In the Heart of Life
A Memoir
Published on 22. October 2013
Book
Hardback
384 pages
978-0-06-204862-2 (ISBN)
Description
After moving from the U.S. to London after college, Kathy Eldon longed for a more vibrant life. In 1978, her wishes were granted. Kathy moved with her husband and two young children to Kenya - an opportunity that might provide the adventure and life experience she longed for. There, Kathy and her husband set about raising Dan and Amy in a life of safaris and social engagement, in a society that shaped her children to be spiritual and artistic-and where they were free to follow their own truth. At the same time, Eldon dove into this new world as a journalist and writer. Kathy came to international prominence following the death of her son, Dan in 1993. A 23-year old photojournalist for Reuters, Dan was stoned to death by an angry mob in Somalia. Eldon knew that there was no way through her grief unless she could transform it into something positive. In the years since Dan's death, she has embraced the role of philanthropist and activist and has led the charge to preserve his legacy and encourage social change through creative endeavors. Since Dan's death, Kathy has experienced her own spiritual journey, and her memoir captures the enduring connection she has to her slain son.
Because Kathy is a journalist, she has a gift for wonderfully capturing this story.
Because Kathy is a journalist, she has a gift for wonderfully capturing this story.
Reviews / Votes
Kathy Eldon is a powerhouse who has turned her own personal tragedy into a mega blast of creative energy and vision. She believes everyone can be a force for positive change as long as they do what they do with conviction. -- Christiane Amanpour "Kathy Eldon has made something profoundly inspiring out of the unthinkably heartbreaking. A memoir of breathtaking honesty; a mother's heartsong to her children; an elegy for her wild and inspiring son; a testimony to being fiercely engaged in the world; and a love story to East Africa". -- Alexandra Fuller "Kathy Eldon has written the kind of personal memoir that captures in exquisite, emotionally charged detail a life of adventure, love and loss-and ultimate redemption through creativity and activism. The story of her search for meaning challenges our beliefs and opens our hearts to new possibilities." -- Pat Mitchell, The Paley Center for Media "Kathy inspires women to believe that they can do more than simply survive; they can thrive, and passionately create the lives of their choice." -- Rosie O'Donnell, comedian, actress, and author "Kathy Eldon's courage to live in the heart of life inspires all of us to live more soulfully, honestly, and passionately. By following her soul's longings, she finds herself turning her pain into compassion and her failures into gifts. Her life is the true definition of a 'hero's journey.'" -- Maria Bello, actor and activist "Kathy Eldon's memoir is raw, honest, and instantly compelling-an amazing adventure of the heart that enlightens the soul. Thank goodness for this book and for the tremendous source of inspiration that is Kathy Eldon." -- Ricki Lake, television personality "This book compromised my sleep by keeping me up late at night; it impacted my work by compelling me to put aside things I needed to do so I could 'just read a few pages.' Kathy's story is full of triumph and sorrow, heartbreak, and redemption. A remarkable read." -- Susan Stiffleman, author of Parenting without Power Struggles, therapist, and parenting expert The extraordinary memoir of a woman's journey from Iowa to London to Kenya, from all that was safe and predictable to a transformative, dazzling, yet harrowing new life and existence-transforming the depths of pain to the heights of activism." -- Ann Haggart, Annenberg Foundation "In the Heart of Life is not just a memoir, but a journey of the soul looking for the light. We are taken on a stunning adventure of love, loss, hope, forgiveness, and dreams. A must read for anyone who has ever loved, lost, and still seeks the answers." -- Elinor Tatum, Publisher and Editor-in-Chief, Amsterdam News "Kathy Eldon shares an extraordinary tale-at times heartbreaking, at times exuberant. Every twist, every turn, every triumph and tragedy reflects a woman facing life's most tender, vulnerable, scary moments and saying...YES. Her courage in embracing life inspires me to do the same." -- Lyndon Harris, founder, The Gardens of Forgiveness Project Kathy Eldon's memoir is truly magnificent. Kathy has truly lived a glass-full life in spite of the terrible setbacks and I can only marvel at her tenacity for finding what is good in tragic circumstances and making all of us try to do better in our own lives. -- Larry Kirshbaum, VP, Amazon Publishing "Kathy's extraordinary story has been an inspiration for countless others seeking to fill their lives with purpose. Her ability to find meaning in - and transcend - suffering, and her experiences in America, Europe, and Africa remind us that the strength we look for is already inside each of us." -- Kweku MandelaMore details
Language
English
Place of publication
New York
United States
Publishing group
HarperCollins Publishers Inc
Product notice
sewn/stitched
Cloth over boards
With dust jacket
Dimensions
Height: 236 mm
Width: 156 mm
Thickness: 35 mm
Weight
572 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-06-204862-2 (9780062048622)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
Kathy Eldon has worked as a teacher, editor, journalist, and film and television producer. Following the death of her son, Dan, she and her daughter, Amy, launched Creative Visions Foundation to support creative activists who, like Dan, use media to inform, inspire, and empower positive change. CVF has incubated more than one hundred and fifty projects and productions on five continents, touching the lives of more than one hundred million people.