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Publication Date: 19 Feb 2026
Publisher: SPCK Publishing
Page Count: 160
Author: Richard Rohr|Brene Brown
ISBN-13: 9780281092321, 9780281092338

Falling Upward, Revised and Updated

A Spirituality for the Two Halves of Life
By Richard Rohr, Brene Brown
A revised edition of Falling Upward, Richard Rohr's bestselling exploration of how the two halves of life work together to lead us to deep meaning and spiritual joy
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ISBN-13
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On the journey of life, many of us grow up believing that our life purpose is to achieve, succeed, and climb ever higher. When we reach midlife - having accomplished our goals or discovered their limits - it can feel as though there is nowhere left to go but down.

In Falling Upward, Richard Rohr invites readers to see this moment not as an ending, but as a profound new beginning. Drawing on psychology, mythology, poetry, and the wisdom of Christian spirituality, Rohr explores what he calls the two halves of life - and why the struggles, failures, and losses of the first half are often the very doorway into deeper meaning.

As we enter the second half of life, we are forced to confront our mistakes, disappointments, and suffering. Rohr shows how these experiences, rather than being obstacles, can become gifts - shaping compassion, wisdom, and spiritual depth.

This revised edition updates Rohr's insights for a world marked by uncertainty, suffering, and conflict, offering practical guidance on how "getting it wrong" can lead us toward wholeness, transformation, and joy.
Richard Rohr is a globally recognized Franciscan friar and ecumenical teacher whose work bears witness to the deep wisdom of Christian mysticism. He is the founder of the Center for Action and Contemplation in Albuquerque, New Mexico, an educational nonprofit that introduces seekers to the contemplative Christian path of transformation. He is the author of many books, most recently, the New York Times bestseller THE TEARS OF THINGS. His work has been featured on Oprah’s SuperSoul Sunday, Krista Tippett’s On Being, and in The New Yorker and Harper’s magazine.

"This is Richard Rohr at his vintage best: prophetic, pastoral, practical. A book I will gratefully share with my children and grandchildren."

- Cynthia Bourgeault, Episcopal priest, retreat leader and author of The Meaning of Mary Magdalene

"The value of this book lies in the way Richard Rohr shares his own aging process with us in ways that help us be less afraid . . . We begin to see that, as we grow older, we are being awakened to deep, simple, and mysterious things we simply could not see when we were younger."

- Jim Finley, retreat leader, Merton scholar, and author of The Contemplative Heart

"Falling Upward... is a great and gracious gift for all of us longing for lanterns on the perilous path to psychospiritual maturity, a path that reveals secrets of personal destiny only after falling into the swamps of failure, woundedness, and personal demons. An uncommon, true elder in these fractured times, Richard Rohr shows us the way into the rarely reached 'second half of life' and the encounter with our souls-our authentic and unique way of participating in and joyously contributing to our miraculous world."

- Bill Plotkin, Ph.D., author of Soulcraft and Nature and the Human Soul

"Richard Rohr has been a mentor to so many of us over the years, teaching us new ways to read Scripture, giving us tools to better understand ourselves, showing us new approaches to prayer and suffering, and even helping us see and practice a new kind of seeing. Now, in Falling Upward, Richard offers a simple but deeply helpful framework for seeing the whole spiritual life - one that will help both beginners on the path as they look ahead and long-term pilgrims as they look back over their journey so far."

- Brian McLaren, author of A New Kind of Christianity and Naked Spirituality

"In Falling Upward, Fr. Richard Rohr's wisdom illuminates the purpose and direction of our life journey. It turns out that our souls are engaged in a sacred dance that leads 'beyond the strong opinions, needs, preferences, and demands of the first half of life' toward the True Self and the 'serene discipleship' of the second half of life."

- The Rev. Dr Barbara A. Holmes, author of Joy Unspeakable, Crisis Contemplation, and Race and the Cosmos
About
On the journey of life, many of us grow up believing that our life purpose is to achieve, succeed, and climb ever higher. When we reach midlife - having accomplished our goals or discovered their limits - it can feel as though there is nowhere left to go but down.

In Falling Upward, Richard Rohr invites readers to see this moment not as an ending, but as a profound new beginning. Drawing on psychology, mythology, poetry, and the wisdom of Christian spirituality, Rohr explores what he calls the two halves of life - and why the struggles, failures, and losses of the first half are often the very doorway into deeper meaning.

As we enter the second half of life, we are forced to confront our mistakes, disappointments, and suffering. Rohr shows how these experiences, rather than being obstacles, can become gifts - shaping compassion, wisdom, and spiritual depth.

This revised edition updates Rohr's insights for a world marked by uncertainty, suffering, and conflict, offering practical guidance on how "getting it wrong" can lead us toward wholeness, transformation, and joy.
Author
Richard Rohr is a globally recognized Franciscan friar and ecumenical teacher whose work bears witness to the deep wisdom of Christian mysticism. He is the founder of the Center for Action and Contemplation in Albuquerque, New Mexico, an educational nonprofit that introduces seekers to the contemplative Christian path of transformation. He is the author of many books, most recently, the New York Times bestseller THE TEARS OF THINGS. His work has been featured on Oprah’s SuperSoul Sunday, Krista Tippett’s On Being, and in The New Yorker and Harper’s magazine.
Reviews

"This is Richard Rohr at his vintage best: prophetic, pastoral, practical. A book I will gratefully share with my children and grandchildren."

- Cynthia Bourgeault, Episcopal priest, retreat leader and author of The Meaning of Mary Magdalene

"The value of this book lies in the way Richard Rohr shares his own aging process with us in ways that help us be less afraid . . . We begin to see that, as we grow older, we are being awakened to deep, simple, and mysterious things we simply could not see when we were younger."

- Jim Finley, retreat leader, Merton scholar, and author of The Contemplative Heart

"Falling Upward... is a great and gracious gift for all of us longing for lanterns on the perilous path to psychospiritual maturity, a path that reveals secrets of personal destiny only after falling into the swamps of failure, woundedness, and personal demons. An uncommon, true elder in these fractured times, Richard Rohr shows us the way into the rarely reached 'second half of life' and the encounter with our souls-our authentic and unique way of participating in and joyously contributing to our miraculous world."

- Bill Plotkin, Ph.D., author of Soulcraft and Nature and the Human Soul

"Richard Rohr has been a mentor to so many of us over the years, teaching us new ways to read Scripture, giving us tools to better understand ourselves, showing us new approaches to prayer and suffering, and even helping us see and practice a new kind of seeing. Now, in Falling Upward, Richard offers a simple but deeply helpful framework for seeing the whole spiritual life - one that will help both beginners on the path as they look ahead and long-term pilgrims as they look back over their journey so far."

- Brian McLaren, author of A New Kind of Christianity and Naked Spirituality

"In Falling Upward, Fr. Richard Rohr's wisdom illuminates the purpose and direction of our life journey. It turns out that our souls are engaged in a sacred dance that leads 'beyond the strong opinions, needs, preferences, and demands of the first half of life' toward the True Self and the 'serene discipleship' of the second half of life."

- The Rev. Dr Barbara A. Holmes, author of Joy Unspeakable, Crisis Contemplation, and Race and the Cosmos

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