"In an accessible, thoughtful, and often entertaining way, theologian and spiritual leader Glaser ...provides an honest and hopeful witness to death's lessons for the living."
 —Publisher's Weekly
 

In contrast to religious traditions that attempt to shield us from death by promising eternal life or by denying or demeaning physical existence, Glaser looks at death directly and with appreciation for what it teaches us about life. Death is an inscrutable and even stern Zen master ready to teach us, a spiritual director eager to inspire us, a soul-friend reminding us that our lifespan has sacred worth.

Glaser writes movingly of the deaths that have shaped his soul, whether those deaths occurred through assassination, murder, suicide, accident, divorce, illness, or AIDS. A few deaths were especially transforming and personal, and all will open readers’ hearts to their own discoveries when facing The Final Deadline.

Chris Glaser, a graduate of Yale Divinity School, has published a dozen best-selling books on spirituality, sexuality, vocation, contemplation, sacrament, theology, marriage, and now, death.

“In this book, we meet a man of God searching the meaning of death for his own life. I found myself in the privileged company of a friend and master, sharing his kind spirit, his deep wisdom, and his compassionate heart.” —Sue Mosteller, C.S.J., Henri Nouwen Legacy Trust
 
“Most of human history has lived very close to death, and initiation rites forced it into our awareness. Now we need wise teachers like Chris to invite us into this cosmic dance.” — Fr. Richard Rohr, O.F.M., Center for Action and Contemplation, Albuquerque, New Mexico

“Chris Glaser, with the heart of a pastor, the sensitivity of a therapist, and the insight of a theologian, confronts the power of death in all its forms…and ultimately transforms its sting into a stimulus for a renewed commitment to living. It is a touching and gracious book.” —John Shelby Spong, author of Eternal Life: A New Vision, Beyond Religion, Beyond Theism, and Beyond Heaven and Hell

“Chris Glaser has squarely faced the deadline that most of us seek to avoid. In an honest, helpful style he has faced the painful and inexplicable ways of death.” —Ben Campbell Johnson, cofounder of the Spiritual Formation Program at Columbia Theological Seminary.

“. . . [W]armly embracing storytelling, Chris Glaser reveals our multifaceted experiences of death. Best of all, he includes his own vulnerable role as a seeker.” —Malcolm Boyd, writer-in-residence of the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles and author of Are You Running with Me, Jesus?