Tears In A Bottle

In a work unlike anything she's written before, National Book Award winner Joyce Carol Oates unveils a poignant, intimate memoir about the unexpected death of her husband of forty-six years and its wrenching, surprising aftermath.

"My husband died, my life collapsed."

On a February morning in 2008, Joyce Carol Oates drove her ailing husband, Raymond Smith, to the emergency room of the Princeton Medical Center where he was diagnosed with pneumonia. Both Joyce and Ray expected him to be released in a day or two. But in less than a week, even as Joyce was preparing for his discharge, Ray died from a virulent hospital-acquired infection, and Joyce was suddenly faced—totally unprepared—with the stunning reality of widowhood.

A Widow's Story illuminates one woman's struggle to comprehend a life without the partnership that had sustained and defined her for nearly half a century. As never before, Joyce Carol Oates shares the derangement of denial, the anguish of loss, the disorientation of the survivor amid a nightmare of "death-duties," and the solace of friendship. She writes unflinchingly of the experience of grief—the almost unbearable suspense of the hospital vigil, the treacherous "pools" of memory that surround us, the vocabulary of illness, the absurdities of commercialized forms of mourning. Here is a frank acknowledgment of the widow's desperation—only gradually yielding to the recognition that "this is my life now."

Enlivened by the piercing vision, acute perception, and mordant humor that are the hallmarks of the work of Joyce Carol Oates, this moving tale of life and death, love and grief, offers a candid, never-before-glimpsed view of the acclaimed author and fiercely private woman.

faith, hope & healing

Inspiring Lessons Learned from People Living with Cancer

"Bernie Siegel is one of the greatest healers of our time. The stories he shares in Faith, Hope, and Healing demonstrate the healing effect of treating cancer not just with conventional medicine but by changing the way you think about your disease, the way you act toward those who love and care for you, and the way you feel about yourself. The mind is the most powerful tool you have for fighting back."

-Deepak Chopra, author of Jesus: A Story of Enlightenment

Praise for Bernie Siegel

for Prescriptions for Living

"Bernie Siegel is a brilliant beacon broadcasting a message of hope. When high-tech medicine is supplemented with love and compassion, we have not only curing but also healing, which is what Siegel's message is all about."

-Larry Dossey, M.D., author of Healing Words

for Help Me to Heal

"If you or a loved one have to go through major medical care . . . this book can be . . . life-saving and soul-saving."

-Andrew Weil, M.D., the New York Times bestselling author of Spontaneous Healing and Eight Weeks to Optimum Health

for 365 Prescriptions for the Soul

"Bernie Siegel dispenses spiritual medicine that's good for you, and feels good too! I highly recommend these daily doses of eternal wisdom."

-Marianne Williamson, author of Everyday Grace

"Bernie is one of the world's most respected doctors. I would pay close attention to any prescription he offers. I read from this each day."

-Wayne Dyer, author of Getting in the Gap

"Dr. Siegel's soul medicine is dispensed in perfect doses to uplift, inspire, enlighten, and heal you. As always, Bernie's wisdom and love gave me goosebumps, or should I say god-bumps. Buy a carton of this medicine-in-a-book and administer it to everyone you love."

-Joan Borysenko, Ph.D., author of Inner Peace for Busy People

for Love, Magic, and Mudpies

"Dr. Bernie Siegel has been my mentor and friend for many years. His wisdom has been a beacon of healing and humor. Love, Magic, and Mudpies is as funny, wise, and practical as its magical author. Every parent needs this book."

-Christiane Northrup, M.D., author of Mother-Daughter Wisdom

"Love, Magic, and Mudpies is a wonderful, wise, and very funny antidote to the No-Parent-Is-Perfect-Enough school of parenting. Bernie Seigel's delightful new book could only have been written by a seasoned father and grandfather who is also a pioneer of holistic medicine."

-Rachel Naomi Remen, M.D., author of Kitchen Table Wisdom

"Dr. Bernie Siegel is a living demonstration of the healing power of commitment, compassion, and love. What he offers the world in Love, Magic, and Mudpies is a testimony of his wisdom. No matter what ails you, a dose of Bernie Siegel and his work is sure to work magic in your soul."

-Iyanla Vanzant, author of One Day My Soul Just Opened Up

for Peace, Love & Healing

"Bernie Siegel [is] a doctor who loves. In this age of massive, impersonal medical technology, his advocacy of human caring is a necessity."

-Larry LeShan, Ph.D., author of Cancer as a Turning Point

"I was enthralled with this book. [This] truly great book ... combines sound thought with captivating humor."

Scientists and academics have spent entire careers investigating what makes people happy. But hidden in obscure scholarly journals and reports, their research is all too often inaccessible to ordinary people. Now the bestselling author of the 100 Simple Secrets series distills the scientific findings of over a thousand of the most important studies on happiness into easy-to-digest nuggets of advice. Each of the hundred practices is illustrated with a clear example and illuminated by a straightforward explanation of the science behind it to show you how to transform a ho-hum existence into a full and happy life.

• Believe in yourself: Across all ages, and all groups, a solid belief in one's own abilities increases life satisfaction by about 40 percent, and makes us happier both in our home lives and in our work lives.
• Turn off your TV: Watching too much TV can triple our hunger for more possessions, while reducing our personal contentment by about 5 percent for every hour a day we watch.