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  • How to Live When You Could Be Dead

  • By: Deborah James
  • Narrated by: Gaby Roslin
  • Length: 4 hrs and 37 mins
  • 4.8 out of 5 stars (152 ratings)

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How to Live When You Could Be Dead

By: Deborah James
Narrated by: Gaby Roslin
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Summary

Brought to you by Penguin.

I'm alive when I should be dead. In another movie, I missed the sliding door and departed this wondrous life long ago. Like so many others, I've had to learn to live not knowing if I have a tomorrow, because, statistically, I shouldn't have. At the age of 35, I was blindsided by incurable bowel cancer—I was given a less than 8% chance of surviving five years. More than five years later, my only option is to live in the now and to value one day at a time.

So how do you flip your mind from a negative spiral into realistic and rebellious hope? How do you stop focusing on the why and realise that 'why not me' is just as valid a question? How we learn to respond to any given situation empowers us or destroys us. We have the ability in our minds to dictate our own outcomes—bad or good—and with the right skills and approach, we can be the master of our lives.

How to Live When You Could Be Dead will show you how. It will awaken you to question your life as if you didn't have a tomorrow and live it in the way you want to today. It will show you how to build a positive mindset and, through this, invite you to think about what you could do if you believed you could do anything you want.

Ebury, a division of Penguin Random House, will pay £3 from the sale of each copy of How to Live When You Could Be Dead by Deborah James sold in the UK to Bowelbabe Fund for Cancer Research UK.

Cancer Research UK is a charity registered in England and Wales (1089464), Scotland (SC041666), Isle of Man (1103) and Jersey (247).

©2022 Deborah James (P)2022 Penguin Audio
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Critic reviews

"Deborah James has captured the heart of the nation." (The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge @KensingtonRoyal)

"Brave, bright, beautiful." (Lorraine Kelly)

"Deborah's ability to find positivity in the darkest of places is an inspiration to us all." (Davina McCall)

What listeners say about How to Live When You Could Be Dead

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I didn’t realise I needed this book

Profound but also so practical; some really interesting research and ideas on how to live a more fulfilling life. Desperately sad at times but life affirming also. What an inspiring woman.

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Wonderful

What a truly amazing and inspiring woman.
Rest in peace Deborah x x x x

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Oh Deborah, what a wonderful gift you left us.

Beautiful, heartwarming and inspiring. Gabby reading this was just perfect. Although some parts were not knew in terms of how to look upon life, this was a wonderful reminder of loving the life we have whatever challenges we face. Thank you for this parting gift Deborah…we will always have rebellious hope x

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Beautiful

Thank you Dame Deborah James for this truly inspirational book.... Rebellious Hope and beautifully read Gabby Roslin ❤️

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Motivational and Moving

This amazing lady and her inspirational book has definitely changed the way I live my life.

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Moving and insightful

Incredibly moving and a compelling listen but, despite some good tips in there to help you through difficult times, it didn't quite hit the mark for me. I went into the book hoping to find... Hope. I did, and that was the overarching message that I took away, to always be hopeful and make the most of every day. What I didn't come away with was anything new that I hadn't heard before; nothing was a revelation. It was a very interesting listen though and I would recommend it to anyone, if only just to understand what a remarkable woman Deborah was. Her ability to hope in the face of a terminal illness, and her focus on gratitude, has given me a kick up the backside for sure!

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Rebellious hope

I laughed and cried whilst listening to this wonderful but oh so sad story which was read so beautifully by Gaby x

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Inspiring

A great book, from an inspiring lady. What a legacy, so sad but a good lesson not to take things for granted and to leave each second of each day!

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wonderfully moving

love this book. Love Deborah. As someone who has recently got off the cancer rollercoaster - I needed her books. I needed them to pull myself back to be happy, to appreciate life. Every moment. To he amazing Deborah- I thank you

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Very moving story well told.

Personal story of how to deal with the reality of facing death by terminal disease.

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