How To Be Sick

How To Be Sick: A Buddhist-Inspired Guide for the Chronically Ill and Their Caregivers is a 2010 book by Toni Bernhard with a foreword by Sylvia Boorstein.

Publisher's synopsis
This life-affirming, instructive, and thoroughly inspiring book is a must-read for anyone who is - or who might one day be - sick. It can also be the perfect gift of guidance, encouragement, and uplifting inspiration to family, friends, and loved ones struggling with the many terrifying or disheartening life changes that come so close on the heels of a diagnosis of a chronic condition or life-threatening illness. Authentic and graceful, How to be Sick reminds us of our endless inner freedom, even under high degrees of suffering and pain.

The author - who became ill while a university law professor in the prime of her career - tells the reader how she got sick and, to her and her partner's bewilderment, stayed that way. Toni had been a longtime meditator, going on long meditation retreats and spending many hours rigorously practicing, but soon discovered that she simply could no longer engage in those difficult and taxing forms. She had to learn ways to make "being sick" the heart of her spiritual practice - and through truly learning how to be sick, she learned how, even with many physical and energetic limitations, to live a life of equanimity, compassion, and joy. And whether we ourselves are ill or not, we can learn these vital arts from Bernhard's generous wisdom in How to Be Sick.

Awards
Winner of the Nautilus Gold Medal in Self-Help/Psychology and named one of the Best Books of 2010 by Spirituality and Practice.

Reviews

 * List of reviews

Articles and interviews

 * 31 Jan 2011, Learning To Live A Full Life With Chronic Illness, Toni Bernhard. NPR Books
 * 24 Jul 2011, Interview with Toni Bernhard, Author of How To Be Sick. Sarah J. Downing
 * 29 May 2013, Reflections on “How to Be Sick”, Toni Bernhard. Psychology Today

Links

 * How To Be Sick - Amazon (US)
 * How To Be Sick - Amazon (UK)
 * How To Be Sick - Goodreads
 * How To Be Sick - Official website
 * How To Be Sick - Wisdom Publications