The Top Five Regrets of the Dying: A Life Transformed by the Dearly Departing

Here are my top five regrets. 1) Not reading the reviews before I purchased the book. 2) Wasting money buying the book. 3) Reading the book. 4) Continuing to read the book hoping to find some redemptive quality to it even after I realized how bad it was. 5) Not returning the book to Amazon for a refund.This book isn’t about the top five regrets of the dying. It is a memoir wherein the author desperately tries to convince the reader of how self actualized she thinks she is.

The book is amazing. Simply put - I loved it, I just loved it.I am buying two more for a couple of friends from another country.We usually share and compare our opinions on different books, but this one is not available on their country.So - I am buying two and then I will mail them to my friends.I will also most definitely recommend it to my other friends in the US.This is not a book to be saved as an "audiobook". This book is one of those I most pass along to my child (he is only 8 y/o now). And I will read a couple more times before I do that.In the recent years, I have come more in touch with spirituality and this book is full of spiritual knowledge and spiritual understanding. I totally identified myself with the author and the fact that she remembered so many little details about her clients - beautiful!Almost on every page, the author reminded me of the beauty of living a simple life.We, as humans, tend to forget that the simpler our lives, the less pain and more fulfillment and purpose.Let's not forget, that only the egoist and the arrogant believe this life belongs to them... It doesn't. To be alive is a gift. To have the honor of walking this planet is a gift. And this book an amazing reminder of that. Unfortunately, most humans realize the gift only on their last days/minutes here.Thank you Bronnie Ware

The top five regrets are the author's interpretations based on her personal experiences as a care giver. The top five are not based on credible research. This is basically an autobiography. I found it to be disappointing.

The end of a year is a common time to take stock—especially so this year as we embark on a new decade this Wednesday. Depending on your age, you have more or fewer opportunities to make changes and improvements at such a time. Australian author Bronnie Ware worked as a caregiver for the dying, and the people she cared for knew that there would be no new years or decades for them. They had to come to terms with what had happened in their lives that they wished hadn't, or what hadn't happened that they wished had. Ware shares their stories in "The Top Five Regrets of the Dying."Ware realized that many of the same regrets came up over and over from those she cared for. They are: * "I wish I'd had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me." * "I wish I hadn't worked so hard." * "I wish I'd had the courage to express my feelings." * "I wish I'd stayed in touch with my friends." * "I wish I'd let myself be happier."The elderly that Ware cared for make many recommendations to the reader, including resolving family conflicts to the extent that is possible, taking care of your health so you can live life to the fullest, striking a balance where money and simplicity are concerned, looking at every day as a gift, maintaining a sense of self, and realizing that your life is your own and not someone else's. One affluent woman envied her daughter's having the courage to live the way she wanted to against the opinions of society. Another one of Ware's charges regretted being married to a controlling spouse and not traveling to other regions or countries.The stories in "Top Five Regrets" are moving and the book is well worth reading. It implores the reader, especially young readers, to realize that what you think you will regret when you are young is not what you will eventually come to regret at some point on the road from 25 and 75 and to order your life so that your regrets are fewer when it comes time to die.

We read this book in our book study group. It is excellent. We were unsure what to expect. It is not dry and factual, but filled with personal reflectionsand insight. Everyone thought it was one of our best selections.

This book changed my life, my outlook of life is different now, and the values with the life lessons are very beneficial to everyone. Just realizing how short your time is on this planet makes you appreciate the time you have. I absolutely love this book!

The Top Five Regrets of the Dying is a compelling book that gives you ainside look at what really matters when you know your life is ending. Through Bronnie Ware's intimate conversations with her clients she discovers what true regrets they have in the last stages of life. The book is interesting with an abundance of wisdom from Bronnie's clients and Bronnie herself as well as she discovers how to live an empowered life with no regrets from the lessons learned from those so close to departing.. Through this journey Bronnie discovers deep feeling never released that has held her back from living her dreams. Once deep blocks are released, a whole new world opens up to her and she welcomes in her new life with open eyes and an open heart.

Bronnie does a beautiful work of sifting through the noise of life and bringing the priorities to the surface, where they can shine. There is a balance of God's blessings and grace and our own conscious decisions and actions that move us toward the life we were created to live. True freedom is available to us all, but it often takes diligent effort to clean out the things that block out the sunlight of the Spirit and open us up to receive. Well done Bronnie, you have done good work here.

Please don't be put off by the headline. It sounds like it a depressing book about death - it is not, it is about life. Approached from a very positive outlook, it gives lots of insight into people's viewpoints on what is important in life. I wish I had read this when I was in my twenties, however, even in my 60's it is really useful and inspiring. I will pass this on to my children (in their 30's) after I have finished it.Footnote: I have just completed reading this book. The final chapters were, for me, absolutely amazing and even more interesting/useful than the main sections. Bronnie describes her breakdown and then how she drew upon her learnings to work through this and come out the others side. She says so many things which resonate for me and affirm so many things. I am so pleased that I bought it.

These days it seems people take a more practical approach to dying in all respects. It may not be a nice thought but if you start mentally preparing yourself to the inevitable final time, but you'll probably feel much calmer and at peace when facing the end of your life.The book is written very simply with no highly philosophical views about death - just observations which you can relate to, having accompanied someone on their last journey. I have recently attended a humanist funeral- full of joyful memories of that person. It was initially disconcerting but it made sense. Of course, family and friends feel great sadness at their loss but can also be helped a lot by a serene acceptance of someone's passing. In many ways, an illness gives you time to consider "the end"- it is not so easy when the circumstances are sudden.I thought the book gave you an opportunity to look at "dying" in a positive way. I wish I had read it before my husband passed away.

Uplifting story. Given that it was a memoir, I would’ve liked more depth regarding her personal struggles. I came away knowing little about her life, which would’ve been alright - the journey towards the light for her was a helpful guide - except that since it did read very much like a memoir, I wanted to know more about her. A bit preachy but I liked her.

I love this book. Bronnie Ware is a true free spirit who has experienced and learned so much. Far from fear of dying, this book will impart an urge toward joy in living and the bliss that comes with being true to oneself - however tricky the journey to get there. Words of wisdom on every page.

I'd borrowed this book from the library but I was enjoying it so much I decided to buy my own copy. There are lots of useful little phrases and advice that is very helpful and I think this book could be read many times and you would still get the inspiration you need in that moment. Some reviews stated that they didn't like how it was all about the author..well, it's the author telling you her story as she experienced it, that's kind of what the book is about! If you'd like some tips on not having any regrets in your later years, this book is for you.