The Tao of Bowie: 10 Lessons from David Bowie’s Life to Help You Live Yours

Music critic Edwards (Belonging) invites readers onto a swirling, entertaining path of self-discovery by following advice gleaned from the life and work of the late rock star David Bowie. Mining Bowie’s lyrics, public interviews, and written reflections, Edwards argues the musician’s life provides a template for going from feeling “lonely, adrift, and desperate for help” to finding happiness, love, and even “equanimity and bravery” in the face of death. He explores and interprets lessons—such as confronting one’s “shadow side” and opening oneself to love—gleaned from Bowie’s lifelong personal pilgrimage toward greater happiness and purpose. Each chapter features contemplations on Bowie’s personal evolution, providing a melange of meditation practices meant to help readers identify unmet needs, focus more on others, or label and name distracting thoughts and feelings: “You cannot discover your true self unless you are prepared to spend some time sitting quietly alone, but many of us would rather do anything else.” This cheery guide, filled with insightful facets from Bowie’s “magpie” approach to enlightenment, will appeal to fans of the music legend and spiritualists alike. [em](Sept.) [/em]