<p>Who is the author of Falling Upward?</p>

<p>The author of Falling Upward is Richard Rohr.</p>

Religion & Spirituality

Falling Upward Book Summary - Falling Upward Book explained in key points

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Falling Upward summary

Name: Falling Upward
Rating: 4.5 (72 reviews)
Author: Richard Rohr

Richard Rohr

A Spirituality for the Two Halves of Life

4.5 (72 ratings)

20 mins

Brief summary

Falling Upward by Richard Rohr explores the two halves of life – the first half is about building identity, the second is about spiritual awakening. It invites readers to embrace the challenges of aging and open new horizons of thought and experience, providing insight into a more meaningful and joyful existence.

Topics

Christianity Aging Meaningful Living

Table of Contents

Falling Upward
Summary of 5 key ideas

Audio & text in the Blinkist app

Key idea 1 of 5

What’s in it for me? “Fall upward” from life’s first half to its second.

Life has two halves. You may not know it, but you’re either in the first half of life or you’re in the second half. You’re a first-halfer or you’re a second-halfer. We all are.

In life, we have at least two major tasks to complete. In the first half of life, we discover the script for our life. In the second, we write and own that script.

Or think of it this way. During the first half, you’re building the “container” for your life: your identity. The second half is all about “filling” that container – giving your life purpose.

This Blink offers reassurance and guidance, whether you’re a first-halfer or a second-halfer. And, yes, it explains how we know there are two halves to life – and how to transition from the first to the second, you must “fall upward.”

Let’s get into it.

Life’s Two Halves

Important thing: the two halves of life aren’t related to age. Some people – particularly those who have suffered in some way – enter the second half of life early, even as children. Others get there much later in life, or not at all.

But if this is the case, what do we mean by “two halves,” and how do we know that these halves exist?

Well, let’s consider what Joseph Campbell, the famous comparative mythologist and theologist, called “the monomyth of the hero.” This is a story, a myth that is common to numerous cultures, though these cultures had no contact. The details differ, but the narrative arc is extremely similar.

Here’s the outline:

The protagonist lives in an idyllic world, a place where they’re content. Often, they’re a prince or princess, or they have some divine origin they’re unaware of. Then, they leave home on an adventure – an adventure that forces them out of their comfort zone. While on the adventure, they encounter a problem. Whatever the problem is, the process of resolving it makes the hero’s world larger and more open; as a result, the protagonist’s outlook is enlarged and opened, too.

The protagonist thinks that the first task is their only task, but, in reality, it turns out the real task comes later. They discover that their real life is much deeper than their outward appearance. Finally, the protagonist returns to their roots, their home. And upon returning, they see it anew. To quote T. S. Elliot, they know “the place for the first time,” and they pass on the wisdom of their experience to others.

Campbell calls this myth “the hero’s journey.” And, as you may have guessed, it’s analogous to our own transition from the first half to the second half of life.

There are numerous other texts, both sacred and secular, written in a similar vein, by people who’d either undergone the transition from life’s first half to its second, or were in the process of going through it. And then, of course, there are our own observations of those who are in the second half, and of those who remain forever in the first.

Many people don’t realize that there is a second half to life; they remain in the first half their whole lives. There are many reasons for this, which we’ll get into in the next chapter. But no matter which half you’re in, knowing where you stand is beneficial: that knowledge can help you transition out of the first half or, if you’re in the second, it can be a comfort – a reassurance that you’re exactly where you should be.

The First Half of Life

We live in a “first-half-of-life culture.” It’s nothing new. It’s been this way throughout history. Our main purpose has always been to survive, so we concentrate on building our identities: establishing a home, a relationship, friendships, and a community.

Identifying what makes us significant, figuring out how we’ll support ourselves, finding people to accompany us through life – these are first-half-of-life concerns. We must do these things to create the “container” for our life.

Transitioning

Back to Odysseus.

After returning home and being united with his loved ones, Odysseus undertakes his second journey. He’d learned about this journey during his odyssey home, from a blind seer named Tiresias, who he’d spoken to in (of all places) Hades, the kingdom of the dead. We can think of this trip to Hades as Odysseus’s rock bottom; there is, quite literally, no farther “down” to go – and yet it is then that he hears new things, even if he hardly acknowledges them at the time.

Falling

In post–World War II Japan, returning soldiers were often not prepared for a return to civil society. They had been a “loyal soldier” and now needed a broader identity if they were to reenter their communities in a useful capacity. To enable this, a communal ritual was established in which the soldier was thanked and praised for his service. An elder would declare that the war was over and that the person was needed by the community as something more than a soldier. This kind of process – “discharging the loyal soldier” – is needed by many of us to give closure when we are transitioning from one chapter in our lives to another.

Our own loyal soldiers have seen us through the first half of life. They’ve helped us to look both ways before crossing the street, given us impulse control to avoid addictions, and taught us to say no so we can build our boundaries, dignity, and identities. But our loyal soldiers simply can’t help us get to the second half of life. They haven’t been there and simply don’t understand it. They may have been able to help us with that early decision-making in black-and-white thinking, but if we’re to move on, there comes a time when we have to part ways. The Japanese certainly had the right idea. And if we go back to our hero, Odysseus, we can see that he too was a loyal soldier, rowing his boat right up to his second journey.

The Second Half of Life.

In this last section of our Blink to Richard Rohr’s Falling Upward we’re going to look at what the second half of life holds for us and some of the ways in which it differs from the first half.

The first thing Rohr tells us is that the seriousness of the second half of life is characterized by what he calls “a bright sadness and a sober happiness.” Although there is still darkness, we’re able to cope with it with less anxiety. We think differently, too. We have less of a need to hold on to hurts from the past and less of a desire to judge others. We lose our feelings of superiority. And we learn not only to stop fighting stupidity but to actively ignore it. We work for change, using our influence to persuade quietly.

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What is Falling Upward about?

Falling Upward (2011) explores the “tasks” of the two halves of life. It explains that the second half of life isn’t about getting old; it’s about filling the “container” that we create during the first half and finding our purpose.

Falling Upward Review

Falling Upward (2011) is a thought-provoking exploration of the two halves of life and the stages of spiritual growth. Here's why this book is worth reading:

Richard Rohr seamlessly combines psychology, spirituality, and personal stories to provide deep insights into the process of transformation.
By examining the differences between the first and second halves of life, the book offers a fresh perspective on aging, loss, and meaning.
With its emphasis on spiritual development and the invitation to embrace our imperfections, Falling Upward presents a compelling case for the importance of continued growth and introspection.

Who should read Falling Upward?

First-half lifers looking for insights
People who’ve “fallen” and need comfort
Second-half lifers seeking reassurance

About the Author

Richard Rohr is a Franciscan priest. He’s written over 20 books, and traveled the world as a speaker, teaching on themes such as spirituality, scripture, nature and Earth care. He also writes for Radical Grace, Sojourners, and Tikkun magazines.

Categories with Falling Upward

Religion & Spirituality Mindfulness & Happiness

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