Title: If I Die Before I Wake: A Caregiver’s Journey
Author: Eli Shaw
Publisher: Westwood Books Publishing, LLC
ISBN: 978-1643616278
Pages: 368
Genre: Biographies/Health, Fitness & Dieting
Reviewed By: Anthony Avina
Hollywood Book Reviews
One of the most fulfilling and momentous milestones in a person’s journey has to be the helping of others, and the joy it brings not only those people to have someone in their lives who cares for them to that level but the joy it brings the person to support someone. As actor and comedian legend John Lithgow once said, “Take care, be kind, be considerate of other people and other species, and be loving.” In author Eli Shaw’s book “If I Die Before I Wake: A Caregiver’s Journey”, a decades long journey to help others becomes the focus of this intense biography.
In this biography and health related book, the author takes readers through the life of a caregiver. From early childhood experiences that helped shape the author’s mindset to be that of a protector and caregiver, to the field of caregiving and what goes into the job of a caregiver overall, this book takes readers through a comprehensive look into the field and the life of the author overall.
This is a very personal and detailed read. The author does a marvelous job of expertly navigating the line of this book between personal stories mixed with professional and meticulous study of the life of a caregiver overall. The author does a great job of showcasing the life he’s lead as a caregiver, from realizing no matter how long a person serves as a caregiver for an individual, they always know the assignment to be temporary and what to expect when it ends, to the way both caregivers and everyone in life can take for granted the relationships built between two people and how much we miss it once it’s gone, nothing left but the memory that was.
This is a book for anyone who enjoys biographies, books on medicine and fitness, and has an interest in nonfiction reads and the field of caregiving as a whole. As someone who enjoys a good nonfiction read from time to time, it was the author’s personal stories of his life and experiences that drew me in, in particular the relationship he built between himself and his friend Mark. Adding the personal element to this book drew me as a reader in closer to the narrative and made me more interested in the book’s core message, which is something readers will be able to resonate with as the book goes on.
This is a fascinating read to be sure. A lengthy book, the story of the author’s life and career is unique and inspiring all at the same time. The life of a caregiver is filled with highs and lows, and the author’s various caregiving experiences dealing with individuals suffering from physical and mental struggles showcased the experience the author brought to the book’s message and theme overall. This is a book that will touch the heart and fill the soul, making for a truly personal and emotional read overall. If you haven’t yet, take the time to read author Eli Shaw’s novel “If I Die Before I Wake: A Caregiver’s Journey” today and see how life caring for others is a life worth living.