Falling Upward

A Spirituality for the Two Halves of Life

By: Richard Rohr

Narrated by: Richard Rohr

In the first half of life, we are naturally preoccupied with establishing ourselves; climbing, achieving, and performing. But as we grow older and encounter challenges and mistakes, we need to see ourselves in a different and more life-giving way. This message of falling down - that is in fact moving upward - is the most resisted and counterintuitive of messages in the world's religions.

Falling Upward offers a new paradigm for understanding one of the most profound of life's mysteries: how those who have fallen down are the only ones who understand "up". We grow spiritually more by doing it wrong than by doing it right, and the disappointments of life are actually stepping stones to the spiritual joys in the second half of life.

©2011 Richard Rohr (P)2011 Dreamscape Media, LLC

Critic reviews

"[P]rovocative." ( Publishers Weekly)

"[A] trustworthy guide to the spiritual life." (BlogCritics.org)

"Understanding the spiritual aspects of aging is as important as appreciating the systems and biological processes that age us. Richard Rohr has given us a perfect guide to what he calls the 'further journey,' a voyage into the mystery mystery and beauty of healthy spiritual maturity." (Mehmet Oz, M.D., host of the Dr. Oz Show)

Life Changing Once You Are Ready

Where does Falling Upward rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

In the genre of spirituality this book ranks only behind Thomas Merton. Rohr clearly has found guidance and deep inspiration from Merton. If you've read Merton, you know this is a very good thing indeed. The key to our happiness is contemplation and finding our true selves. This book will reveal that in an easy to follow manner. This book made me want to work harder toward a mindset of contemplation. I found myself rewinding and bookmarking more than any other audio book I have purchased. Once I stopped listening for the day, I wanted to sit and write my own thoughts and ideas about how I could apply these principles in my life. I do recommend that you don't try to "finish" this one quickly. Take your time and listen in 30-60 minute sections. Allowing yourself the time to contemplate and soak in the message.

One word of caution, you have to be open minded and ready to hear this message. If you can allow yourself to begin this process it will change everything. However, in our world today we are so "tribal" that we are not used to thinking this way. We identify so strongly by political party, religious denomination, and class - that seeing the world as all of God's creation isn't nearly as easy as we think. At least it wasn't for me (once I really analyzed myself) and I consider myself open minded. Once you "get it" the concept seems simple and essential to happiness. But everything around us tells us to think differently. A major concept of the book is to change our "either/or" view of the world to a "both/and" mentality. This is true wisdom. The older we get (I am 42) the more we realize there are no simple answers to our problems.

But don't think that Rohr bashes our youthful certainty and fervor. He does no such thing. He calls on the importance of parents to instill impulse control, rules, and structure for their children. He calls this early way of thinking: "building our container". So that once we reach maturity we can properly hold and understand what is really inside. Far too often we worship the containers in life: religious practice, strict adherence to rules, and high expectations. This book will teach you how to respect the containers while fundamentally changing how you view what is inside - your soul.

You exist far beyond your prospective of yourself

Through Falling Upward Father Richard Rohr somehow spoke deeply into my longing heart and shone a small light on the path forward for me. After reading many other works on spiritual identity and non-dualistic thinking, as well as many more than a few returns to this work, I've come to find that the small flickering light I saw at first was only the promise of something beyond my closed eyes. It has taken many hardships, disappointments, and some invasive spiritual surgery, but I have finally begun to open my eyes. The world is still too bright for me to make out much clearly but the wonder of the colors a seeing shapes where there used to only be shadows has been a humbling and exhilarating experience. Father Rohr has reignited my oldest passion and introduced me to the world where my soul is finding satisfaction and submission to truly worthy authority. God bless you who read this. Please open this book and see the world beyond your eyes.
Agape - Timothy Pierce

The most profound self-identify rescuing book

The most profound self-identify rescuing book I have ever listened to. I have been into psychology, coaching and psychoanalysis for many years. Nobody has never touched so profoundly my psyche and my soul as Richard did.

This book and others written by Richard will give you all the tools and support you need to have a lasting transformation in your self-esteem, self-confidence and self-identify expansion that you will experience.

Enjoy every one of them. listen to them as many times you wish.

with love, Anderson Maia.

Wonderful, inspiring, deeply profound.

I've read the book and loved it, and wanted to let it all sink in a little more deeply so purchased this audiobook. I often found myself out for a 15 minute walk that became a 30 minute walk that became a 60 minute walk because I didn't want to stop listening. Deeply nourishing for all of us who continue to ask the big questions over and over, looking to both give more and get more out of the second half of life. This book will not disappoint; highly, highly recommended.

Pure Gold to the maturing Christian

young adults, elderly and everyone in between should read this book at least once. Put words and potential structure to your faith journey.

One to revisit often

Even more relevant in today’s times. I wonder if more might fall upward from our world’s latest pandemic and tragedy.

helpful for the journey.

a peaceful reading on the journey to the second half of life. recommended for those searching for encouragement on failing and growing in wisdom and knowledge

When in the Soul of the Serene Disciple

ANYone who is in their mid 50’s
You have now been given your blueprint

Profound inspiration

Father Richard is a gift to all human spirit’s curious enough to dive deep toward the essence of who we are!

Oh my oh wow

Such a beautiful book for the soul. Even better being read by the author himself. I’ll need time to reflect on this one and re-listen again and again.