What almost dying taught me about living

Between Two Kingdoms

As seen in AMERICAN SYMPHONY on Netflix with Jon Batiste 
 
'A propulsive, soulful story of mourning and gratitude - and an intimate portrait of one woman's sojourn in the wilderness between life and death.' 
TARA WESTOVER, author of Educated 
__________ 
 
We all face moments that bring us to our knees: heartbreak, trauma, illness. When things don't go to plan this is the book to reach for - an inspirational memoir about what we can learn about life from a brush with death. 
 
At just twenty-two, on the cusp of adult life, Suleika Jaouad was diagnosed with leukemia and given a 35 per cent chance of survival. For the next five years, her world comprised four white walls, a hospital bed, fluorescent lights, tubes and wires. She became patient 5624. At twenty-seven, and celebrating her first year of remission, Suleika realized that, having survived, she now had no idea how to live. And so she set out to meet some of the many strangers who had written to her about their experiences of life, death, healing and recovery in response to her Emmy-Award winning New York Times column, 'Life Interrupted'. Between Two Kingdoms is the result. Drawing on Suleika's TED Talk 'What almost dying taught me about living' with over 4 million views, it illuminates universal questions about how we live, mourn, heal and grow up, and what it means to begin again. 
__________ 
 
Praise for Between Two Kingdoms: 
 
'A work of breathtaking creativity and heart-stopping humanity.' ELIZABETH GILBERT, author of Eat Pray Love 
 
'A beautiful, elegant and heart-breaking book that provides a glimpse into the kingdom of illness.' SIDDHARTHA MUKHERJEE, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Emperor of All Maladies 
 
'No more doomscrolling. Read this book instead... Full of wisdom and resilience.' ADAM GRANT, author of Originals 
 
'A deeply touching account of learning to live in the now, because nothing else is promised. I loved it.' KATHRYN MANNIX, author of With the End in Mind

Will resonate with anyone who is living a different life than the one they had planned.

No more doomscrolling. Read this book instead... Full of wisdom and resilience.

A deeply touching account of learning to live in the now, because nothing else is promised. I loved it.

KATHRYN MANNIX, author of WITH THE END IN MIND

Suleika Jaouad's memoir is a work of breathtaking creativity and heart-stopping humanity. A story of her cancer journey on the surface, it goes beyond the clichés of "inspiration", "resilience" and "courage" into the depth of her own pain and lost years, and also the spirits of countless strangers (sick and well) whom she meets along the highway of life and illuminates with rare generosity and grace. A deeply moving and passionate work of art, it's quite unlike anything I've ever read, and will forever be imprinted upon my heart.

ELIZABETH GILBERT, author of EAT PRAY LOVE

Jaouad is writing about a process, a back and forth. In the tension between health and sickness, past and present, a new balance must be forged.

A beautiful, elegant and heart-breaking book that provides a glimpse into the kingdom of illness.

Yes, 'Between Two Kingdoms' is a cancer memoir. It's a coming of age story. A road trip adventure. A survival story. It's also a love story, but it is not romantic love that saves Jaouad. No, it's bigger than that.... The timing of this memoir is just right. After nearly a year of living through a pandemic, we all understand isolation and grief, endurance and healing more than we did before.

Her sensory snapshots remain in my mind long after reading.

One of 2021's most highly anticipated new books.

Changing the conversation about what it mans to thrive in the wake of illness and life's unexpected interruptions.

Delivering a hopeful message when we need it the most.... A transformative read.

A phenomenal debut... This is a stunning memoir, well-crafted and hard to put down.

A stunning debut by a powerful new voice and required reading for every kind of survivor.

Melissa Febos, author of Whip Smart, Abandon Me, & Girlhood

'Inspirational' doesn't really cut it when you're talking about Suleika Jaouad.

At just twenty-two, Suleika Jaouad was diagnosed with leukemia and given a 35 per cent chance of survival. For five years her world comprised four white walls, a hospital bed, fluorescent lights, tubes and wires. She became patient 5624. At twenty-seven, and celebrating her first year of remission, Suleika realized that, having survived, she had no idea how to live. And so she set out to meet some of the strangers who had written to her about their experiences of life, death, healing and recovery in response to her Emmy-Award winning New York Times column, 'Life Interrupted'. Between Two Kingdoms is the result. We all face moments that bring us to our knees: heartbreak, trauma, illness. When things don't go to plan, this is the book to reach for. Drawing on Suleika's TED Talk, now with 4 million views, it illuminates universal questions about how we live, mourn, heal, grow up and begin again.

Suleika Jaouad

An extraordinary collection of wisdom from some of the world’s greatest writers—and an inspiring set of prompts for your own writing. A springboard to new ideas, new insights, and new identities.

Adam Grant, bestselling author of 'Think Again' and the podcast Re:Thinking

A stellar collection of prompts and invitations that will enrich any journal.

A beautiful curation of deeply inspiring creative advice. A reminder that life itself is the work of art, and we can use the simplest of tools to capture it. This book is a helping hand for anyone wanting to turn the act of creative living into a daily practice. It is both galvanising and comforting. An instant classic.

Emma Gannon, author of 'The Success Myth'

The Book of Alchemy proves on every page that a creative response can be found in every moment of life—regardless of what is happening in the world. It also demonstrates that we can be more creative together than we could ever be alone. This book is not only beautiful, but exceedingly helpful. I recommend it to every dreamer, with the highest respect and joy.

Elizabeth Gilbert, author of 'Eat, Pray, Love'

Beyond her brilliance as a writer, Suleika Jaouad's greatest offering to the world is her brilliance of generosity, her curiosity, her seeking heart and mind. The Book of Alchemy is an extension and expansion of these gifts, carefully curated and thoughtfully presented, it doesn't offer just one single answer, or one north star, but an entire galaxy. A path, with many paths springing forth from it, for anyone who wants to write, or chase an idea, or descend into their work with a newfound exuberance. This book is a gift.

Hanif Abdurraqib, author of 'There’s Always This Year'

Brilliant. Gentle. Encouraging. If you want to make your life richer, follow her lead. Suleika Jaouad is showing us how to find wisdom in every transition, graduation, and U-turn. The perfect mix of incandescent wisdom and kick-in-the-pants motivation to start your own creative journey.

Kate Bowler, author of 'Everything Happens for a Reason'

The prompts are varied enough to appeal to devoted diarists and newbies alike, and Jaouad poignantly interweaves her own intimate meditations on creativity, pain, and art. The result is a stellar guide that’s sure to spark the imagination.

The Book of Alchemy proves on every page that a creative response can be found in every moment of life -regardless of what is happening in the world. It also demonstrates that we can be more creative together than we could ever be alone. This book is not only beautiful but exceedingly helpful. I recommend it to every dreamer, with the highest respect and joy.

Elizabeth Gilbert, author of 'Eat Pray Love'

A Creative Practice for an Inspired Life

Suleika Jaouad’s journal has been a lifelong companion: marking life’s great occasions and helping her ride its roughest waves, through illness, heartbreak, and the deepest oceans of uncertainty. Like Suleika, many consider it a transformative and often vulnerable journey of self-discovery. The Book of Alchemy explores this art and offers companionship and support to those seeking to navigate the in-between. It gives readers invaluable tools to engage with discomfort and peel back the layers shrouding their truest selves.

The Book of Alchemy

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Suleika Jaouad

Praise for The Book of Alchemy

An extraordinary collection of wisdom from some of the world’s greatest writers—and an inspiring set of prompts for your own writing. A springboard to new ideas, new insights, and new identities.

A stellar collection of prompts and invitations that will enrich any journal.

A beautiful curation of deeply inspiring creative advice. A reminder that life itself is the work of art, and we can use the simplest of tools to capture it. This book is a helping hand for anyone wanting ...

An extraordinary collection of wisdom from some of the world’s greatest writers—and an inspiring set of prompts for your own writing. A springboard to new ideas, new insights, and new identities.

A stellar collection of prompts and invitations that will enrich any journal.

A beautiful curation of deeply inspiring creative advice. A reminder that life itself is the work of art, and we can use the simplest of tools to capture it. This book is a helping hand for anyone wanting ...

An extraordinary collection of wisdom from some of the world’s greatest writers—and an inspiring set of prompts for your own writing. A springboard to new ideas, new insights, and new identities.

A stellar collection of prompts and invitations that will enrich any journal.

A beautiful curation of deeply inspiring creative advice. A reminder that life itself is the work of art, and we can use the simplest of tools to capture it. This book is a helping hand for anyone wanting ...

Books by Suleika Jaouad

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