Ahead of All Parting
On Learning to Live with an Open Heart
$58.21
- Hardcover
192 pages
- Release Date
12 November 2026
Summary
“This book is a reminder that even when life changes course, meaning, purpose, and joy can still be found along the way.”–Michael J. Fox
A short, inspirational memoir about unleashing life in the face of death, by the coauthor of the influential New York Times bestseller The Tools.
“Nothing short of a gift to those seeking growth.”–Drew Barrymore
At the peak of his career, Barry Michels was a psychotherapist who treat…
Book Details
| ISBN-13: | 9781966302179 |
|---|---|
| ISBN-10: | 1966302177 |
| Author: | Barry Michels |
| Publisher: | Spiegel & Grau |
| Imprint: | Spiegel & Grau |
| Format: | Hardcover |
| Number of Pages: | 192 |
| Release Date: | 12 November 2026 |
| Weight: | 340g |
| Dimensions: | 20mm x 140mm x 215mm |

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Critics Review
“I’ve always believed that optimism isn’t about ignoring what’s difficult, it’s about finding what’s still possible. Barry Michels embodies that idea. Drawing on his experience as a psychotherapist, devoted father, and trusted guide to countless patients, he shares a story of resilience, gratitude, and grace in the face of an unexpected chapter of life. This book is a reminder that even when life changes course, meaning, purpose, and joy can still be found along the way.”–Michael J. Fox
“Read this transcendent work–of memory, of courage, of metamorphosis–and find yourself, as I did, filled with hope and possibility and an eye turned toward beauty. After a lifetime of helping others, this profound man unlocks the deepest secrets of his own heart and leaves us a roadmap by which we can do the same.”–Stephen Gaghan
“In sharing his story, Barry Michels shows us what it looks like to wrestle with karma and purpose, the finite and the infinite, the stubborn and the transcendent. This remarkable book has much to teach us about courage, faith, beauty, and love. It is a treasure.”–Gwyneth Paltrow
“In my life, Barry Michels has taught me that there are ways in which to reframe anything. Now in this extraordinary book, Barry shares the story of his own struggle and gives us the tools to make change. But as he shows us, there is no greater lesson than this: You are the changemaker. This book is nothing short of a gift to those seeking growth.”–Drew Barrymore
“This gripping personal story of self-discovery amid loss soon becomes something far more unexpected–a deeply spiritual journey, an outpouring of poetry, a soul cracked open. Ahead of All Parting is loaded with wisdom and is as useful as it is inspiring.”–Maria Semple, author of the New York Times bestsellers Go Gentle and Where’d You Go, Bernadette“Frank and moving … Readers will be inspired by Michels’s perseverance.”–Publishers Weekly
Barry Michels
Barry Michels is a psychotherapist, writer, and lecturer. With Phil Stutz, he coauthored the New York Times bestseller The Tools and its sequel, Coming Alive. He has published numerous articles in Psychology Today, Salon, and on his Substack and has led workshops and given lectures at the Ingoop Health summits, the Omega Institute, Talks at Google, and 92NY. He is a graduate of Harvard College; the University of California, Berkeley, School of Law; and the University of Southern California School of Social Work. He maintains a clinical practice in Los Angeles.
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