Resilience

Reflections on the Burdens and Gifts of Facing Life's Adversities

By: Elizabeth Edwards

Narrated by: Elizabeth Edwards

Length: 4 hrs and 9 mins

Publisher's summary

The best-selling author of Saving Graces shares her inspirational message on the challenges and blessings of coping with adversity.

She's one of the most beloved political figures in the country, and on the surface, seems to have led a charmed life. In many ways, she has. Beautiful family. Thriving career. Supportive friendship. Loving marriage. But she's no stranger to adversity. Many know of the strength she had shown after her son, Wade, was killed in a freak car accident when he was only 16 years old. She would exhibit this remarkable grace and courage again when the very private matter of her husband's infidelity became public fodder. And her own life has been on the line. Days before the 2004 presidential election - when her husband John was running for vice president - she was diagnosed with breast cancer. After rounds of surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation the cancer went away - only to reoccur in 2007.

While on the campaign trail, Elizabeth met many others who have had to contend with serious adversity in their lives, and in Resilience, she draws on their experiences as well as her own, crafting an unsentimental and ultimately inspirational meditation on the gifts we can find among life's biggest challenges. This short, powerful, inspirational audiobook makes an ideal gift for anyone dealing with difficulties in their life, who can find peace in knowing they are not alone, and promise that things can get better.

©2009 Elizabeth Edwards (P)2009 Random House

Moving

Surpringly, Edwards' book is about many life-changing experiences -- the least important is the afair. Worth listing to, but make sure you have your tissues handy.

Intense and emotional

Elizabeth reads her own story of her life, and she is a good narrator. She is a complex person and very interesting. Such an interesting life, yet such tragedy. I feel sorry for her, losing her son. She has a lot of strength and character and her son would be proud of her for writing this book. Hopefully this will help others deal with the ups and downs of their own lives. Wonderful book.

Loved it!

I picked this book for the title. As an Aussie who doesn't really follow politics, I didn't know who Elizabeth Edwards was in the context of her husband. What an amazing woman who shares of her extraordinary journey of courage. Her book really resonated with me and spoke to my situation about needing to accept the life that is. Loved it!!!

To be read!!!

Unbelievably wise woman and incredible writing skills!

Honest, Human & Inspiring

This work is an incredible gift to those of us who fret over the mundane. Elizabeth's extraordinary courage in the face of her son's death, cancer, and infidelity is stirring. Her narration in this audio production connects the listener, as if one were sitting by her side as she unravels the events that markedly changed the direction of her life.

What an inspiring book

Elizabeth Edwards had a golden life. And then tragedy struck. After the death of their son, which she never could really overcome ,her misfortunes only multiplied. She really had a uniquely sad and difficult life . But she grew determined not to be identified as a victim, though she certainly was one. She decided to make something of her greatly diminished life. The reader marvels at her strength of character in the face of extreme physical frailty and emotional challenge. I t has helped me personally during a time of crisis in my own life.

Heavy

I thought this would be a little more positive sort of listen, but it moved me to tears more than once (a bad thing while driving!). I have all sorts of sympathy for Mrs. Edwards, but I couldn't finish it. It was just too sad and too heavy for me. But it is memorable!

primarily about grief

The tags on this book are wrong. It's about Elizabeth's battle to reach the other side of grief, through the pain and anger surrounding her teenage son's accidental death. I found it raw, real, and moving. Is it a bunch of positivity? No. Neither is the loss of a child or loved one. It very helpful in my own journey.

Sad

I panned Mrs. Edward's first book, finding it self-serving, and insincere. This one is different. She manages to maintain a great dignity, while seemingly to write from her heart. The grief she feels at the loss of her son, is apparent in both books, but "Resilience," shows a woman I very well might like, as she is obviously struggling with her feelings re/the very public betrayal and on-going lies of her husband. In view of all the news of late, no one can deny that John Edwards is a very slimy man, with little strength of character.

Helping me adjust my sails

Elizabeth Edwards just died. This audio is spoken by Elizabeth Edwards. Her voice is lilting and often sounds as if she is about to cry. This audio is tender and candid. Immensely real, personal, right from the heart. She spoke to me and I often cried from hearing her read her own story. My sister recently died of breast cancer. My mother had breast cancer and colon cancer and now has lung cancer. My daughter was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. We all carry such burdens. It is a rich worthwhile audio to read if you have suffered loss. We all have. What an amazingly strong woman Ms. Edwards was. I wish I could thank her for leaving behind this valuable story.