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Fully Alive cover art

Fully Alive

By: Elizabeth Oldfield
Narrated by: Elizabeth Oldfield
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Summary

What does it mean to live a good, whole and fulfilling life? And if the world really is ending, or at least expecting turbulent change, what kind of people will we need when it happens?

In FULLY ALIVE Elizabeth Oldfield explores how we can build spiritual core strength for an unstable age.
Drawing on the ancient wisdom of faith and stories from her own life, Oldfield writes about her quest to live a meaningful, fulfilling life, and the niggling questions that bother all of us below the surface, such as:

How can I focus on what really matters and stop getting so distracted by trivialities?
How do I become a depolarising person in a culture of outrage, tribalism, and division?
Can I find my highs in expansive, life-giving ways, rather than in a bottle of wine or a tub of ice cream?
And what kind of world am I leaving for the next generation?

FULLY ALIVE is for listeners looking for an honest conversation about the deepest questions in our ordinary lives, and practical, meaningful ideas to help us pay attention to the people we are becoming. For ourselves, our communities and the world.

©2024 Elizabeth Oldfield (P)2024 Hodder & Stoughton Limited

Critic reviews

A rich and soul-searching exploration of what it means to believe in a shifting age. This is a rare thing - an open, human and vulnerable profession of faith. I learned a lot. (Katherine May)
Reading FULLY ALIVE was like sitting down for coffee with a well-read and passionate friend. Elizabeth is courageous, insightful, generous and gentle. Her book is a rare find: it never rejects complexity in its search for clarity and never allows authority to crowd out compassion and curiosity - I felt very nourished by the work - there is wisdom here. (Jenn Ashworth, author of GHOSTED: A LOVE STORY)
In turbulent times, what is there for us to hold onto? In FULLY ALIVE, Elizabeth Oldfield suggests gratitude, humility, connection, community. Her writing is honest, touching, often funny and always thought-provoking. I loved it. (Charlie Gilmour, author and activist)
Plainspoken, fearless, disarmingly tender. Oldfield is a leader by example, and her book is a glowing argument for faith - one that speaks urgently to our fractured world. (Rhik Sammader, journalist, writer, broadcaster, actor)
This is the book I didn't know I needed, Elizabeth Oldfield the Sherpa who might persuade me not to give up climbing the mountain. I know few people as committed to living deeply as Elizabeth but in spite of that she's neither pompous nor pious (phew). This is deep stuff, personal yet learned, funny and vulnerable. If you loved Francis Spufford's Unapologetic you will love this. (Sally Phillips)

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Wise, Kind and Unafraid

Oldfield says she needs whatever the equivalent is of pilates for the soul. I think this book is something close to this - gentle yet challenging, gradually building but with the power to transform. With an honesty that feels real and vulnerable rather than self-depreciating, Oldfield gives a new perspective on universal human experiences. She draws from her own life, sharing her own successes and failures to illustrate what life really feels like for us all. And challenges us to feel it and live it more fully. She does not shy away from calling out things that we all do which disconnect us - her definition of "sin" - but she does it with the kindness and wisdom of someone who has personally wrestled with it, both intellectually and experientially.

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Easy read on a deeply important theme.

A refuge for the complicated journey of Human fully-aliveness. Honest and hopeful. Elizabeth delicately holds in tension the different perspective on different perspective on what it means to be fully whilst boldly proclaiming the Christian roots of her perspective.

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Thought provoking

Very interesting and definitely lots to think on. I’m not the antihistamine has quite hit the spot I remain curious.

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integrity and sincerety

Elizabeth Oldfield writes clearly and well, from a place of openness, vulnerability, and honesty. I will listen again. Her narration is as if she is talking to you, her listener, and there were many points when I found myself talking back! I listened to the book slowly, over a couple of weeks and enjoyed it very much.

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Exquisite

Still pondering its wonder but... I laughed (out loud) and cried - and most every emotion in between - as I listened while I gardened (badly but touching joy) Thank you, I cannot imagine I am the only person who feels seen and spoken.

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Beautiful

An extraordinary and beautiful memoir/ philosophical exploration. Full of hope and a profound exploration of what it means to ‘be’

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Honesty

Ex Jehovah’s Witness, hard nosed sceptic of all things religious here. This book gave me a new and precious perspective on Christianity, it also made me cry fat hopeful tears. Thank you.

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Made me fall in love with my faith again

One of the most beautifully read audio books I've heard for a long time. I am inspired and full of respect for this women. I resonated with so much of concerns and thoughts and felt challenged in a good way to rethink my issues with the Church. I shall be seeking more of her wisdom as someone who is a Christian, a feminist and climate concerned - a rare blend and someone we need to hear more from. Thank you.

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