Regrets of the Dying: Stories and Wisdom That Remind Us How To Live

“If you only had one year to live, what would you do with it?” questions British broadcaster Scull (host of the podcast Regrets of the Dying) in this moving and motivational self-help book. After nearly losing her life from internal bleeding caused by an ectopic pregnancy, Scull felt grateful for the second chance but constantly criticized herself for “all the things I hadn’t done yet and all the years I had wasted.” Scull’s healing began when she decided to interview people who knew they had a limited time left to live: those over 70 or living with a terminal illness. In four thematic sections (“Work”; “Family and Friends”; “Love”; and “Hard Decisions”), Scull shares their stories. All of the participants lived in the British Commonwealth, but the universality of their regrets (including “working too much,” “not looking after your health,” or “losing the love of your life”) will still resonate across cultures and sometimes, make readers reach for tissues. Scull finishes on a hopeful note, with interviews of two chaplains and a section entitled “What I’ve Learned: 10 Tips To Live a Less Regretful Life.”