Books for Finding Peace in the Face of Mortality
Explore these profound reads that offer comfort and insight during life's most challenging moments. Each book provides a unique perspective on acceptance, resilience, and the beauty of existence, perfect for anyone navigating the complexities of terminal illness. Dive into these narratives that celebrate life and encourage reflection.
The Farthest Shore
272 pages
This book is a beautifully accessible meditation on the importance of accepting death, making it a profound read for anyone, regardless of their beliefs.
The Little Prince
139 pages
It's a short read, yet it offers profound beauty and meaning that resonates deeply.
Siddhartha
112 pages
It's a short yet profound read that offers depth and insight, making it a great choice for anyone looking to reflect and connect with loved ones.
Mitch Albom's Tuesdays with Morrie
52 pages
This book is incredible and offers profound insights into life and relationships.
The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying
428 pages
It offers a fascinating perspective on death from a Buddhist viewpoint, making it a compelling read even for those who may not share the beliefs.
Sherlock Holmes
148 pages
Listening to Sherlock Holmes audiobooks can be a great way to enjoy classic mysteries, especially for those who may have difficulty holding physical books.
The Ultimate Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
756 pages
In one complete volume, here are the five classic novels from Douglas Adams’s beloved Hitchhiker series. Now celebrating the pivotal 42nd anniversary of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, soon to be a Hulu original series! The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy (Nominated as one of America’s best-loved novels by PBS’s The Great American Read) Seconds before the Earth is demolished for a galactic freeway, Arthur Dent is saved by Ford Prefect, a researcher for the revised Guide. Together they stick out their thumbs to the stars and begin a wild journey through time and space. The Restaurant at the End of the Universe The moment before annihilation at the hands of warmongers is a curious time to crave tea. It could only happen to the cosmically displaced Arthur Dent and his comrades as they hurtle across the galaxy in a desperate search for a place to eat. Life, the Universe and Everything The unhappy inhabitants of planet Krikkit are sick of looking at the night sky– so they plan to destroy it. The universe, that is. Now only five individuals can avert Armageddon: mild-mannered Arthur Dent and his stalwart crew. So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish Back on Earth, Arthur Dent is ready to believe that the past eight years were all just a figment of his stressed-out imagination. But a gift-wrapped fishbowl with a cryptic inscription thrusts him back to reality. So to speak. Mostly Harmless Just when Arthur Dent makes the terrible mistake of starting to enjoy life, all hell breaks loose. Can he save the Earth from total obliteration? Can he save the Guide from a hostile alien takeover? Can he save his daughter from herself? Includes the bonus story “Young Zaphod Plays It Safe” “With droll wit, a keen eye for detail and heavy doses of insight . . . Adams makes us laugh until we cry.”—San Diego Union-Tribune “Lively, sharply satirical, brilliantly written . . . ranks with the best set pieces in Mark Twain.”—The Atlantic
The Lord Of The Rings
1267 pages
The engaging narrative of 'Lord of the Rings' offers distraction and companionship, making it a perfect escape during tough times.
The Five Invitations
305 pages
This book offers a compassionate and open discussion about death, making it accessible even for those who aren't into meditation or Buddhism. It's a unique perspective that stands out from other books on the subject.
How to Change Your Mind
481 pages
This book serves as a fantastic introduction to the topic of psychedelics, especially for those who may be more conservative. It highlights remarkable results from working with cancer patients facing end-of-life anxiety.
Catch-22
644 pages
This fiftieth-anniversary edition commemorates Joseph Heller’s masterpiece with a new introduction; critical essays and reviews by Norman Mailer, Alfred Kazin, Anthony Burgess, and others; rare papers and photos; and much more. Nominated as one of America’s best-loved novels by PBS’s The Great American Read. Now a Hulu limited series starring Christopher Abbott, George Clooney, Kyle Chandler, and Hugh Laurie. Fifty years after its original publication, Catch-22 remains a cornerstone of American literature and one of the funniest—and most celebrated—books of all time. In recent years it has been named to “best novels” lists by Time, Newsweek, the Modern Library, and the London Observer. Set in Italy during World War II, this is the story of the incomparable, malingering bombardier, Yossarian, a hero who is furious because thousands of people he has never met are trying to kill him. But his real problem is not the enemy—it is his own army, which keeps increasing the number of missions the men must fly to complete their service. Yet if Yossarian makes any attempt to excuse himself from the perilous missions he’s assigned, he’ll be in violation of Catch-22, a hilariously sinister bureaucratic rule: a man is considered insane if he willingly continues to fly dangerous combat missions, but if he makes a formal request to be removed from duty, he is proven sane and therefore ineligible to be relieved. This fiftieth-anniversary edition commemorates Joseph Heller’s masterpiece with a new introduction by Christopher Buckley; a wealth of critical essays and reviews by Norman Mailer, Alfred Kazin, Anthony Burgess, and others; rare papers and photos from Joseph Heller’s personal archive; and much more. Here, at last, is the definitive edition of a classic of world literature.
The First Discworld Novels
The Discworld series is a fantastic journey filled with humor and wit, making it a delightful read that will leave you laughing.
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
146 pages
A triumphant memoir by the former editor-in-chief of French Elle that reveals an indomitable spirit and celebrates the liberating power of consciousness. In 1995, Jean-Dominique Bauby was the editor-in-chief of French Elle, the father of two young children, a 44-year-old man known and loved for his wit, his style, and his impassioned approach to life. By the end of the year he was also the victim of a rare kind of stroke to the brainstem. After 20 days in a coma, Bauby awoke into a body which had all but stopped working: only his left eye functioned, allowing him to see and, by blinking it, to make clear that his mind was unimpaired. Almost miraculously, he was soon able to express himself in the richest detail: dictating a word at a time, blinking to select each letter as the alphabet was recited to him slowly, over and over again. In the same way, he was able eventually to compose this extraordinary book. By turns wistful, mischievous, angry, and witty, Bauby bears witness to his determination to live as fully in his mind as he had been able to do in his body. He explains the joy, and deep sadness, of seeing his children and of hearing his aged father's voice on the phone. In magical sequences, he imagines traveling to other places and times and of lying next to the woman he loves. Fed only intravenously, he imagines preparing and tasting the full flavor of delectable dishes. Again and again he returns to an "inexhaustible reservoir of sensations," keeping in touch with himself and the life around him. Jean-Dominique Bauby died two days after the French publication of The Diving Bell and the Butterfly. This book is a lasting testament to his life.
Journey To Ixtlan
288 pages
This book offers a whimsical yet profound exploration of the universe through the teachings of don Juan, making it a beautiful and insightful read.
Harry Potter und die Kammer des Schreckens
394 pages
A magical adventure that captivates readers of all ages, making it a must-read for anyone seeking an enchanting escape.
The Last Leaves Falling
17 pages
In Japan, teenaged Abe Sora, who is afflicted with "Lou Gehrig's Disease," finds friends online and elicits their help to end his suffering.
Sophie's World
599 pages
A page-turning novel that is also an exploration of the great philosophical concepts of Western thought, Jostein Gaarder's Sophie's World has fired the imagination of readers all over the world, with more than twenty million copies in print. One day fourteen-year-old Sophie Amundsen comes home from school to find in her mailbox two notes, with one question on each: "Who are you?" and "Where does the world come from?" From that irresistible beginning, Sophie becomes obsessed with questions that take her far beyond what she knows of her Norwegian village. Through those letters, she enrolls in a kind of correspondence course, covering Socrates to Sartre, with a mysterious philosopher, while receiving letters addressed to another girl. Who is Hilde? And why does her mail keep turning up? To unravel this riddle, Sophie must use the philosophy she is learning—but the truth turns out to be far more complicated than she could have imagined.
Tinkers
206 pages
On his deathbed, surrounded by his family, George Washington Crosby's thoughts drift back to his childhood and the father who abandoned him when he was twelve.
Mortality
60 pages
This book offers a profound insight into the thoughts of Hitchens as he faced his own mortality, making it a compelling read for anyone interested in the human experience of life and death.
On The Beach
208 pages
This beautiful book explores the final months of life in Australia as it awaits the inevitable fallout from nuclear war, reminding us that life is worth living even in the face of despair.
Mistborn
676 pages
This thrilling fantasy series offers a unique magic system and a gripping plot that keeps readers on the edge of their seats.
Mr. Mercedes
549 pages
This trilogy is a bit dark, but it offers a gripping narrative with intriguing characters, including one whose life span adds a layer of tension to the story.
