First published 2015
Heather Lende writes obituaries in a remote Alaska town where beauty and danger walk hand in hand. Her work has taught her about final words and lives worth celebrating. She distills these insights into a simple practice: find the good in every situation. Lende argues this choice applies whether you start a new job or lose an old one, marry or divorce. She presents short chapters that break the automatic habit of focusing on negatives. Her Alaska community provides examples of people who live well despite hardships. Lende reminds readers that daily actions write their own obituaries, but revisions remain possible. Her approach counters the cynicism that fills news cycles and political discourse. The book offers a reset for relationships, priorities, and worldview through plainspoken wisdom and gentle humor.
Genres: non-fiction, biography-memoir, 21st-century, inspirational
Vibes: gentle-humor, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, slice-of-life
Setting: Alaska
Period: 21st-century
176 pages · Hardcover · Algonquin Books