The Brave In-Between

Notes from the Last Room

De: Amy Low

Narrado por: Leanne Woodward

This honest and emotional memoir presents much needed lessons and advice for navigating uncertainty in the worst of times.

Amy Low resides in a room that is her last—her medical team is clear-eyed with her: there is no cure for Stage IV metastatic colon cancer, and the odds of long-term survival are scant. Miraculously, she’s lived four years with her diagnosis, and that life between life has changed her.

Through the swirl of prolonged trauma and unbearable grief, a vantage point emerged—a window that showed her the way to relish life and be kinder to herself and others while living through the inevitable loss and heartbreak that crosses everyone’s paths. Instead of viewing joy and sorrow as opposites, she saw how both exist in harmony, full of mystery and surprise. Instead of seeing days as succeeding or failing, and physical selves as healthy or unwell, she’s learned to carry both achievements and afflictions in stride. And instead of bitterness and betrayal, forgiveness—toward her body, toward others, toward herself—became her wisest light.

Mapping her experiences to the words that St. Paul wrote in his own last room, The Brave In-Between is a sacred invitation to explore that space between triumph and tragedy. We all have a heart to marvel at miracles, a lightness to spot the absurdity, and an imagination to pause and extend empathy for others—even when tragedy strikes. Sometimes we just need a guide.

Reseñas de la Crítica

“Amy's story is a rich mix of courage, grace, persistence, and most important, love. This is a book to treasure.”—Laurene Powell Jobs, founder and president, Emerson Collective

“So many people are in pain these days, enduring hard times, facing challenges. They are wondering, ‘How do I do this?’ Amy Low is the perfect guide."—David Brooks, New York Times columnist and New York Times bestselling author of How to Know a Person

"Every day, all over the world, people get news they cannot bear--of a diagnosis, a coup, a melting polar ice cap, a sudden, wrenching loss, a newly named variant. With honesty, humor, wisdom and grace, Amy Low shines a light through the darkness. This book is a treasure to live by, to wrap up with a bow and give to everyone we know."—Amanda Ripley, New York Times bestselling author of The Smartest Kids in the World, The Unthinkable, and High Conflict

“So many of Amy’s dispatches read like poetry— deeply wise, profound, gorgeously written. Her words vibrate with optimism, humor, and her relentless spirit. In these dystopian days we need a voice like Amy’s to shake us out of our stupor and remind us to take one more step forward, one more step up that mountain.”—Dave Isay, founder of NPR’s StoryCorps and New York Times bestselling author of Listening is an Act of Love, Callings, and more

"Amy Low's story is at once fragile and strong. And yet in the hardest places, we know that fragility and strength are often intertwined. Amy brings us all closer to that intertwined space. This book gives us new ways to hold both, with renewed resilience and gratitude."—Arne Duncan, former United States Secretary of Education, CEO of Chicago Public Schools and founder of CRED

"Amy Low's journey of alchemizing life's wounds into hope, courage, and forgiveness is poignant and powerful. She finds grace in the depths, buoyed by her faith—and offers us guidance to do the same."—J. Dana Trent, author of Between Two Trailers

Don't be afraid to read this book whether you are battling cancer or not.

I highly recommend this book, which I listened to through Amazon Prime Audiobooks. The author is a Christian and uses the architecture and inspiration of Philippians 4:8-9 to inform her journey through stage 4 colon and lung cancer. She writes beautifully, with brutal and inciteful honesty. Even so, it’s not a sad story. I had to check… she is still alive.

Interestingly, she mentions that she is a graduate of Westmont and mentions going back to visit college friends in SB and walking the campus. I could picture everything she described. She talks about the outstanding professors who helped mold her, especially in philosophy.

Even though I’m not battling cancer, I found it to be a very deep, inspirational, thought-provoking, and joyful book. The way she weaves the individual words of Phillippians 4:8-9 as the foundation of each chapter makes me feel it could be an excellent choice for a book group. Who among us hasn't struggled mightily with one thing or another? Philippians 4:8-9 has always been one of my favorite verses. Amy interprets Paul’s exhortation as the source of living authentically.

A profound work of the heart

Amy Low masterfully weaves a tapestry of metaphor, insight and experience that wraps around your heart and reminds you what it is that truly matters - in every room of our lives but especially the last one. It’s a page-turner filled with candor and love, humor and humility. A pleasure to read and an invaluable resource to draw upon!

Incredible

This author has an amazing way of crafting sentences that are funny, impactful, engaging and endearing. I loved every sentence of this book and am changed because of this incredible story.

Compelling Story

This is an inspiring story of living life with and after catastrophic betrayal. It has challenged me to look at all of my circumstances and events thru the Phil 4:8 lens and to prepare myself and loved ones for the last room (as much as anyone possibly can). Well done and thank you!

Disappointing

This book starts out well but quickly goes downhill. It has an overwritten self-indulgent style that borders on stream of consciousness. I finished it but it could have been half as long with a less whiny and more graceful tone. I can forgive the heavy reliance on Biblical references to bolster every thought the author has, but overall I just thought it was boring.

This book is not in anyway about God or Jesus

A self absorbed and obviously privileged woman firmly ensconced in the world , living her cancer under the sun, If only she would lose herself and gain what truly is important.