Grace and Grit: A Love Story

The author and partner were able to journal and recall emotions and details over the five years, amazing!

I initially read this book for a college course called "Life, Death and Spiritual Development". Very interesting class, and this book stood out head and shoulders for me from the (otherwise excellent) course reading list as the one that really captivated my attention and imagination. I ended up writing my final paper for the course based primarily on this book and how it altered my life. That was in the mid 90's.Fast forwarding, I have since recommended, and purchased, this book to many many people... Started with my father, who was a cancer surgeon and therefore I thought it would be a good thing for him to read. He isn't really into touchy-feely or spiritual stuff, but he is an intellectual and a big reader, and almost surprisingly (because of what I perceived as his potential aversion to "new age" spirituality) he loved the book as well. Then I gave it to my sister, then some people who I met or knew that had cancer. Then I read it again myself, maybe 5 years or so after my first reading. It is the ONLY book in my life that I have ever read twice. And I was both captivated and cried both times while reading it. It's been another 10-15 years, maybe I could even give it another read?!?Every single person I have given or recommended this book to has loved it. Many of them went on to read other Ken Wilber books, as I did. Truth told, I found the other books I read by him to be less captivating, possibly a bit over my head, and just not as personal and raw and emotional as this story. Perhaps because he brilliantly interweaves the philosophy/spirituality concepts into his own deeply personal love and life story, and blends both of those with the first hand account and journal entries of his wife, who in and of herself was a brilliant writer and human being."Love at first touch, that's what she always called it." is, if I recall correctly, the very first sentence of this book. For my part, I would say that my review could have started and ended with, "Hooked at first line."And lastly, something I've said now to many people over the years since my first read of Grace and Grit:I HIGHLY recommended this book for:1) Anyone who has faced or is facing cancer2) Anyone who is a support person for someone facing cancer3) Anyone who works with people who are facing or fighting cancer4) Everyone else.

This account – the shared story of the 5 years between the authors marriage and the death from breast cancer of his wife has so many aspects to it – it is a harrowing journey of 2 people in relationship under assault by cancer. It's an inspiring account of how they handled it within the relationship and its effect on the relationship. It also features the authors take on nonreligious spirituality in a very digestible form and contains many reflections on the nature of illness and disease and our response to it both culturally and personally.

It took me months to read this book as it was painful, and I wanted to savour the thoughts. Ken's deep love of Treya comes throughand anyone who has ever lost anyone to death will understand and resonate with the long journey.

really a book to go through.if one had really been in love.as one move on to the last chapter it will be hard to hold one's tear