long to hear in my brain when I have a rough day and everything looks impossible. With poetry, questions to ponder as I walk, clear, direct prose offered guidance and encouragement I will return to time and again for mantras and perspective on living a wholly experienced life. I received a copy of this book and these opinions are my own, unbiased thoughts.

Highly informative. Can’t recommend it enough. This will definitely be one I will need to go out and purchase the physical copy since I like it so much!

I really enjoyed this book. Mark Nepo shares his very personal challenges and obstacles in life. And he shares his personal stories and practical insight on how to handle difficult situations and adversities and how to find the inner strength to overcome these obstacles. As always, the writing is breathtaking and the poetry is always personal, thoughtful and thought provoking, and awe-inspiring in its simplicity and beauty.

Nepo has been around a long time and has a way of touching people with his words. This is a safe bet and will likely garner a wide audience. Recommended.

I really appreciate the free ARC for review!!

I only discovered Nero’s books last year and I find them thought-provoking. He makes me think about spiritual and soul matters in ways that I find adjacent and relevant to my own spiritual practice.

I have read most of the work by the author. I find the author has a gentle teaching style that reflects kindness. This book gave priceless insight for this difficult point in time we are all experiencing. The author takes us through is own cancer jouney as well as compelling masterful teaching in handling our own difficulties . He teaches the reader gently as always with suggestions that everyone can easily incorporate into their life. If you are needing guidance in handling life decisions that are difficult I suggest you read this book . The author has extended his grace to the reader through his teaching in this book that will improve your life.

Each body of work by this author feeds our soul and gives us priceless teaching to become better people. I highly recommend this book.

Thank you to the author, the publisher and to Net Galley for the opportunity. My review opinions are my own.

Falling Down and Getting Up Discovering Your Inner Resilience and Strength by Mark Nepo

400 Pages
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press, St. Martin’s Essentials
Release Date: September 5, 2023

Nonfiction, Religion, Spirituality, Self-Help, Empowerment

The book is divided into the following parts.

Part 1: The Way of Learning
Part 2: The Deeper Teachers
Part 3: The Journey to Where We Are

This book is about facing adversities. The author writes about different situations where a person must find inner strength. For example, he discusses his fight with cancer and how he dealt with it. The book is full of inspiration no matter your situation. If you are in need of enlightenment or empowerment, this is a wonderful book to read.

Falling Down and Getting Up: Discovering Your Inner Resilience and Strength is a profound new book by Mark Nepo that explores the human experience of grief, resilience, and finding purpose in the face of challenges. Through his unique voice, Nepo shares personal stories and reflections that encourage readers to cultivate their inner strength and navigate life's difficulties with grace. With a poetic yet practical approach, Nepo weaves together stories, meditations, and poetry to create a compelling guide for anyone seeking to live a more resilient life. Falling Down and Getting Up is a moving and transformative work that offers essential insights for navigating the complexities of the human experience.