Published for the occasion of the fiftieth anniversary of the year it commemorates, Robert Atkinson’s Year of Living Deeply: A Memoir of 1969 is a thoughtful and rewarding journey that is equal parts inward and universal. Atkinson reflects on a year that shaped a generation and invites us into his own spiritual search as he contemplates the lunar landing, attends Woodstock, and sails on the maiden voyage of the Hudson River sloop Clearwater. Along the way, he crosses paths with such luminaries as Pete Seeger, Arlo Guthrie, Ramblin’ Jack Elliot, and author Joseph Campbell. Each one becomes a mentor, helping Atkinson to uncover timeless patterns as they unfold in his life, linking his own story with the stories of countless others. The result is a soulful, meditative memoir full of generous and spiritual insight.
“This book is a Rosetta Stone for anyone who wonders what the 60s were
about. It is a talisman for those of us who came of age in that era, for
whom 1969 will remain an incandescent moment for all our life. Atkinson
explores not just specific events, but the powerful patterns that connect
them.”
—Larry Dossey, MD, author ofThe Extraordinary Healing Power of Ordinary Things and Healing Words
“. . . a real autobiography in that it is the story of a soul. It tells of
incursions of the timeless and the magical as a sensitive life unfolds. I
found it profound, friendly, inspiring, and nostalgic.
—Thomas Moore, author of Care of the Soul and A Life at Work
“Intelligent, witty, and charming, this spiritual memoir can be read not
only for pleasure but also for profit as a book about transformation and
the demands of changing times.”
—Professor Suheil Bushrui, author of The Essential Gibran and The World’s Favorite Love Poems