Choosing Wisdom

Strategies and Inspiration for Growing through Life-Changing Difficulties

By: Margaret Plews-Ogan, Justine Owens, Natalie May

Narrated by: Suzie Althens

We all know the saying, "That which does not kill us, makes us stronger," but is that really true? After all, for some people, traumatic experiences ultimately lead to truly debilitating outcomes. For others though, adversity really does seem to lead to "post-traumatic growth" where individuals move through suffering and find their lives changed in positive ways as a result. Why does this growth happen for some people and not others? How exactly does it happen? Can the positive results be purposefully replicated? These are the central questions of a new study conducted by a team of researchers at the University of Virginia. They share their findings, along with practical advice and inspiring stories, in their new book Choosing Wisdom and the companion PBS documentary of the same name.

Based on interviews with two distinct populations-medical patients coping with chronic pain and physicians coping with having been involved in serious medical errors- Choosing Wisdom delves into how average people respond to adversity, how they change, and what factors help or hinder positive change. Through these interviews, the authors chart each person's journey, and though the circumstances of each case may be unique, the commonalities are remarkable.By paying careful attention to the journeys of these exemplars, this cutting-edge research will shed new light on how we can grow, change, and develop wisdom through adversity. It will be a welcome source of inspiration for anyone facing their own difficult journey and for those who seek to aid them along the way.

©2012 Margaret Plews-Ogan, MD, Justine E. Owens, PhD. and Natalie May, PhD. (P)2014 Redwood Audiobooks

Choosing Wisdom

Any additional comments?

As a person living with chronic pain,I was hoping to learn something from this book.Actually what it did was validated the journey that I've already taken in the last 20 years.The emphasis is on positive thinking,forgiving yourself and 'others' and re learning how to life your new life.It was a good book,though tossing 'belief in god' in is not part of my life,maybe it will help someone else.Suzie Athens did a good job narrating the material.

Great title for someone struggling

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I would recommend this audiobook. I like that it's based on research and study of individuals going through life-changing difficulties. It talks about real people going through real issues and how they dealt with it and how you can use what they discovered to help yourself through challenges

What was one of the most memorable moments of Choosing Wisdom?

For me it wasn't a specific memorable moment but when they discussed doctors who had lost a patient due to an error they made it really struck me. The depth of pain they had to deal with and overcome really hit me.

What about Suzie Althens’s performance did you like?

I really liked Suzie's voice, but just don't think this was the best fit for her. Her voice is soothing and calm which more than once caused me to "zone out" while she was speaking. I would have done better with someone different.

What did you learn from Choosing Wisdom that you would use in your daily life?

I learned I'm not alone. The biggest issue with major problems is they can make you feel totally alone and there isn't anyone who cares or can help you. The fact that they took people with a variety of issues really opened up my eyes to the fact that I'm not the only one who is trying to find some kind of normal in their lives.

Any additional comments?

I received a copy of this audiobook for free in exchange for an honest review.

Great information!

I would have found this book much more interesting 25 years ago when I was beginning my search for wisdom. This is great information for anyone starting their journey.