I think I'm too young for this book, because I didn't understand at least a half of it. ( )

Wisdom wrapped around the reality of our most shared human experience: the unraveling of life, or what might be called failure.

Rohr's perspective on transformation found that place in me that recognizes truth when it shows up in words. Because of this I found his gentle arguments and observations simultaneously surprising and validating, refreshing and challenging, heartbreaking and affirming.

How do we move from the necessary ego-building and protecting of early life to a spacious trust in enough? What is the benefit of loss, failure, betrayal, grief? What does it mean to become an elder and live in the second journey (or second half) of life? These questions and more all find a safe and lively platform in Rohr's small, well-organized volume.

I own a copy and have read it through twice. Underlining and margin notes on almost every page attest to frequent resonance and occasional shock.

I'll be reading this book over again.

Highly recommend for small book groups.
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With rare insight, Rohr takes us on a journey to give us an understanding of how the heartbreaks, disappointments, and first loves of life are actually stepping stones to the spiritual joys that the second half of life has in ftore for us.

This is a fantastic book and worth a read. Great for those entering the second half of their lives. Equally challenging and freeing. His writing style is just a joy to read. ( )

Richard Rohr’s Falling Upwards: A Spirituality for the Two Haves of Life is inspirational and life affirming. The author wrote that during the first half of our lives people are eagerly building their dreams. They are thinking about having a successful life. They would do everything that is necessary to accomplish these ends. They play, study, and work hard at all sorts of endeavors. People become professionals in all types of jobs, be it science, arts, astronomy, agriculture, communications, and sports They belong to many groups, charitable organizations, and receive accolades for their work. Their focus is on how to contribute to society by making a name for themselves. The only problem is that most of these first half advocates view the world in a dualistic way – black or white, good or bad, happy or sad, success or failure.
The second half of life is more nuanced and non-dualistic. By now many individuals have suffered setbacks. They have come to know pain and misfortune. They have experienced what it means to grow older. Many of these folks know discomfort from disease like high blood pressure, diabetes, cancer, Alzheimer, chronic renal failure among other afflictions. But they strive well in living with these problems. There’s a “luminous sadness” in their lives. These individuals have therefore been propelled to a new reality. They have become contemplative and compassionate. Their afflictions don’t get them down but spur them onwards.
Rohr mainly demonstrated what the thinking of the younger generation is like as opposed to the older. He explained that the second half integrates the dualistic and non-dualistic way of thinking. In a chapter he showed how he himself went through successful changes from the first to the second half of life. Luckily, the author was able to learn from these spiritual insights that he discussed in his book. He described how people should deal with their shadow, and shouldn’t confuse their profession with their identity. It was imperative they cast off their mask and embrace their true self. So, when they look in a mirror they should view their authentic self. People would inevitably fall down many times, but they should get up by what Rohr described as “falling upwards.” ( )