On Living - Paperback

On Living: A Hospice Chaplain's Profound Lessons on Finding Meaning in Life

"A poetic and philosophical and brave and uplifting meditation on how important it is to make peace and meaning of our lives while we still have them." -Elizabeth Gilbert, bestselling author of Eat Pray Love

"Illuminating, unflinching and ultimately inspiring... A book to treasure." -People Magazine

A Book About Living, Not Dying

As a hospice chaplain ordained by Harvard Divinity School, Kerry Egan discovered something unexpected: the dying rarely want to talk about God. Instead, they want to talk about their lives—the love they gave and received, the regrets they carried, the secrets they held too long, and the meaning they made from their experiences.

In this hopeful memoir, Egan shares the stories and wisdom her patients entrusted to her during their final days. These aren't sermons or prayers, but raw, honest conversations about what matters most when time runs out. Each story reveals universal truths about courage, compassion, forgiveness, and the transformative power of love.

Healing Through Witnessing

Egan's work as a hospice chaplain began after a traumatic emergency procedure during her first child's birth left her emotionally and spiritually adrift. Through listening to her patients' stories of hope and regret, shame and pride, mystery and revelation, she found her own healing. She came to understand a brokenness we all share—and the precious gifts that come from acknowledging it.

Her patients taught her how to find courage in the face of fear, how to make amends, how to be profoundly compassionate and fiercely empathetic, and how to see the world in shades of gray instead of black and white. This book passes along those necessary gifts to readers seeking their own meaning and peace.