• The Five Invitations

  • Discovering What Death Can Teach Us About Living Fully
  • By: Frank Ostaseski
  • Narrated by: Frank Ostaseski
  • Length: 12 hrs and 16 mins
  • 4.8 out of 5 stars (730 ratings)

Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.
The Five Invitations  By  cover art

The Five Invitations

By: Frank Ostaseski
Narrated by: Frank Ostaseski
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $20.24

Buy for $20.24

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Publisher's summary

Death is not waiting for us at the end of a long road. Death is always with us, in the marrow of every passing moment. She is the secret teacher hiding in plain sight, helping us to discover what matters most.

Life and death are a package deal. They cannot be pulled apart, and we cannot truly live unless we are aware of death. The Five Invitations is an exhilarating meditation on the meaning of life and how maintaining an ever-present consciousness of death can bring us closer to our truest selves. As a renowned teacher of compassionate caregiving and the cofounder of the Zen Hospice Project, Frank Ostaseski has sat on the precipice of death with more than a thousand people. In The Five Invitations, he distills the lessons gleaned over the course of his career, offering an evocative and stirring guide that points to a radical path to transformation.

The Five Invitations:

  • Don't wait
  • Welcome everything, push away nothing
  • Bring your whole self to the experience
  • Find a place of rest in the middle of things
  • Cultivate "don't know mind"

These Five Invitations show us how to wake up fully to our lives. They can be understood as best practices for anyone coping with loss or navigating any sort of transition or crisis; they guide us toward appreciating life's preciousness. Awareness of death can be a valuable companion on the road to living well, forging a rich and meaningful life, and letting go of regret. The Five Invitations is a powerful and inspiring exploration of the essential wisdom dying has to impart to all of us.

©2017 Frank Ostaseski (P)2017 Macmillan Audio

Featured Article: 35+ Inspirational Quotes About Hope


Hope is one of life’s greatest miracles. The human ability to hold onto belief in the possibility of a better scenario, even when presented with overwhelming evidence to the contrary, is truly phenomenal. It’s easy to understand why so many writers have featured hope in their works, and why hope continues to inspire us. Whether you’re up against a challenge or just looking for inspiration, these quotes about hope can help you find your faith. Here we’ve gathered the most inspirational quotes from some of our favorite audiobooks.

What listeners say about The Five Invitations

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    635
  • 4 Stars
    59
  • 3 Stars
    20
  • 2 Stars
    8
  • 1 Stars
    8
Performance
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    547
  • 4 Stars
    52
  • 3 Stars
    14
  • 2 Stars
    6
  • 1 Stars
    9
Story
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    537
  • 4 Stars
    58
  • 3 Stars
    14
  • 2 Stars
    8
  • 1 Stars
    7

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Life-changing

Ostaseski identifies the essential qualities of a fulfilling life by embracing the dark along with the light. His approach is both refreshing and insightful. This book changed how I feel about death and what is important in life. Living fully aware, sober, appreciating the little things, in the present moment, loving without restraint, forgiving both inwardly and outwardly, having the courage to experience the full brunt of our fears, and to find a place of rest in the middle of it all in quiet thankfulness.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Incredibly moving and insightful

This is quite possibly the wisest, most beautiful book I have ever read/listened to. The author’s voice is truly peace itself. Highly recommended !

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

powerful!

life changing. read this book! and give it to a friend too. I loved it.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

beautiful, and life changing.

I was a house orderly in a large city hospital, and his stories really moved me,and having just lost my mother,I was comforted by his loving stories.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Insightful

Thanks for all the views on transcending. A nicely woven tapestry of recollections, quotes, final thoughts , and insights

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Exploration into the Unkown

A must read for anyone exploring the journey as they approach aging, illness and death. A lesson on living fully. A caregiver’s handbook.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
  • N
  • 02-22-23

Such an impactful book!!!

I loved this book and would definitely recommend this book! It has been one of the most impactful books I’ve ever heard. I loved it so much I cannot wait to get a physical copy of this book! After having listened to this book I feel I’ve learned to live a more fulfilling life, to embrace change and not live in the fear of it.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Wisdom filled

This is the most beautiful, wisdom filled book. I have ever read in my 76 years on this earth.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

I'm so glad I got this audiobook and not the book

First, I think this book got into my top 5 favorites of all time. It was a fantastic journey to listen to this. I felt I got connected with Frank and with the stories he shares, with some of the emotions they had, with my emotions.

I highly recommend it.

Also if you want to live this experience the second time differently - I recommend you listen to this book on 1.5x-1.6x. Frank's voice gets filled with even more compassion, a familiar sad-calm-optimism,

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

9 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Powerful for those facing losing a loved one!

I read an average of a book a week. Only a handful of books do I know that I will re-read and study. This book is one of those books. I first listened on Audible, which I highly recommend. The author reads the book and his voice was soothing and brought the stories to life because I could hear his tone and his inflections of voice. I then bought a copy of the book so I could mark it up and study it in more depth in the coming months. I highly recommend this book especially if you are facing the death of someone you love.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

3 people found this helpful