Falling Upward, Revised and Updated: A Spirituality for the Two Halves of Life

The book arrived faster than it said it would - which I was very pleased about - and in excellent condition. Very happy all round! It also arrived with a hand written note which was a nice touch.

Present for a friend

Falling Upwards Richard Rohr, Franciscan Priest and Founder of the Centre for Action and Contemplation, has written a book here aimed at those entering, in or interested in ‘the second half of life.’ This is not, however, a self-help manual with spiritual homilies for those affected by mid-life crisis. It is a profound exploration of religion, philosophy and Jungian psychology in relation to the theme of maturity, especially spiritual maturity. The key argument of this work is that in the first half of our lives we quite naturally focus on defining our individual identity, we work out what our values are, what matters to us, and guard them vigorously. We are focussed on ambition, achievement, and the avoidance of weakness in our quest. If we encounter the ‘other’ we pity it, flee from it or fight it. To do this we are our own ‘loyal soldier.’ But, Father Rohr argues, in the second half of our lives we must discharge our loyal soldier, as we are called into a new, more expansive journey. In other words, we have been focussing on building the container, and that was a right and necessary thing to do. Now our quest is to fill it. We do this through embracing ‘second half of life wisdom,’ seeing things in a new, non-dualistic way. Often there will have been a fall or series of falls to get us to this point, the life experiences that take us down so we can be built anew; redundancy, bereavement, relationship failure and other such trauma. But the key is that our scope and understanding is widened, we are more ‘us’ than ‘I,’ and we embrace difference rather than attack it, as we are now confident enough and large enough to ‘let go’ of our own ego superstructures or / and ‘individual faith projects.’ I am mangling Richard Rohr’s thinking here in my rush to summarise so please excuse me. He draws on a range of sources and learning including Homer’s Odyssey, the writings of the early Christian Mystics, the Gospels and scripture, the work of Carl Jung and his experiences as Franciscan Father and Prison Chaplain. He does this to describe this incredible adventure of spiritual awakening and discovery that is there for us all should we wish to embrace it. It does take work, which includes ‘shadow-work,’ or ‘shadow-boxing,’ that is recognising and coming to terms with the darkness in us all, if we are to progress. Sickness comes, in this view, from trying to hold on to the first half of life or ‘loyal soldier’ and deny the second. Or trying to do the second too early. This is a rich and rewarding read and its beautifully written. Rohr has a gift for presenting complex ideas and thought in a clear and accessible way, without blunting their edge. Rohr has his detractors, and if you prefer the certainties of fundamentalism, or like your ‘us and them’ politics and certainties then you will be riled. But then that is the point. This is a book to challenge as well as nourish.

I really like the opening premise of the book - the concept of the second half of life being different in certain ways from the first. I think this is very helpful. But as I have continued listening to the chapters, I find that there is not much of substance in the book. I have never stopped the recording to make a note of something that I want to remember. It just keeps repeating the same thing in different ways and padding it out with fluff.

I was recommended this book by a friend who I respect greatly but who has much stronger religious beliefs than me. I've tried very hard to read it but concluded that it is only written for believers even though the author would disagree. The narrative goes round in circles without making any new points and I found that so many of his points depended solely on interpretation without any evidence to back them up. I felt that I was being lectured to and came away from it feeling cross that I had wasted my time.

I am looking forward to reading this. Have not as yet started

An invaluable You are here guide for those who have fallen through the floor. Broad ranging in sources and ideas but basically wise about the spiritual path in a way that opens your eyes when most confused and even disheartened.

I picked up Falling Upward because I’m at a stage in life — nearing 60 — where reflection and inner growth have become more important than ever. I’ve long been drawn to spiritual teachings, and I appreciate Richard Rohr’s attempt to guide readers through the shift from the first half of life (focused on building identity) to the second half (focused on meaning and soul). I understand and value what the book is trying to convey — the transition from ego-centered striving to a more inward, reflective, and compassionate way of being. This resonates with me deeply. But I found the writing style surprisingly hard to stay connected to. The ideas are rich, yet the delivery often felt overly intellectual or abstract. I had to keep stopping and rereading passages to figure out what he was trying to say. It’s as if the message got buried under too many layers of explanation. Others may find great nourishment here, especially if they enjoy contemplative Christian language and Jungian references. But personally, I would have preferred a more grounded, flowing, and emotionally engaging style. That said, the core message is important — and perhaps for some, this book will arrive at just the right time. It just wasn’t the best fit for my way of learning and feeling

Such a gift to the reader - references scripture, culture, and the many teachers who have come before us. Some men are just beyond beautiful - Richard is one of those few.

Reflective and thought provoking in the best way possible

Richard Rohr is unravelling the mysteries of God and the Universe and brings you closer to both.

I ordered this book to replace the one I used to have with the cover as shown with the table and chairs but disappointed to receive the version with a different cover. It's a good read nevertheless back 8 years ago and still is now.