Between Two Kingdoms

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • A guide to the art of journaling—and a meditation on the central questions of life—by the bestselling author of Between Two Kingdoms, with contributions from Hanif Abdurraqib, Jon Batiste, Salman Rushdie, Gloria Steinem, George Saunders, and many more<BR><BR>“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.”—Elizabeth Gilbert, author of Eat Pray Love<BR><BR>AN NPR BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR<BR><BR>From the time she was young, Suleika Jaouad has kept a journal. She’s used it to mark life's biggest occasions and to weather its most ferocious storms. Journaling has buoyed her through illness, heartbreak, and the deepest uncertainty. And she is not alone: for so many people, keeping a journal is an essential tool for navigating both the personal peaks and valleys and the collective challenges of modern life. More than ever, we need a space for puzzling through.<BR><BR>In The Book of Alchemy, Suleika explores the art of journaling and shares everything she’s learned about how this life-altering practice can help us tap into that mystical trait that exists in every human: creativity. She has gathered wisdom from one hundred writers, artists, and thinkers in the form of essays and writing prompts. Their insights invite us to inhabit a more inspired life.<BR><BR>A companion through challenging times, The Book of Alchemy is broken into themes ranging from new beginnings to love, loss, and rebuilding. Whether you’re a lifelong journaler or new to the practice, this book gives you the tools, direction, and encouragement to engage with discomfort, ask questions, peel back the layers, dream daringly, uncover your truest self—and in doing so, to learn to hold the unbearably brutal and astonishingly beautiful facts of life in the same palm.<BR><BR>Also includes essays from: Martha Beck • Nadia Bolz-Weber • Alain de Botton • Susan Cheever • Lena Dunham • Melissa Febos • Liana Finck • John Green • Marie Howe • Pico Iyer • Oliver Jeffers • Quintin Jones • Michael Koryta • Hanif Kureishi • Kiese Laymon • Cleyvis Natera • Ann Patchett • Esther Perel • Adrienne Raphel • Jenny Rosenstrach • Sarah Ruhl • Sharon Salzberg • Dani Shapiro • Mavis Staples • Linda Sue Park • Nafissa Thompson-Spires • Jia Tolentino • Lindy West • Lidia Yuknavitch • And many others

Mit 22 wollte Suleika Jaouad die Welt erobern. Sie war verliebt und nach Paris gegangen, um als Kriegsreporterin zu arbeiten. Doch mit einem Mal fand sie sich auf einem ganz anderen Schlachtfeld wieder. Es fing mit einem Jucken im Bein an, dann kamen sechsstündige Nickerchen und bodenlose Erschöpfung. Die Diagnose: Leukämie. Urplötzlich löste sich Suleikas Leben in Rauch auf, und die nächsten vier Jahre verbrachte sie im Krankenhaus, ließ Chemotherapien und eine Knochenmarkspende über sich ergehen. Den Kampf um ihr Leben dokumentierte sie in der preisgekrönten New York Times-Kolumne "Life Interrupted". Nach 1.500 Tagen galt sie als geheilt. Doch wie sollte sie es schaffen, wieder in die Welt zurückzukehren, die sie verlassen hatte? Wie zurückerobern, was verloren gegangen war? Zusammen mit ihrem Terrier Oscar unternahm Suleika einen Roadtrip durch die USA. Was sie unterwegs und in der Begegnung mit anderen Menschen lernte, empfand sie als das größte Lebensgeschenk. Denn die Grenze zwischen gesund und krank ist für uns alle durchlässig, und die meisten werden zeit ihres Lebens zwischen diesen beiden Königreichen hin und her pendeln. Suleikas Geschichte ist die bewegende Chronik eines Überlebenskampfes - und eine Liebeserklärung an die Kraft und Magie des Neubeginns.

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER<BR><BR>'A stellar collection of prompts and invitations that will enrich any journal' KATHERINE MAY<BR>'This book is not only beautiful, but exceedingly helpful. I recommend it to every dreamer' ELIZABETH GILBERT<BR>'Galvanising and comforting. An instant classic' EMMA GANNON<BR><BR>A guide to the healing power of journalling and a meditation on the central questions of life, featuring creative contributions from Salman Rushdie, Esther Perel, Alain de Botton, Hanif Kureishi, Jia Tolentino, Elizabeth Gilbert, Gloria Steinem, George Saunders, Lena Dunham and more.<BR><BR>Suleika has kept a journal her whole life. Journalling has marked her greatest triumphs and buoyed her in her toughest moments. It has carried her as she fell in love, travelled across the United States, experienced illness, heartbreak and the deepest oceans of uncertainty. And she is not alone. For so many, journalling is a process of discovery - sometimes vulnerable, sometimes terrifying, always transformative.<BR><BR>Featuring writing prompts, essays and wisdom from one hundred contributors and serving as a companion during challenging times, The Book of Alchemy explores themes such as fear, love, beginnings, memory, the body and purpose. In doing so, the book offers encouragement, direction and gives readers the tools to engage with discomfort, to ask questions, to peel back the layers and uncover their truest selves.<BR><BR>'An extraordinary collection of wisdom' ADAM GRANT<BR>This book is a gift' HANIF ABDURRAQIB<BR>'Brilliant. Gentle. Encouraging' KATE BOWLER

As seen in AMERICAN SYMPHONY on Netflix with Jon Batiste<BR><BR>'A propulsive, soulful story of mourning and gratitude - and an intimate portrait of one woman's sojourn in the wilderness between life and death.' <BR>TARA WESTOVER, author of Educated<BR>__________<BR><BR>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.<BR><BR>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.<BR>__________<BR><BR>Praise for Between Two Kingdoms: <BR><BR>'A work of breathtaking creativity and heart-stopping humanity.' ELIZABETH GILBERT, author of Eat Pray Love<BR><BR>'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<BR><BR>'No more doomscrolling. Read this book instead... Full of wisdom and resilience.' ADAM GRANT, author of Originals <BR><BR>'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