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Briefly Perfectly Human

Making an Authentic Life by Getting Real About the End

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Briefly Perfectly Human

Written by: Alua Arthur
Narrated by: Alua Arthur
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About this listen

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

A deeply transformative memoir that reframes how we think about death and how it can help us lead better, more fulfilling and authentic lives, from America’s most visible death doula.

"A truly unique, inspiring perspective on the time we have, what we do with it, and how we let go of this world.... There is no one I'd trust more to guide me through an understanding of death, and how it informs life." Jodi Picoult, New York Times bestselling author of Mad Honey and The Book of Two Ways

"Briefly Perfectly Human is a beautiful, raw, light-bringing experience. Alua's voice is shimmering, singular, and pulses with humor, vulnerability, insight, and refreshing candor.... Be prepared for it to grab you, hold you tight, and raise the roof on the power of human connection." Tembi Locke, author of From Scratch: A Memoir of Love, Sicily, and Finding Home

For her clients and everyone who has been inspired by her humanity, Alua Arthur is a friend at the end of the world. As our country’s leading death doula, she’s spreading a transformative message: thinking about your death—whether imminent or not—will breathe wild, new potential into your life.

Warm, generous, and funny AF, Alua supports and helps manage end-of-life care on many levels. The business matters, medical directives, memorial planning; but also honoring the quiet moments, when monitors are beeping and loved ones have stepped out to get some air—or maybe not shown up at all—and her clients become deeply contemplative and want to talk. Aching, unfinished business often emerges. Alua has been present for thousands of these sacred moments—when regrets, fears, secret joys, hidden affairs, and dim realities are finally said aloud. When this happens, Alua focuses her attention at the pulsing center of her clients’ anguish and creates space for them, and sometimes their loved ones, to find peace.

This has had a profound effect on Alua, who was already no stranger to death’s periphery. Her family fled a murderous coup d’état in Ghana in the 1980s. She has suffered major, debilitating depressions. And her dear friend and brother-in-law died of lymphoma. Advocating for him in his final months is what led Alua to her life’s calling. She knows firsthand the power of bearing witness and telling the truth about life’s painful complexities, because they do not disappear when you look the other way. They wait for you.

Briefly Perfectly Human is a life-changing, soul-gathering debut, by a writer whose empathy, tenderness, and wisdom shimmers on the page. Alua Arthur combines intimate storytelling with a passionate appeal for loving, courageous end-of-life care—what she calls “death embrace.” Hers is a powerful testament to getting in touch with something deeper in our lives, by embracing the fact of our own mortality. “Hold that truth in your mind,” Alua says, “and wondrous things will begin to grow around it.”

©2023 Alua Arthur (P)2023 HarperCollins Publishers
Biographies & Memoirs Medicine & Health Care Industry Sociology Funny Witty
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What listeners say about Briefly Perfectly Human

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A book everyone needs to read!

This book nailed it. Everyone should have a death doula in their life. Alua makes a very difficult subject much easier to take in and process. I absolutely loved this book. I am inspired to make many changes. Thank you.

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A beautiful must read for all humans

This was both very moving & very heartbreaking. Alua creates a safe space to think about & explore death. I laughed & I cried.

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Exquisite

Who else could make death sparkle? Alua Arthur is an alchemist, transmuting a difficult subject into a glittering, technicolor adventure, drenched in love and wisdom. I adored every second of this book and will eagerly go back for more and more.

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2 people found this helpful

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Alua’s humanity is so relatable!

I loved how she managed to work her own story and the story of so many others into such a lovely instruction manual on facing the inevitable as part of life, by comforting and reassuring those who are actually at the end of their lives, facing death. Too often in today’s society we are afraid to admit that dying is obviously a part of our whole life journey. So lovely to inspire everyone to give thought to having a plan to let them have control even in their own process of dying … to be their own authentic self! Loved the much needed exploration of the subject!

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Great reminder to live!!

I loved three story telling. Alua brought me on the journey of her life and encouraged me to find my truth while considering the reality that we are here for a short period of time.

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Incredible

I have been following Alua because like her i always seem to be hovering around death topic. But this book is outstanding... what a beautiful meditation on death for us the healthy and living. I think of my death often but in an abstract way this book made it real.❤️ and give me permission to visualize my end and more importantly how i am living.

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Personal and Intimate

Enlightens us on the journey of death which we all experience but rarely talk about. This personal account is tragic and heartwarming proving one can overcome their challenges to follow a unique gift and purpose in one’s life.

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Vulnerable strenght

Alua, thank you for writing your story and honoring others in your life, with such vulnerability and love, with unhindered acknowledgement of what holds truth in the present moment and strenght in the unraveling beauty of each and every life , each and every breath.

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Generously Given Story

A beautiful, challenging, and unflinchingly honest story of the life path we take to meet our deaths. May we all rest in love.

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Humanity of dying brought by Alua

Story full of empathy, humour, wisdom offered by Alua. A must read for everyone as she explains her struggles and how she became a death Doula.

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