The Urgent Life Book Summary - The Urgent Life Book explained in key points
Listen to the Intro
00:00

The Urgent Life summary

Bozoma Saint John

My Story of Love, Loss, and Survival

3.9 (19 ratings)
16 mins

What is The Urgent Life about?

The Urgent Life (2023) is part-memoir, part-manifesto to the importance of showing up in your life, and being fiercely present – no matter the circumstances. Bozoma Saint John has experienced both highs and lows in the course of her life. Through it all, she has learned to stay true to herself and her dreams, and to live as if nothing is guaranteed. In The Urgent Life, she describes the events that have most impacted her, and shares how you, too, can live life with passionate urgency.  

Table of Contents

    The Urgent Life
    summarized in 6 key ideas

    Audio & text in the Blinkist app
    Key idea 1 of 6

    Lesson number one: Pick up that phone.

    One night, during college, Bozoma heard the shrill ring of her phone just as she was leaving her apartment. She knew who it was. Ben, her college boyfriend, had been spiraling — he was plagued by jealous delusions in which he imagined she was going out with other people. He was filled with self-loathing and despair, and nothing Bozoma did was enough to talk him out of that misery. 

    That night, she wasn’t up to having another painful conversation in which she defended herself about the supposed crimes she’d never committed. In fact, she was going out to have dinner with some girlfriends because she needed some support herself. So, she ignored the ringing phone, picked up her handbag, and walked out the door. 

    That moment was one that stays burned in her brain. Because Ben took his own life that night, jumping off a bridge near his apartment in Toronto. 

    With years of distance, and therapy, Saint John understands intellectually that there’s nothing she could have done to prevent his death. That his suicide was not her responsibility. But, still, nothing can stop her from replaying that moment in her mind. From putting down her bag, picking up the phone, and having one last conversation with Ben. 

    Ben’s death is one of those losses that has created an indelible scar. Even as Saint John has left college behind her, she still carries Ben with her. And the lesson she has taken from his death is that she always picks up that phone. She doesn’t wait to tell people she loves them. She doesn’t hold back when expressing her emotions. She doesn’t delay the trip, the hug, the celebration. She knows that there aren’t always second chances. Sometimes, you get just one. 

    Want to see all full key ideas from The Urgent Life?

    Key ideas in The Urgent Life

    More knowledge in less time
    Read or listen
    Read or listen
    Get the key ideas from nonfiction bestsellers in minutes, not hours.
    Find your next read
    Find your next read
    Get book lists curated by experts and personalized recommendations.
    Shortcasts
    Shortcasts New
    We’ve teamed up with podcast creators to bring you key insights from podcasts.

    About the Author

    Bozoma Saint John is an American businesswoman who has worked at powerhouses like Pepsi, Apple Music, Uber and Netflix. She has been inducted into the American Advertising Federation Hall of Achievement and the American Marketing Hall of Fame, among others.  She was also named the number one most influential chief marketing officer by Forbes in 2021 and has a bestselling online tutorial called “The Badass Workshop.” 

    Who should read The Urgent Life?

    • People who are hungry to live more boldly, 
    • Young professionals looking for inspiration on how to navigate the corporate ladder authentically. 
    • Anyone who has experienced loss, and is figuring out how to carry on.

    Categories with The Urgent Life

    Books like The Urgent Life

    People ❤️ Blinkist
    Sven O.

    It's highly addictive to get core insights on personally relevant topics without repetition or triviality. Added to that the apps ability to suggest kindred interests opens up a foundation of knowledge.

    Thi Viet Quynh N.

    Great app. Good selection of book summaries you can read or listen to while commuting. Instead of scrolling through your social media news feed, this is a much better way to spend your spare time in my opinion.

    Jonathan A.

    Life changing. The concept of being able to grasp a book's main point in such a short time truly opens multiple opportunities to grow every area of your life at a faster rate.

    Renee D.

    Great app. Addicting. Perfect for wait times, morning coffee, evening before bed. Extremely well written, thorough, easy to use.

    People also liked

    Start growing with Blinkist now
    26 Million
    Downloads on all platforms
    4.7 Stars
    Average ratings on iOS and Google Play
    91%
    Of Blinkist members create a better reading habit*
    *Based on survey data from Blinkist customers
    Powerful ideas from top nonfiction

    Try Blinkist to get the key ideas from 5,500+ bestselling nonfiction titles and podcasts. Listen or read in just 15 minutes.

    Start your free trial