LifeLines
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- Create Date：2021-05-01 08:51:38
- Update Date：2025-09-06
- Status：finish
- Author：Melissa Bernstein
- ISBN：1735439703
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Summary
Join Melissa Bernstein， Co-Founder of the wildly successful toy company Melissa & Doug， on a journey to triumph over anxiety， depression， and despair―a story she hopes will help others find their path to meaning and inner peace。 Now， more than ever， Melissa's message is needed by others， and her promise to all who journey with her is that YOU ARE NOT ALONE。
Who would ever guess that Melissa Bernstein， happily-married mother of 6， creator of over 5，000 toys which have sold over a billion dollars， begins many days the same way far too many others do， wondering if she'll make it to tomorrow？ Melissa shows us that when darkness descends， and it seems there's no escape， there actually is a way out， there actually is hope， and there actually is a path that can lead to meaning and purpose。
Melissa takes us on her path through depression， revealing how her "lifelines" transformed despair into a beacon of hope。 Filled with prose， gorgeous photography， and many of Melissa's verses that express her struggles and breakthroughs， LifeLines is committed to helping others who are "stuck" develop a plan for themselves to survive and thrive。
A book of struggle and salvation， connection and community， LifeLines is a framework for people seeking to understand their emotional lives and to develop their own path to self-discovery and inner transformation。
Who would ever guess that Melissa Bernstein， happily-married mother of 6， creator of over 5，000 toys which have sold over a billion dollars， begins many days the same way far too many others do， wondering if she'll make it to tomorrow？ Melissa shows us that when darkness descends， and it seems there's no escape， there actually is a way out， there actually is hope， and there actually is a path that can lead to meaning and purpose。
Melissa takes us on her path through depression， revealing how her "lifelines" transformed despair into a beacon of hope。 Filled with prose， gorgeous photography， and many of Melissa's verses that express her struggles and breakthroughs， LifeLines is committed to helping others who are "stuck" develop a plan for themselves to survive and thrive。
A book of struggle and salvation， connection and community， LifeLines is a framework for people seeking to understand their emotional lives and to develop their own path to self-discovery and inner transformation。
Reviews
Katelyn
，
LineLines is a treasure by which shares a prodigiously heartening journey。 Melissa so elegantly transcribes her inspiring journey with extraordinary honesty， proving not only that we are not alone in our authentic feelings， but that we should strive to embrace and express our truest selves to the best of our abilities。 As a creative with a mind which perpetually brims with ideas of innovation and curiosity， LifeLines has offered me profound hope and guidance in organizing my intentions。 Thank y LineLines is a treasure by which shares a prodigiously heartening journey。 Melissa so elegantly transcribes her inspiring journey with extraordinary honesty， proving not only that we are not alone in our authentic feelings， but that we should strive to embrace and express our truest selves to the best of our abilities。 As a creative with a mind which perpetually brims with ideas of innovation and curiosity， LifeLines has offered me profound hope and guidance in organizing my intentions。 Thank you Melissa for sharing your LifeLines。 I am truly grateful。 -- Katelyn Vissiere 。。。more
Jamie Suter
，
Read for a book club。 Very depressing and disappointing。 Basically， moral of the story， don’t be a judgmental jerk！ The author is very successful and has everything but is still unhappy because she cannot control other people。 Seems like an upper class problem to me。 The solution she provided was to focus on the small joys in life and don’t try to control everyone else。 Seems obvious， but I guess some people need to pay to learn that。 Don’t recommend this book in general unless you want to hear Read for a book club。 Very depressing and disappointing。 Basically， moral of the story， don’t be a judgmental jerk！ The author is very successful and has everything but is still unhappy because she cannot control other people。 Seems like an upper class problem to me。 The solution she provided was to focus on the small joys in life and don’t try to control everyone else。 Seems obvious， but I guess some people need to pay to learn that。 Don’t recommend this book in general unless you want to hear an aristocratic white CEO complain about how she is too smart and rich for her own good。 。。。more
Yvonne Marchese
，
I'll start by echoing the thoughts of another reviewer here。 This book is best experienced in print。 It is a thing of beauty。 The combination of photos and poetry on the printed page is extraordinary。 Then， there's the content。 It is bravely written。 Melissa has done that thing that we all fear to do。 She has exposed her most vulnerable thoughts with the clear purpose of lifting up others。 It is a book you can go back to after the first reading and randomly open to take in bite sized mor I'll start by echoing the thoughts of another reviewer here。 This book is best experienced in print。 It is a thing of beauty。 The combination of photos and poetry on the printed page is extraordinary。 Then， there's the content。 It is bravely written。 Melissa has done that thing that we all fear to do。 She has exposed her most vulnerable thoughts with the clear purpose of lifting up others。 It is a book you can go back to after the first reading and randomly open to take in bite sized morsels of poetry; perhaps picking it up first thing in the morning and setting an intention for your day。 。。。more
Melissa 💋 BeautyntheBook
，
Melissa and Doug Bernstein were only on my radar for their incredible toy company that I've bought toys from over the years for my children。 When I discovered that Melissa wrote a book that was published this month， I was so excited to request it and receive this ARC from Net Galley。 This books takes you on an intimate journey as she explored the depths of her path to inner peace and everything that embattled her along the way。 It is truly an inspirational story about how you can overcome the de Melissa and Doug Bernstein were only on my radar for their incredible toy company that I've bought toys from over the years for my children。 When I discovered that Melissa wrote a book that was published this month， I was so excited to request it and receive this ARC from Net Galley。 This books takes you on an intimate journey as she explored the depths of her path to inner peace and everything that embattled her along the way。 It is truly an inspirational story about how you can overcome the demons of mental health by exploring anxiety， depression， and other disparities。 Melissa holds little back as she explains her personal battle with depression， raw and emotional， with a perspective similar to Glennon Doyle- you should never get stuck in one spot or emotion for too long， but you must always allow yourself to feel every single one of those emotions， in the most clear and sober mind。 Bravo Melissa， thank you for being a warrior and setting an example for all of us by telling your truth and normalizing stigmas associated with mental health。Thank you #netgalley for this ARC in return for an honest review！ 。。。more
Rebecca
，
This unique book journals and follows Melissa Bernstein， co-founder of Melissa & Doug toys， on a lifelong journey for balance， meaning， and acceptance as she has struggled with anxiety and depression。 It is heartfelt， very personal， and is punctuated with beautiful pages and verse。 Melissa opens the doors for many much needed conversations in this timely book。
Zibby Owens
，
In this book， the author takes us on a journey through her depression， revealing how "lifelines" gave her hope to get through a dark time。 The book also highlights some fundamental parts of life that help us not feel so alone。 It's filled with personal poems， essays， and photography that allow us to experience what she was going through。 This structure gives the book a raw honesty that feels deeply personal。 This book is also about creativity and how it can be an essential outlet to express your In this book， the author takes us on a journey through her depression， revealing how "lifelines" gave her hope to get through a dark time。 The book also highlights some fundamental parts of life that help us not feel so alone。 It's filled with personal poems， essays， and photography that allow us to experience what she was going through。 This structure gives the book a raw honesty that feels deeply personal。 This book is also about creativity and how it can be an essential outlet to express your deepest feelings。 She says， "For the first time ever， I felt something entirely different， having spent a lifetime suffocating with a tube suddenly jammed into my trachea and experiencing what it meant to breathe fresh air。" This passage grabbed me too， "My voice rarely leaves these lips， but boldly channels through my hand for I find most discourse challenging since answers can't be planned， often uttering opinions which are terribly received and encountering reactions so much worse than I perceived thereby heading to a corner armed with paper and a pen to release the desolation using written words again。" These passages are all so powerful， one after another after another。 To listen to my interview with the author， go to my podcast at:https://zibbyowens。com/transcript/mel。。。 。。。more
Jayne Demsky
，
I had no idea of what to expect from Melissa's book。 It was described as a book about Melissa's lifelong struggle living with existential anxiety and depression。 It also includes verses from her lifetime of thoughts。Being familiar with Melissa from her popular toy company， Melissa & Doug， I was curious to hear about her story。 You have to have confidence and fortitude to build the behemoth that the company became。 She had the vision and guts to forge ahead with her reimagined vision of children' I had no idea of what to expect from Melissa's book。 It was described as a book about Melissa's lifelong struggle living with existential anxiety and depression。 It also includes verses from her lifetime of thoughts。Being familiar with Melissa from her popular toy company， Melissa & Doug， I was curious to hear about her story。 You have to have confidence and fortitude to build the behemoth that the company became。 She had the vision and guts to forge ahead with her reimagined vision of children's toys。How was she able to build this well-known business while living with this inner-turmoil？Melissa explains that feeling different and unsettled began during her Pre-K years。 Now I was even more blown away by her story。 We all have complicated minds filled with automatic thoughts and self-talk。 But Melissa's mind is a whirlwind of constant questions and discomfort as she grapples with what she later discovered was pervasive existential thoughts and overexcitabllities。 OE are extreme reactions and views of life situations that other people may see as unworthy of attention or at least so much reflection。Yes， Melissa's journey screams，" you can never assume you know what someone's life is really like。" Making assumptions based on accolades， appearance， image， and possessions bring judgments and comparisons which mislead everyone involved。 We keep hearing these lessons throughout our lives， but for some reason， we humans can't move past these unhealthy comparisons and aspirations to live someone else's life。 She tells stories where she portrayed and displayed herself as we would imagine her to be at these professional forums and presentations。 But in reality， she felt like she didn't belong and was very uncomfortable being the focus of attention。Throughout the book， I was astonished at her ability to "seem" to function while being consumed by the constant battles and misinterpretations swirling in her head。 I have never been a person to read poetry or affirmations。 I had no interest。 None whatsoever！！ I expected to breeze through or skip her wordsmithing， but I was immediately hooked to her lifelines。 I started circling， folding pages down， and sticking in notes to reference her words when needed。 They resonated and provided me guidance， support， and reminders of living a life of joy， gratitude， and self-love。Her words provide comfort since I can relate to many of them。 I continue to refer back to them as needed。 They help me re-examine my thoughts through a more healthy lens， and I appreciate Melissa sharing them。 。。。more
Dawnny
，
This is a big beautiful book from Melissa， the woman who created the popular Melissa & Doug toys。 Suffering with mental health issues this Is her journey。 Anxiety， panic and depression happens to the young， the old， the rich， the poor。 I really enjoyed reading this whopping book full of beautiful photos， quotes and poetry。 I've suffered from anxiety and can really relate to her journey。 I connected with her thoughts and struggles。 A deep look inside someone with mental health issues and it let's This is a big beautiful book from Melissa， the woman who created the popular Melissa & Doug toys。 Suffering with mental health issues this Is her journey。 Anxiety， panic and depression happens to the young， the old， the rich， the poor。 I really enjoyed reading this whopping book full of beautiful photos， quotes and poetry。 I've suffered from anxiety and can really relate to her journey。 I connected with her thoughts and struggles。 A deep look inside someone with mental health issues and it let's one know you are not alone in this struggle。 Like the title it's a lifeline from darkness into light。Dawn Ruby Novels N Latte Hudson Valley NY 。。。more
Lauren Demko
，
LifeLines is a Beautiful book！ The look and feel of each page， as well as the cover， but even more so， the words and intention of the book。 Melissa’s courageous vulnerability can be read and felt on each page。 It’s written unlike any book I’ve ever read， with a mix of verses spanning years of Melissa’s life to content， experiences and truth。 Melissa is leading the way， showing us and encouraging us all to live authentically。 She has created a space and resources for others to journey inward。 A b LifeLines is a Beautiful book！ The look and feel of each page， as well as the cover， but even more so， the words and intention of the book。 Melissa’s courageous vulnerability can be read and felt on each page。 It’s written unlike any book I’ve ever read， with a mix of verses spanning years of Melissa’s life to content， experiences and truth。 Melissa is leading the way， showing us and encouraging us all to live authentically。 She has created a space and resources for others to journey inward。 A beautiful gift！ “How I yearn to be the riverFlowing down the mountainsideSimply focused on my journey And delighting in the ride” 。。。more
Summer
，
Melissa Bernstein's LifeLines book is stunning and to be savoured slowly。 A beautiful coffee table book with over 600 pages， it includes gorgeous nature photography and Melissa's prose and poetry。 With the prose， she recounts her harrowing battle with childhood trauma， perfectionism， crippling existential anxiety， depression and， at its worst， suicidal thoughts。 But， this book is hopeful and full of light。 She shows how she used creative tools to go from darkness to light and her verses are a gu Melissa Bernstein's LifeLines book is stunning and to be savoured slowly。 A beautiful coffee table book with over 600 pages， it includes gorgeous nature photography and Melissa's prose and poetry。 With the prose， she recounts her harrowing battle with childhood trauma， perfectionism， crippling existential anxiety， depression and， at its worst， suicidal thoughts。 But， this book is hopeful and full of light。 She shows how she used creative tools to go from darkness to light and her verses are a guide。 By using her creativity - designing toys for her widely successful toy company， Melissa & Doug， to writing verses and poetry starting as early as 5 years old。。。to seeking inspiration and solace in nature and time spent with her beloved family （she is a mom of 6 children！） - Melissa was able to overcome and shares her inspiring story here to help others。 I received an advanced copy of this book and am part of her LifeLines Igniters' program and community。 Melissa commits to speaking personally to each person who reaches out to her， and I was honoured to have a long conversation over the phone with her。 I encourage all that buy this book to reach out to Melissa。 Her knowledge， empathy and compassion are immediately felt when speaking to her and when reading the book。 I find solace in her personal story recounted in LifeLines which reads like a memoir， as well as her inspirational verses。 Read some verses before going to bed or upon waking， almost like daily affirmations， and they will provide solace， hope and strength。 The calming， exquisite photography inspires reflection。 Highly recommend。 I also encourage others to check out her website: https://www。lifelines。com/ to get involved in the Life Lines community and workshops。 。。。more
Stephanie （abookandadog）
，
This book is full of beauty。 I loved the nature photos in the background and coupled with the 'LifeLines' makes it a perfect coffee table book。 I can't help but feel awful for Melissa because it is apparent that she was surrounded by some pretty heartless people throughout her younger years。 I am grateful for her that she was able to find a way to channel her pain to bring joy to so many through her creations。 I had a tough time reading this book especially in the first few volumes because of so This book is full of beauty。 I loved the nature photos in the background and coupled with the 'LifeLines' makes it a perfect coffee table book。 I can't help but feel awful for Melissa because it is apparent that she was surrounded by some pretty heartless people throughout her younger years。 I am grateful for her that she was able to find a way to channel her pain to bring joy to so many through her creations。 I had a tough time reading this book especially in the first few volumes because of some clunky writing and odd word choices。 Each volume felt a little repetitive but maybe I missed the point there given the title of each of them。 The writing smoothed out more towards the end and I appreciate that the author was able to recognize that she needed to find people that were willing to support and not go through life alone - this I feel is very important for those who may read this looking for hope in their own life。Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC。 。。。more
Tricia Bolender
，
LifeLines is unlike any book I've read before。 Part memoir， part poetry。。。 it chronicles Melissa's journey from people-pleasing / perfectionist / fear-based mindset， to freedom and choosing life。 The most poignant chapters for me were Perfectionism and Martyrdom， to Curiosity and Possibility， and finally to Liberation。 The book itself is a tribute to creativity， each page a work of art visually， with the poems ending each chapter as a window into Melissa's journey and soul。 I have many pages dog LifeLines is unlike any book I've read before。 Part memoir， part poetry。。。 it chronicles Melissa's journey from people-pleasing / perfectionist / fear-based mindset， to freedom and choosing life。 The most poignant chapters for me were Perfectionism and Martyrdom， to Curiosity and Possibility， and finally to Liberation。 The book itself is a tribute to creativity， each page a work of art visually， with the poems ending each chapter as a window into Melissa's journey and soul。 I have many pages dog-eared that personally touched me。 Here is one verse that particularly moved me and touched my soul:"I'm no longer saying sorryI'm no longer feeling shameI'm no longer trying desperatelyTo play this phony gameI'm no longer acting guiltyI'm no longer staying smallI'm not longer caring what they saySo fearful of them allI'm embracing imperfectionI'm affirming how I feelI'm accepting my emotionsEver striving to be real。"As a mom of a 5-year old and a 1。5 year old， we love Melissa & Doug's puzzles and toys。 This book brings depth and soul， and pulls back the curtains of a creative and a leader who has struggled with anxiety and depression; and is certain to help many through her vulnerability and courage in sharing her story。 。。。more
Seema Dasani
，
I so appreciate Melissa's honesty in this book。 Her sincerity and resilience is so moving。 As someone who recently went back to school for her Masters in Clinical Mental Health Counseling， I see so clearly how the field of mental health carries so much stigma and shame。 And yet， the only way out of that insidious darkness is by sharing one's pain and speaking one's truth。 I too have learned that in my journey from despair to true wellbeing。 Melissa， thank you so much for bringing your light to t I so appreciate Melissa's honesty in this book。 Her sincerity and resilience is so moving。 As someone who recently went back to school for her Masters in Clinical Mental Health Counseling， I see so clearly how the field of mental health carries so much stigma and shame。 And yet， the only way out of that insidious darkness is by sharing one's pain and speaking one's truth。 I too have learned that in my journey from despair to true wellbeing。 Melissa， thank you so much for bringing your light to this subject。 I am sure it will inspire others to also speak up about what ails them and receive the help and support they need。 。。。more
Michelle Lach
，
Melissa has a way of weaving in her own personal story of struggling with existential anxiety and depression while providing hope for others who struggle with feelings of depression and loneliness。 LifeLines is more than a book， but a guide for fellow journey travelers in search of self-discovery， and seeking to derive meaning in life。 This book will inspire you， and move you to tears— as it did me， as I look into the depths of the soul of the woman staring back at me in the mirror。 Through her Melissa has a way of weaving in her own personal story of struggling with existential anxiety and depression while providing hope for others who struggle with feelings of depression and loneliness。 LifeLines is more than a book， but a guide for fellow journey travelers in search of self-discovery， and seeking to derive meaning in life。 This book will inspire you， and move you to tears— as it did me， as I look into the depths of the soul of the woman staring back at me in the mirror。 Through her raw truth-telling， and beautiful notes pieced together from years of writing in notebooks， napkins， scrap pieces of paper， Melissa poured her soul and wisdom into the pages of what has become LifeLines。 If you’ve been wandering， soul searching， and seeking connection with other travelers， Melissa extends a warm hug and an invitation to embark on this journey with fellow seekers。 You are not alone， and there is light on the other side of the deep darkness。 “I had been suffocating under a mountain of flawed perceptions， with each revelation enabling me to shed another fallacy until able to step out as my honest self。” -Melissa Bernstein 。。。more
Sathya Peri
，
Everyone's life isn't as perfect as people portray them to be。 Even though Melissa Bernstein founded a million-dollar toy company， she went through immense anxiety and depression。 She takes us on her journey of dealing with pain and shares her learnings。 Each page of the book is colorful and unique。 By reading about Melissa's life， I had a chance to reflect on my own life and wrestle with topics I hadn't really given a lot of thought to。 The book is powerful as it helped me deal with some things Everyone's life isn't as perfect as people portray them to be。 Even though Melissa Bernstein founded a million-dollar toy company， she went through immense anxiety and depression。 She takes us on her journey of dealing with pain and shares her learnings。 Each page of the book is colorful and unique。 By reading about Melissa's life， I had a chance to reflect on my own life and wrestle with topics I hadn't really given a lot of thought to。 The book is powerful as it helped me deal with some things I had been avoiding。 Hope you get a chance to read it！ 。。。more
Nilima K
，
LifelinesThis book arrived in my life against a backdrop of the recent loss of both parents coupled with the inability to witness their last rites or visit my family in India。 I found the first part of the book too painful to bear and had to put it aside for a few weeks。I picked it up again once I had found some solace in my heart and proceeded to read it through。 Melisa’s words had me enthralled as I went through all her emotions as if they were happening to me。 I followed her through her insec LifelinesThis book arrived in my life against a backdrop of the recent loss of both parents coupled with the inability to witness their last rites or visit my family in India。 I found the first part of the book too painful to bear and had to put it aside for a few weeks。I picked it up again once I had found some solace in my heart and proceeded to read it through。 Melisa’s words had me enthralled as I went through all her emotions as if they were happening to me。 I followed her through her insecurities， perfectionism， compulsive and self-destructive behaviors， which spiraled her to the nadir of anguish only to rise again， to a deep understanding of her own soul。 I watched her emerge from the depths of despair， to rise with dint of determination—ultimately to a liberation of spirit。 But Melissa did not stop there。 Though relieved of many an emotional burden and misconception she does not just stop and enjoy her own inner victory。 She reaches out instead to all who may be suffering a similar plight， to provide lifelines， to help speed their journey out of misery and into self-realization。Melissa’s deep understanding of her own emotions， her ability to express them clearly in prose as well as unembellished， unaffected poetry， gives us a moment-to-moment candid account of her inner evolution from self-destructive practices to self-healing。As a primary care physician， Melissa’s analysis of her maladies: existential depression as well as over excitabilities held intrigue for me。 They piqued my interest to read up further about these issues。 I found they are mostly a corollary of extremely intelligence and hence found commonly in the gifted child which Melissa obviously was。 Melissa was writing verses from the tender age of two， about her existential despondency。 The over excitability meant she read much more into any situation than her nongifted peers could。 Her articulate account of what went on in her brain helps me understand my patients better。 I used to take pride in being empathetic and giving a patient ear to patients。 But Melissa’s words have given me a new sensitivity toward the innermost feelings of people with over excitabilities or existential depression。As a person born and raised in India， imbued with eastern spirituality， I find Melissa to be a truly spiritual person or a seer like the sages of yore。 Her consciousness seems to encompass all of nature， identifying with a falling leaf， a lonely shell， or an ocean wave as if they were extensions of herself。Her use of nature photography as a backdrop for her verses has great esthetic appeal。 The writing often spans a page that is half dark and half light as if to show the two sides to the situations we endure through life。In summary， Melissa’s book is a many-splendored gem that will brighten the lives of readers。Nilima 。。。more
Kahran Singh
，
I really wanted to deeply love Melissa's book。 I believe the work she is doing with her book and words is so important in creating space for people to be vulnerable。 Too many people today do not have that space， and it's difficult to know until you read it if this book will resonate with you and may help you create that space for yourself。 It is certainly worth trying -- it is a very different experience to read this book， with its collection of prose and poetry， remembrance and restitution。 If I really wanted to deeply love Melissa's book。 I believe the work she is doing with her book and words is so important in creating space for people to be vulnerable。 Too many people today do not have that space， and it's difficult to know until you read it if this book will resonate with you and may help you create that space for yourself。 It is certainly worth trying -- it is a very different experience to read this book， with its collection of prose and poetry， remembrance and restitution。 If you feel like you are carrying despair， sorrow， numbness or detachment， this book may connect well with you。Unfortunately， I found it very difficult to connect with Melissa in the way that many other readers seem to have found。 My process for finding truth， and succor in times of despair or destress has been very different than Melissa's， and hers was harder for me to relate to。 I hesitate to give 5 stars because I cannot say I loved the book -- I was left wishing the chapters were a bit more structured， and the stories shared in a more accessible way -- at times I was left similar to how I felt when I ready Isaacson's Steve Jobs; Melissa is amazing but could be an alien -- mere mortals cannot be or exist like these once-in-a-generation， once-in-a-century folks。 That said， the book itself is a wonder and a delight， and if you have forgotten the joy when a book surprises you， or makes you think， or is with you for days and weeks after the reading; why， then， this book is just waiting for the next time you pause， take a breath， and invest in you。 。。。more
Mackenzie Pittman
，
As someone who has dealt with my own loneliness， anxiety， and depression over the years， I can very much relate to Melissa's words。 I am also a lover of quotes and poems so loved the way the book flows。 I would highly recommend this book to anyone out there on their journey through self-discovery （aka， all of us）。 As someone who has dealt with my own loneliness， anxiety， and depression over the years， I can very much relate to Melissa's words。 I am also a lover of quotes and poems so loved the way the book flows。 I would highly recommend this book to anyone out there on their journey through self-discovery （aka， all of us）。 。。。more
Luisa Tanno
，
Melissa Bernstein， through her memoir and her poetry （or verses）， courageously tells the story of her lifelong struggle with depression。 At the heart of this book is her compassion。 Bernstein is genuinely reaching out a hand to assure anyone who may be depressed or who feels out of place in the world that they are not alone。 In this way， the book is a wonderful resource， and spark of inspiration， for so many who are struggling， or may know someone who is。
BookTrib。com
，
These immensely personal pages of self-expression give us some understanding of the struggles Melissa has had with existential depression and anxiety and celebrate the light she has found to continue living with a purpose。 LIFELINES provides valuable insight from someone who has traveled the road to greater understanding of self and experienced all the feels。Read our full review and a Q&A with the author here:https://booktrib。com/2021/02/18/co-fo。。。 These immensely personal pages of self-expression give us some understanding of the struggles Melissa has had with existential depression and anxiety and celebrate the light she has found to continue living with a purpose。 LIFELINES provides valuable insight from someone who has traveled the road to greater understanding of self and experienced all the feels。Read our full review and a Q&A with the author here:https://booktrib。com/2021/02/18/co-fo。。。 。。。more
Meaghan Pannasch
，
Reading the verses in LifeLines truly makes me feel heard and not alone。 Melissa's story relates to so many out there， her beautiful words and verses are thought-provoking and extremely inspiring。 I really resonate with so much in there and feel comforted and hopeful， thank you Melissa for your courage :） Reading the verses in LifeLines truly makes me feel heard and not alone。 Melissa's story relates to so many out there， her beautiful words and verses are thought-provoking and extremely inspiring。 I really resonate with so much in there and feel comforted and hopeful， thank you Melissa for your courage :） 。。。more
Kyle Manley
，
This book is a wonderful voyage through the mind - each chapter tackling the feelings all of us have felt to varying degrees but then also matching it with wonderful poetry which puts words to the wordless。
David Yost
，
In LifeLines， Melissa Bernstein opens up about her life using photography， poetry， and prose。 She has found success in life by every exterior measure: She has been married to the same spouse for 30 years， has six children， and has gained great wealth from her toy business。 But on the inside， she suffers from anxiety and depression。Melissa has finally learned to deal with her life-long existential depression and， starting with this book， is reaching out to others who may be experiencing the same。 In LifeLines， Melissa Bernstein opens up about her life using photography， poetry， and prose。 She has found success in life by every exterior measure: She has been married to the same spouse for 30 years， has six children， and has gained great wealth from her toy business。 But on the inside， she suffers from anxiety and depression。Melissa has finally learned to deal with her life-long existential depression and， starting with this book， is reaching out to others who may be experiencing the same。 I do not share Melissa’s affliction。 But I found value in reading LifeLines just the same。 When I read on pages 435-436 how Melissa is a careful listener， that struck a chord with me。 I value being a good listener。 It’s not an easy job。 At that point in the book， I began to feel sympathy for Melissa and her struggles。Up to that point， I had a hard time reading this book。 The prose is often frustratingly pillowy and mystical。 I wanted more detail in her stories。 The poetry is， by Melissa’s own admission， sophomoric。 But changing the book to fit my expectations would be the same as Melissa changing her image of herself to fit her friends’ expectations。 That happens in two unhappy episodes in LifeLines， and I did not want it to happen a third time， not in my personal interaction with this book and， by extension， with Melissa。By way of full disclosure， I received a free， advance copy of LifeLines so I could write a review。 If I did not think this was a worthwhile book， I would have declined to write a review。 LifeLines is thought-provoking， and I am glad I read it。 。。。more
Howard W Rhee
，
A beautiful book， well written。 Melissa is courageous for putting herself out there， and the purpose is to connect with others who are experiencing a similar level of existential angst。 I imagine many lonely， tortured souls will find this book a light in the darkness。 And hopefully enough of a light to guide them out of the darkness and let their light shine for everyone！ I have referred back to the verses in the book to continue to inspire me， as I walk this journey。 Glad to know that someone e A beautiful book， well written。 Melissa is courageous for putting herself out there， and the purpose is to connect with others who are experiencing a similar level of existential angst。 I imagine many lonely， tortured souls will find this book a light in the darkness。 And hopefully enough of a light to guide them out of the darkness and let their light shine for everyone！ I have referred back to the verses in the book to continue to inspire me， as I walk this journey。 Glad to know that someone else has walked it， too。 。。。more
Marina
，
This book has provided me with a transformational experience that I am still going through。 I started it unsure of what to expect， but as I turn each page and dive deeper into the material I find myself exploring areas within that I never knew I could go to or needed to go to。 I recommend this book to everyone and anyone looking to explore their self and find a deeper purpose and meaning。
Aimee Connors
，
Until our sense of self Moves from the mind into the heart We will never find connection And remain our lives apart Melissa's words pulled me into her darkest， most desperate feelings as she described decades spent suffocating under the weight of her own thoughts。 Searching constantly for meaning and finally discovering that the only way "out" is a hard journey inward， she shares her story and her LifeLines， the verses she has written on her path to self-acceptance and equanimity。 The book is b Until our sense of self Moves from the mind into the heart We will never find connection And remain our lives apart Melissa's words pulled me into her darkest， most desperate feelings as she described decades spent suffocating under the weight of her own thoughts。 Searching constantly for meaning and finally discovering that the only way "out" is a hard journey inward， she shares her story and her LifeLines， the verses she has written on her path to self-acceptance and equanimity。 The book is beautiful and moving， filled with striking photos of nature paired with Melissa's prose and poetry as she unapologetically shares her whole self with the world。 。。。more
Darrin Lucas
，
Wow！ Want to explore the thoughts and feelings of an incredibly successful person？ THIS is the book for you。 By the way， it's NOT a roadmap to starting and building an incredible toy business。 It IS a walk through the torment and eventual road to salvation for Melissa Bernstein， co-founder of the toy company Melissa & Doug。 I came away realizing that my own inner journey was something I needed to initiate， and I'm walking that path now。 This book was brave and honest。 Read it。 It will change you Wow！ Want to explore the thoughts and feelings of an incredibly successful person？ THIS is the book for you。 By the way， it's NOT a roadmap to starting and building an incredible toy business。 It IS a walk through the torment and eventual road to salvation for Melissa Bernstein， co-founder of the toy company Melissa & Doug。 I came away realizing that my own inner journey was something I needed to initiate， and I'm walking that path now。 This book was brave and honest。 Read it。 It will change you forever。 。。。more
Schuyler
，
Lifelines is a beautiful book， both in terms of its written content， and its visual aesthetic。 Melissa， the author， is refreshingly vulnerable and able to communicate existentialism in easily digestible and relatable language。 Her verses are a reminder that we should， and need to， embrace the practices in our lives that are life-giving and soul-fillings， regardless of what the outside world thinks。 Her book has been an incredible source of inspiration and self-reflection for me， especially in re Lifelines is a beautiful book， both in terms of its written content， and its visual aesthetic。 Melissa， the author， is refreshingly vulnerable and able to communicate existentialism in easily digestible and relatable language。 Her verses are a reminder that we should， and need to， embrace the practices in our lives that are life-giving and soul-fillings， regardless of what the outside world thinks。 Her book has been an incredible source of inspiration and self-reflection for me， especially in regard to what it means to be creative， and to create in a world with uncertain meaning and purpose。 。。。more
Mary Nixon
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Melissa’s book is a special gift to me after a very difficult year shared by the suffering of so many others。 It reflects ，in many ways， the teachings of Eckhart Tolle which have awakened me to the reality of life here on Earth。 The lifeline poems are especially helpful and inspiring。 Thank you so much
Jennifer
，
I highly recommend this book and believe Melissa’s message of finding her true self is one that will resonate with so many readers。 LifeLines is a vulnerable and heart-wrenching compilation of Melissa’s innermost thoughts and feelings， stunning photography and her own poetry collection。 Reading the book left me feeling connected with her story， as I was able to identify parts of myself with the experiences she so bravely shared。 Even though I’ve read LifeLines in its entirety， I find that I cont I highly recommend this book and believe Melissa’s message of finding her true self is one that will resonate with so many readers。 LifeLines is a vulnerable and heart-wrenching compilation of Melissa’s innermost thoughts and feelings， stunning photography and her own poetry collection。 Reading the book left me feeling connected with her story， as I was able to identify parts of myself with the experiences she so bravely shared。 Even though I’ve read LifeLines in its entirety， I find that I continue to pick it up just to reread a few paragraphs or a page of poetry - this is a book that will definitely be read again and again！ 。。。more
Reference
google book https://www.google.com/search?tbm=bks&q=LifeLines
hathitrust digital library https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/ls?q1=LifeLines&field1=ocr&a=srchls&ft=ft&lmt=ft
The British Library https://bll01.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/search?query=any,contains,LifeLines&tab=LibraryCatalog&search_scope=Not_BL_Suppress&vid=44BL_INST:BLL01&lang=en&offset=0