No Cure for Being Human: And Other Truths I Need to Hear
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- Create Date：2021-09-29 10:51:03
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- Author：Kate Bowler
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Summary
The bestselling author of Everything Happens for a Reason （And Other Lies I've Loved） asks， how do you move forward with a life you didn't choose？
It's hard to give up on the feeling that the life you really want is just out of reach。 A beach body by summer。 A trip to Disneyland around the corner。 A promotion on the horizon。 Everyone wants to believe that they are headed toward good， better， best。 But what happens when the life you hoped for is put on hold indefinitely？
Kate Bowler believed that life was a series of unlimited choices， until she discovered， at age 35， that her body was wracked with cancer。 In No Cure for Being Human， she searches for a way forward as she mines the wisdom （and absurdity） of today's "best life now" advice industry， which insists on exhausting positivity and on trying to convince us that we can out-eat， out-learn， and out-perform our humanness。 We are， she finds， as fragile as the day we were born。
With dry wit and unflinching honesty， Kate Bowler grapples with her diagnosis， her ambition， and her faith as she tries to come to terms with her limitations in a culture that says anything is possible。 She finds that we need one another if we're going to tell the truth: Life is beautiful and terrible， full of hope and despair and everything in between--and there's no cure for being human。
It's hard to give up on the feeling that the life you really want is just out of reach。 A beach body by summer。 A trip to Disneyland around the corner。 A promotion on the horizon。 Everyone wants to believe that they are headed toward good， better， best。 But what happens when the life you hoped for is put on hold indefinitely？
Kate Bowler believed that life was a series of unlimited choices， until she discovered， at age 35， that her body was wracked with cancer。 In No Cure for Being Human， she searches for a way forward as she mines the wisdom （and absurdity） of today's "best life now" advice industry， which insists on exhausting positivity and on trying to convince us that we can out-eat， out-learn， and out-perform our humanness。 We are， she finds， as fragile as the day we were born。
With dry wit and unflinching honesty， Kate Bowler grapples with her diagnosis， her ambition， and her faith as she tries to come to terms with her limitations in a culture that says anything is possible。 She finds that we need one another if we're going to tell the truth: Life is beautiful and terrible， full of hope and despair and everything in between--and there's no cure for being human。
Reviews
Lyndsey Medford
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What I expected: the same gorgeous writing and careful， generous， kind thoughts as "Everything Happens for a Reason。" But also maybe to be real depressed？ Or to disagree a bit？ With how very， very anti-， like， trying？ Bowler can sometimes be？What I got？ I got to finally understand that Kate Bowler is not anti-trying。 She's just being honest that the best we can do is to try and enjoy our lives in some moments and to try and get through them in others。 This book is such a balm for those of us who What I expected: the same gorgeous writing and careful， generous， kind thoughts as "Everything Happens for a Reason。" But also maybe to be real depressed？ Or to disagree a bit？ With how very， very anti-， like， trying？ Bowler can sometimes be？What I got？ I got to finally understand that Kate Bowler is not anti-trying。 She's just being honest that the best we can do is to try and enjoy our lives in some moments and to try and get through them in others。 This book is such a balm for those of us who are never going to look like Best Life material。The thing about being chronically ill （or mentally ill or disabled or。。。） is you come to realize how everyone is pretending。 Pretending they are OK。Pretending they can't get sick or lose someone or fail at their careers。Pretending that "fine" and "super-duper" and "here are my vacations and successes" is the definition of normal。We tell each other that pretending helps somehow。But the truth is， there's a lot of freedom to be found when you can't pretend anymore。When there's no cure， you get to just acknowledge that things are good and bad， all the time， forever。This is a book for us。 the humans。for everyone incurable。for everyone who woke up one day and found pretense was lost to them。There are so many more of us than we sometimes think。 。。。more
Rachael
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I was kindly sent a pre-release copy in exchange for my honest review。 This book shot to the top of my 'to read' pile; it has all of Kate's characteristic humour， heart and hard won wisdom as she debunks the lies we hear every day about how we should feel and the language of victory amidst despair。 It advocates for the hope found in honesty and presence instead of pretending everything is oaky and constantly searching for silver linings。 "But no matter how carefully we schedule our days， master I was kindly sent a pre-release copy in exchange for my honest review。 This book shot to the top of my 'to read' pile; it has all of Kate's characteristic humour， heart and hard won wisdom as she debunks the lies we hear every day about how we should feel and the language of victory amidst despair。 It advocates for the hope found in honesty and presence instead of pretending everything is oaky and constantly searching for silver linings。 "But no matter how carefully we schedule our days， master our emotions， and try to wring our best life now from our better selves， we cannot solve the problem of finitude。" 。。。more
Faith
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After a diagnosis of stage 4 cancer， Kate Bowler reflects on what it means to live with uncertainty， when her length of life was no longer assured。 She examines questions of whether it's possible to be content when one's days are numbered， and how that feeling of finitude， of having all things in perspective， is fleeting。 When she discusses the birthday script she and her son act out， it nearly brings me to tears， and she is willing to let us in on her intimate conversations with her family， wit After a diagnosis of stage 4 cancer， Kate Bowler reflects on what it means to live with uncertainty， when her length of life was no longer assured。 She examines questions of whether it's possible to be content when one's days are numbered， and how that feeling of finitude， of having all things in perspective， is fleeting。 When she discusses the birthday script she and her son act out， it nearly brings me to tears， and she is willing to let us in on her intimate conversations with her family， with her close friends， and with her medical professionals， even when it isn't always flattering。These insights， while gained through a diagnosis not all will face， have a feeling of universality。 What is the purpose of our professional selves when our final days are upon us， for instance？ She wrestled with whether or not to work on her academic book， knowing it would take time from her family when that itself was uncertain （a colleague wisely said， "If the worst happens and this book is the last thing you ever do， Zach can still find you there"）。 Bowler writes with heart and with vulnerability， sharing her thoughts and words from that immediate time as well as how the pandemic impacted everything after: "The truth of the pandemic is the truth of all suffering: that it is unjustly distributed。"Through my own experiences， I have wondered how to come to terms that certain tragedies have so viscerally impacted and changed me， that while I hate that they happened， I just couldn't quite get to the point to wish them away because of how they transformed me。 Bowler also has that epiphany: "。。。we fully agree that we stumbled into the heart of a mystery -- that there were moments of suffering that felt unmistakably like gifts。"Even with a serious subject matter， Bowler's humor is present; this book exudes hope and joy and it was a gift to read。（I received a digital ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review。） 。。。more
Laura Whitfield
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In No Cure for Being Human， Kate Bowler gives us an intimate look into her cancer journey—from her diagnosis to the days， months， and years that follow。 She challenges many of the go-to responses to our mortality—carpe diem， bucket lists—and asks: When there just isn’t enough time， how does one spend it？ Bowler helps us feel our raw humanity， unfiltered。 Her truth is painful， poignant， and， full of joy。 Her words are a gift if we let ourselves sink into the depths of her experience。 Highly recom In No Cure for Being Human， Kate Bowler gives us an intimate look into her cancer journey—from her diagnosis to the days， months， and years that follow。 She challenges many of the go-to responses to our mortality—carpe diem， bucket lists—and asks: When there just isn’t enough time， how does one spend it？ Bowler helps us feel our raw humanity， unfiltered。 Her truth is painful， poignant， and， full of joy。 Her words are a gift if we let ourselves sink into the depths of her experience。 Highly recommend。 。。。more
Laura - Books In Still Life
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This little book holds a big punch。-Writing from her own experience of being diagnosed with stage 4 cancer at the tender age of 35 – happily married， mother of a toddler， and Duke Divinity School associate professor – Kate Bowler grapples with the culture of toxic positivity and the endemic “Best Life Now” movement in light of her mortality and finiteness。 In a world of Bucket Lists and YOLO and Good Vibes Only， how does one grapple with the truth that life is sometime mediocre， and other times This little book holds a big punch。-Writing from her own experience of being diagnosed with stage 4 cancer at the tender age of 35 – happily married， mother of a toddler， and Duke Divinity School associate professor – Kate Bowler grapples with the culture of toxic positivity and the endemic “Best Life Now” movement in light of her mortality and finiteness。 In a world of Bucket Lists and YOLO and Good Vibes Only， how does one grapple with the truth that life is sometime mediocre， and other times downright ugly？ -Sharing personal anecdotes and drawing on her role as a professor of history at a divinity school， Kate wrestles with the question， “what does it mean to be human” as she makes peace with the hard parts of life and embraces the moments of joy。 Raw， hilarious， brilliant， candid， hopeful， thought-provoking – this beautiful memoir is all this and more。 I found myself needing to read excerpts to my husband， mulling over passages for days， and putting every other Kate Bowler book on hold at my local library。 It as a joy to be able to promote #NoCureForBeingHuman and Kate Bowler’s book tour， within my local ministry setting。-This is a book I will return to over and over again。 Thank you to Kate Bowler and Random House for allowing me to be on the launch team for this book， and for this gifted copy in exchange for an honest review。 。。。more
Grace Hanna
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In July 2019， I was in grad school hundreds of miles away from home when my mother was diagnosed with cancer。 That night， a friend sent me a link to Kate Bowler's podcast and encouraged me to listen。 I was instantly drawn into both the tragedy of Kate's story （a young professor， diagnosed with a horrible disease， suddenly struck by the finitude of life） and the way she seemed to have become so remarkably at ease with it。 Over the next two years， I devoured her writing， podcast episodes， and soci In July 2019， I was in grad school hundreds of miles away from home when my mother was diagnosed with cancer。 That night， a friend sent me a link to Kate Bowler's podcast and encouraged me to listen。 I was instantly drawn into both the tragedy of Kate's story （a young professor， diagnosed with a horrible disease， suddenly struck by the finitude of life） and the way she seemed to have become so remarkably at ease with it。 Over the next two years， I devoured her writing， podcast episodes， and social media posts at every chance I got， often finding comfort and strength from how she was choosing to live her life in the aftermath of terrible news。 So， when I was given the opportunity to read an advance copy of No Cure for Being Human， I obviously jumped at the chance。 I wasn't sure what I was expecting， but I was certainly not disappointed。 In the memoir， she explores the question of how to live a life that you didn't choose for yourself， all while including vignettes from her childhood in Canada， the adventures of her toddler son， and interactions with her colleagues at Duke Divinity School。 It is deeply funny， surprisingly relatable， and thoughtful。 As I read （and then re-read） the book throughout the summer of 2021， my mother was finishing cancer treatment， I was starting a new job， and the question of what， if anything， I had gotten out of the past year was lingering over my head。 I was struck by the way Kate was willing to admit that life before this terrible thing happened was better than life after， but didn't use it as a hitching post for self-pity。 I have held onto this seemingly contradictory idea ever since， often returning to the text as a reminder that life doesn't have to have gone the way you planned for it to have gone well。 Kate's faith is evident throughout No Cure for Being Human， though it never feels overtly religious。 In fact， her writing is approachable to people with a strong faith or with no faith at all。 Though she deals with themes that some readers will view through a spiritual lens， they are also profoundly human。 If you have ever found yourself wondering "what is this difficulty teaching me？，" only to later realize that it may not have been teaching you anything at all， you will find that many of the themes featured really sing。 。。。more
Emily Mills
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Kate Bowler has a humor me depth that refreshes weary bones; a kind that can only be cultivated through stewarding suffering with a combo of grace and total irreverence。 Her invitation gives us all permission to let ourselves off the hook of perfectionism and idealism so that we might embrace the absurd beauty and pain of life。
Karen Driedger dyck
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I’ve been listen to Kate’s podcast through the pandemic and have been waiting for this book to come out。 I finally got hold of my copy yesterday and read it today with much anticipation， a few good laughs and of course some tears。 Kate is a remarkable story teller of her own life and a talented writer。 This memoir （？） reminded me of some of the lessons I’ve learned through difficulties in my own life ， most especially of the challenge and importance of living in the now with hope for a future， e I’ve been listen to Kate’s podcast through the pandemic and have been waiting for this book to come out。 I finally got hold of my copy yesterday and read it today with much anticipation， a few good laughs and of course some tears。 Kate is a remarkable story teller of her own life and a talented writer。 This memoir （？） reminded me of some of the lessons I’ve learned through difficulties in my own life ， most especially of the challenge and importance of living in the now with hope for a future， even though it’s become clear that it’s all terribly uncertain。 I loved this book。 I wished it was longer。 I look forward to reading the next one。 And the one after that。 I hope。 。。。more
Christina
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Kate Bowler did it again。 I read Kate's first book， Everything Happens for a Reason， after listening to her TED talk a few years back。 It's a book I have recommended and bought for just about everyone I know experiencing grief （and who isn't， these days？） I'll be adding No Cure and making my own Kate Bowler gift bundle。 Kate describes her book as "medium sad" and I think it's just about the best description there is。 She details what it's like to be in the heart of loneliness that comes with gri Kate Bowler did it again。 I read Kate's first book， Everything Happens for a Reason， after listening to her TED talk a few years back。 It's a book I have recommended and bought for just about everyone I know experiencing grief （and who isn't， these days？） I'll be adding No Cure and making my own Kate Bowler gift bundle。 Kate describes her book as "medium sad" and I think it's just about the best description there is。 She details what it's like to be in the heart of loneliness that comes with grief。 It is refreshing to have a voice to respond to the deafening cries of toxic positivity that surround you when you live with a life-altering diagnosis。 This book is raw， and real， and locates the pulse of pain that runs through us all， because to be human is to experience loss and suffering。 But this book is not without hope。 Real hope， not some pithy card or a "hang in there！" It's a crash course in keeping one's wit and tenacity not in spite of loss， but because of it。 There is laughter and irony and shrugged shoulders， even in the depths of loss。 And there is also Kate's voice， reminding us that we are not alone in our struggles。 And for that， I am more than grateful。 。。。more
Basic B's Guide
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Kate， can we be friends？So honest and raw and so meaningful to me。 I have tears in my eyes and can’t help but feel lifted up in hope and peace。
Nathan Perry
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In her latest book， No Cure for Being Human， Kate Bowler offers her wisdom to so many levels of our reality。 From the toxic positivity perpetuated in our privileged societies to the internal turmoil we may experience in times where we feel powerless， Kate offers gentle， yet extremely candid， honesty。 Based in her experiences of a cancer diagnosis and subsequent treatment， Kate is able to not only callout the ills of prosperity gospel but offer a different way to engage in faith and the world。 Ka In her latest book， No Cure for Being Human， Kate Bowler offers her wisdom to so many levels of our reality。 From the toxic positivity perpetuated in our privileged societies to the internal turmoil we may experience in times where we feel powerless， Kate offers gentle， yet extremely candid， honesty。 Based in her experiences of a cancer diagnosis and subsequent treatment， Kate is able to not only callout the ills of prosperity gospel but offer a different way to engage in faith and the world。 Kate is relatable and profound all in the same page。 Her book made me laugh， cry， and （most importantly） want to share。 I highly recommend to anyone， no matter where people are in life。 。。。more
Jenny Lawson
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I was a little afraid to read this because Kate is my friend and I was worried I wouldn't like it since inspirational memoir isn't always for me but I absolutely adored it and wanted to buy it for everyone I know。 Stunning and moving and real。 Go preorder it。 I was a little afraid to read this because Kate is my friend and I was worried I wouldn't like it since inspirational memoir isn't always for me but I absolutely adored it and wanted to buy it for everyone I know。 Stunning and moving and real。 Go preorder it。 。。。more
Kristin Odell
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This book is poetic and beautiful and raw and needed。 Kate has a way of storytelling that resonates so deeply and has a healing effect for those looking for a cure for being human。 Amazing book， fantastic story， an absolute must read！
Monica
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I devoured Kate Bowler's first book in a very short time。 So when I read No Cure for Being Human， I made myself slow down and savor this one。 Bowler has a way of making me think and reflect on both her life and my life。 She also can make me cry and she can make me laugh。 Sometimes almost at the same time。No Cure for Being Human is more of her true story about her life as she has faced a cancer diagnosis as a young mom， married wife， friend and family member。 She shares things realistically。 I al I devoured Kate Bowler's first book in a very short time。 So when I read No Cure for Being Human， I made myself slow down and savor this one。 Bowler has a way of making me think and reflect on both her life and my life。 She also can make me cry and she can make me laugh。 Sometimes almost at the same time。No Cure for Being Human is more of her true story about her life as she has faced a cancer diagnosis as a young mom， married wife， friend and family member。 She shares things realistically。 I almost feel like I am standing with her in the doctor's office or wanting to hold her hand as she waits for the oncologist's report。 Having been with a few doctors myself this summer， reading her work， has caused me to nod my head as I think about my own doctor visits。 I also could relate to her thoughts on how to deal with life after such a diagnosis。 Should she make a bucket list？ How should she live her best life after her own body tried to kill her （as she says）？I would recommend No Cure for Being Human to anyone and everyone。 But to someone who has to deal with a difficult diagnosis， I think it could be especially helpful。 I enjoyed reading her story and her realistic， but refreshing outlook on life。I received a copy of this book from the author and the publisher。 All opinions within this review are my own。 。。。more
Rosie
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I had the option to read an advanced copy of this book and I absolutely loved it - I could hardly put it down。 I felt like this book read like a conversation from beginning to end。 She addresses what life looks like in this day and age after receiving a tragic life altering diagnosis with such honesty and a little bit of humour。 I highly recommend this book to anyone grappling with any sort of illness （physical or mental） who has， at one point or another， visited the self help section of a books I had the option to read an advanced copy of this book and I absolutely loved it - I could hardly put it down。 I felt like this book read like a conversation from beginning to end。 She addresses what life looks like in this day and age after receiving a tragic life altering diagnosis with such honesty and a little bit of humour。 I highly recommend this book to anyone grappling with any sort of illness （physical or mental） who has， at one point or another， visited the self help section of a bookstore or library hoping to finally find ‘the answer。’ There is no cure all， but Kate helps illustrate that you can only do the best you can with the time you are given。 。。。more
Shirley Freeman
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Though I don't know her personally， I like and admire Kate Bowler as much as one can know a person from their writing， their speeches and their podcast。 Her latest book is part illness memoir and part cultural critique。 The American/western can-do attitude has many positive results but it also gives us the illusion of control and when unexpected things happen （illness， death， pandemic， job loss， weather tragedies， you name it）， many of our attitudes and corresponding cliches just don't hold up。 Though I don't know her personally， I like and admire Kate Bowler as much as one can know a person from their writing， their speeches and their podcast。 Her latest book is part illness memoir and part cultural critique。 The American/western can-do attitude has many positive results but it also gives us the illusion of control and when unexpected things happen （illness， death， pandemic， job loss， weather tragedies， you name it）， many of our attitudes and corresponding cliches just don't hold up。 Bowler uses her personal story to look at some common cliches/modes of thinking and offers a more helpful approach。 I appreciate her 'yes/and' positive approach。 I especially appreciate her appendix with a list of the things people say and the more complicated truth。 This would be a good book for folks going through a hard time。。。 which is probably most of us at the moment。 。。。more
Helen
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A painfully honest account of a life altering diagnosis。 Compelling in its truth。 No one can understand how it feels to be in the situation but you feel that you are there by Kates side。 Willing her onwards and wanting to give her a hug。
Patricia |
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We are big fans of Kate Bowler in my family。 My husband had the privilege of being her student in her early days at Duke， and we’ve followed her journey ever since。 Her newest book， No Cure for Being Human， reads as a memoir of her journey being diagnosed with Stage 4 colon cancer at age 35， being part of the immunotherapy trial （that brought us Keytruda！）， and learning to live in the “after”。 Kate reminds us that there is no such thing as a finished life。 That we can work and strive and always We are big fans of Kate Bowler in my family。 My husband had the privilege of being her student in her early days at Duke， and we’ve followed her journey ever since。 Her newest book， No Cure for Being Human， reads as a memoir of her journey being diagnosed with Stage 4 colon cancer at age 35， being part of the immunotherapy trial （that brought us Keytruda！）， and learning to live in the “after”。 Kate reminds us that there is no such thing as a finished life。 That we can work and strive and always always find that it is never enough。 “How lucky， then， that we are not failing。 Our lives are not problems to be solved。 We can have meaning and beauty and love， but nothing close to resolution。”I both laughed and cried through every chapter。 Kate’s dry wit and sarcastic humor bring a sense of levity to the page， while also reminding us of deeply profound truth。 Like “Everything Happens for a Reason”， Kate helps us flip the script on trite platitudes to carpe the diem and make every minute count and arms us with better， more complicated truths to keep being human in this unrelenting world。Thanks to Random House and the author for a gifted copy。 All opinions are my own。 。。。more
Mhughessc
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When Kate Bowler was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer， she started to really think about the meaning of life。 In her book， "No Cure of Being Human"， Bowler explains this time in her life and the lessons she learned along the way。 I appreciated the short chapters and the transparency that Bowler displayed in her book。 While some of it was hard to read， I enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone going through a difficult medical journey。Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC。 All opinions are my o When Kate Bowler was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer， she started to really think about the meaning of life。 In her book， "No Cure of Being Human"， Bowler explains this time in her life and the lessons she learned along the way。 I appreciated the short chapters and the transparency that Bowler displayed in her book。 While some of it was hard to read， I enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone going through a difficult medical journey。Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC。 All opinions are my own。 。。。more
Heather Fineisen
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Kate Bowler is a blessing to read。 She is down to earth， witty and thoughtful。 I love her take on the prosperity gospel and the anecdote she recounts from the hospital giftshop。 A honest look at cancer and participating in a study while clinging in desperation to motherhood。 I want to read her other books as she writes in a way I can relate to。Copy provided by the publisher and NetGalley
Sharon
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A compendium of truisms discovered while dealing with cancer。。。that Life isn't fair， and that's okay， it's not supposed to be and is what you make it。this was a goodreads giveaway A compendium of truisms discovered while dealing with cancer。。。that Life isn't fair， and that's okay， it's not supposed to be and is what you make it。this was a goodreads giveaway 。。。more
Sherry Duerre
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Realistic and tragic， but so beautiful and full of tangible hope。 I’m so grateful we live in a time with Kate Bowler-her words make me breathe deep。
Ashley Medendorp
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Kate puts so many of our， very human， thoughts into eloquent phrases woven through a heartbreaking and joyous story。 My mama heart broke with her in those late night snuggles with Zach。 She helps you face the bittersweet reality of being human， with the promise of a resurrected saviour。
Katy Wilson
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Writing a memoir of her own cancer journey， Kate Bowler describes to us in glorious detail， her struggles both physical and emotional after getting a diagnosis of Stage 4 Cancer。It seems that so far her life has been blessed – her close relationship with her beloved father and the rest of her family， her wonderful loving husband， her sweet 3 year old son and of course her glittering career。Then came the dreaded words， strangely from the mouth of a doctor’s assistant who gave her the news over th Writing a memoir of her own cancer journey， Kate Bowler describes to us in glorious detail， her struggles both physical and emotional after getting a diagnosis of Stage 4 Cancer。It seems that so far her life has been blessed – her close relationship with her beloved father and the rest of her family， her wonderful loving husband， her sweet 3 year old son and of course her glittering career。Then came the dreaded words， strangely from the mouth of a doctor’s assistant who gave her the news over the phone。 The journey begins and as I read I was both struck by the horror of her situation – a 35 year old young mother – and the good fortune that she has。 Her family and friends are extremely supportive， her own marriage is clearly happy and loving and her child is bright and cuddly。 Kate is a Christian - but even as she finds herself in this challenging situation there is never a hint that she rails against God or even questions the fairness of it all。 As a UK reader I find myself slightly jarred by the godliness of the book – it’s not very British to talk about it so much。 But this is a small matter and I was also fascinated enough to look up Mennanites to understand more about the community。I read the book rapidly， at first wondering if it would end in her tragic death but gradually realising this was a story of survival。 While other Kate’s on the drug trial were not so lucky， our Kate survived。 Knowing this important fact while writing must have made it harder to describe the terror and the confusion of the journey。 The fact is that while I enjoyed it， there was something lacking for me in this book。 A terrible and frightening thing happened to an incredibly lucky person， and it all ended happily after all。 What I did like were some of the descriptions – “For months I have been vigilant about my doctors， alert for any nuances in facial expression…。。The handful of times when I cried， or asked a particularly unvarnished question， I watched my clinical trial doctor retract like a salted slug”There was also great power in her description of her dawning realisation that taking part in a clinical trial turned her from a patient， to a study participant， and her 'doctor' was a scientist。 I will continue thinking about her description of the difference between pastoral and apocalyptic time which is very relevant to the human race in this year of 2021。 So you see there was much to enjoy in this book and I am so glad there was a happy ending。 If there was something lacking for me it is perhaps because I ask for a little more complexity in a book dealing with life and death。 Or maybe I am just envious of those who have happy families。 。。。more
Helen Frost
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Poignant， heart wrenching honest and a really powerful insight into living with cancer， the highs and lows and facing your own mortality。 Brilliantly written and very accessible style with a dash of humour and lots of strength and determination。 A humbling and very thought provoking read， with lots of very memorable sentiments and lines， puts a lot into perspective， definitely recommend。
Janet
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Date reviewed/posted: August 13， 2021Publication date: September 30， 2021When life for the entire galaxy and planet has turned on its end， you have personally decided to basically continue on #maskingup and #lockingdown to be in #COVID19 #socialisolation as the #fourthwave （#fifthwave？） is upon us， superspeed readers like me can read 300+ pages/hour， so yes， I have read the book … and many more today。 Plus it is hot as all heck and nothing is more appealing than sitting in front of a fan with a Date reviewed/posted: August 13， 2021Publication date: September 30， 2021When life for the entire galaxy and planet has turned on its end， you have personally decided to basically continue on #maskingup and #lockingdown to be in #COVID19 #socialisolation as the #fourthwave （#fifthwave？） is upon us， superspeed readers like me can read 300+ pages/hour， so yes， I have read the book … and many more today。 Plus it is hot as all heck and nothing is more appealing than sitting in front of a fan with a kindle！I requested and received a temporary digital Advance Reader Copy of this book from #NetGalley， the publisher and the author in exchange for an honest review。 From the publisher， as I do not repeat the contents or story of books in reviews， I let them do it as they do it better than I do 😸。The bestselling author of Everything Happens for a Reason （And Other Lies I've Loved） asks， how do you move forward with a life you didn't choose？Hailed by Glennon Doyle as 'the Christian Joan Didion'， Kate Bowler used to accept the modern idea that life is an endless horizon of possibilities， a series of choices which if made correctly， would lead us to a place just out of our reach。 A beach body by summer。 A trip to Disneyland is around the corner。 A promotion on the horizon。 But then at thirty-five， she was diagnosed with stage IV colon cancer， and now she has to ask one of the most fundamental questions of all: How do we create meaning in our lives when the life we hoped for is put on hold indefinitely？In No Cure for Being Human， Kate searches for a way forward as she mines the wisdom （and absurdity） of our modern 'best life now' advice industry， which offers us exhausting positivity， trying to convince us that we can out-eat， out-learn and out-perform our humanness。 With dry wit and unflinching honesty， she grapples with her cancer diagnosis， her ambition and her faith and searches for some kind of peace with her limitations in a culture that says that anything is possible。Frank and funny， dark and wise， Kate's irreverent， hard-won observations in No Cure For Being Human chart a bold path toward learning new ways to live。I am reviewing this very quickly because I read a friend's ARC as I was told "YOU HAVE TO READ THIS BOOK NOW"！。。。thank God I did。 This is an all-in memoir that is not pretty at times， but all-out funny at other moments。 This is a very Jesus-positive book but that is okay，。。。I cannot see if offending Muslims or Jews as that is not the heart of the story 。。。 the author is。 This is a great book club pick - there is so much to discuss as there will be a LOT of opinions and not all will be the same。 Trust me。 I will also highly recommend this book to friends， family， patrons， and people reading books in the park as we do … I have had some of my best conversations about books down by the Thames！ 。。。more
Emily Lund-Hansen
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"No Cure for Being Human" is at once a memoir and a take-down of the cultural scripts that tell us we can perfect our lives， control our fates--if we only do this， buy that。 I flew through this book in a few sittings， and I'll be returning to its wisdom again and again。 This is the kind of book you read， highlighting every page， then make a list of people to buy it for so you can talk about it with them。 （Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an advance copy of this book！） "No Cure for Being Human" is at once a memoir and a take-down of the cultural scripts that tell us we can perfect our lives， control our fates--if we only do this， buy that。 I flew through this book in a few sittings， and I'll be returning to its wisdom again and again。 This is the kind of book you read， highlighting every page， then make a list of people to buy it for so you can talk about it with them。 （Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an advance copy of this book！） 。。。more
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Susie Meister
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It’s everything you imagine a Kate Bowler book will be。 Life lets us down sometimes， but Kate hasn’t yet。 My god， she’s good。
Gretchen Rubin
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