After losing his job, Lee Kravitz, a workaholic in his midfifties, took stock of his life and realized just how disconnected he had become from the people who mattered most to him. He committed an entire year to reconnecting with them and making amends.
Kravitz takes listeners on ten transformational journeys, among them repaying a thirty-year-old debt, making a long-overdue condolence call, finding an abandoned relative, and fulfilling a forgotten promise. Along the way, we meet a cast of wonderful characters and travel the globe—to a refugee camp in Kenya, a monastery in California, the desert of southern Iran, a Little League game in upstate New York, and a bar in Kravitz's native Cleveland. In each instance, the act of reaching out opens new paths for both personal and spiritual growth.
All of us have unfinished business—the things we should have done but just let slip. Kravitz's story reveals that the things we've avoided are exactly those that have the power to transform, enrich, enlarge, and even complete us. The lesson of the book is one that is applicable to us all: Be mindful of what is most important, and act on it. The rewards will be immediate and lasting.
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"I won this from the First Reads giveaways and really enjoyed it. I found the author's writing to be really interesting and it was easy to get immersed in. I liked all of the different stories a lot. The book got me thinking about my own life a lot and who I need to reconnect with and what relationships in life my could use nurturing. Overall, I found it completely enjoyable and would recommend it."
— Allison (4 out of 5 stars)
“The perfect antidote to those middle-of-the-night sweats, when we toss and turn and torture ourselves with endless shoulda-coulda-wouldas.”
— Marlo Thomas, author of the New York Times bestseller The Right Words at the Right TimeThis is an uplifting and truly life-affirming book.
— Hope Edelman, author of The Possibility of Everything“A great lesson for us all.”
— Mitch Albom, New York Times bestselling author of Have a Little Faith“Kravitz writes with an inspiring sincerity.”
— Washington Post“This is an uplifting and truly life-affirming book.”
— Hope Edelman, author of The Possibility of Everything“Kevin Foley is solid as narrator, in essence becoming Kravitz.”
— AudioFile" As I have said with previous books, and as others have similarly commented, I liked the concept of this book more than I liked the story. The story wasn't bad, but it also wasn't riveting. What I appreciated was the thought-provoking aspect that made me stop and think about what unfinished business I have in my life. What things could I do differently to improve my life? How have I not lived life to this point and how can I change it? Granted, I'm not as financially stable as this guy apparently was to be flying all over the world visiting people for a year while he is between jobs. This, by default, means my "unfinished business" would be addressed differently, but it certainly was inspiring to be able to see the positive outcomes of his decisions to go back and address some of these situations that he may have previously decided needed to be ignored or put away and not revisited. "
— Becca, 2/4/2014" After being fired from his job, workaholic Kravitz takes a year to address ten issues with people from his past that have been on his mind through the years. A good lesson in valuing the time and people in your life and showing what good can come from following through with things, no matter how long they have been on hold. "
— Yvonne, 2/1/2014" Lots of things to think about. Over simplified the idea of energy, but very on target with connectedness, relationships and priorities. "
— Noelle, 1/27/2014" Won this book. I enjoyed it because it makes you think about your own life and how you should not put work first in your life. Religion, family and friends is what should be your priorities in life. "
— Susan, 12/26/2013" The writing in this book is just meh, but the story is terrific and so, so honest. I enjoyed reading about how Kravitz tied up so many loose ends, and it taught me an important lesson: it's never too late to reach out, make amends or do what you always said you would but never got around to. "
— Stacey, 12/22/2013" Maybe it's the timing, but this is one of the best books I've read in years. I'll probably keep and reread a few years down the road. "
— Kristi, 11/26/2013" I will finish my unfinished business ... So i can enjoy my life :)) "
— Ajeg, 4/7/2013" With a book like this it needs to sell on the vulnerability and Kravitz supplies that but not enough to make this book stand out. You'd be more driven to tears by one of Dr. Phil's "Dr. Phil Family" episodes. "
— Christy, 2/21/2013" A beautiful, beautiful book, nourishing and uplifting. I needed the reminder that one doesn't need to take a year off or travel to an exotic destination to change the self or the world, that a life can be made more fulfilling every day with a simple smile, email, or an attitude of compassion. "
— Abby, 11/30/2012" Great idea . . . but the book fell flat. "
— Kim, 11/18/2012" I won this book on here. I thought it was a pretty good book. Its amazing how he took a year off to do his unfinished business. Makes me want to be a better person :) "
— Jessica, 11/16/2012" A thought-provoking book written by a magazine editor from Cleveland who is laid off and then reconnects with family, friends and others after he is laid off. "
— Scott, 4/11/2012" This is an uplifting and inspiring book. Kravitz lost his job and decided he had some loose ends to tie up before searching for a new job. It caused him to look at his life and adjust his priorities, something we all should do. Great book! "
— Carl, 12/7/2011" Very good book. True story of a man tying up loose ends, going back and taking care of several things that had been nagging him for years. "
— Chad, 11/13/2011" I will finish my unfinished business ... So i can enjoy my life :)) "
— Ajeg, 5/4/2011" This book was an easy, enjoyable read. The author had some interesting stories to tell and it was inspiring to see how he was able to go back and did the right thing in several unfinished portions of his life. "
— Laurie, 4/12/2011" This is an uplifting and inspiring book. Kravitz lost his job and decided he had some loose ends to tie up before searching for a new job. It caused him to look at his life and adjust his priorities, something we all should do. Great book! "
— carl, 2/5/2011" baca buku ini jadi ingat diri sendiri, utang2 masa lalu apa yang belum aku lunasi? "
— melati, 1/26/2011" Great read!!! Loved the thought that it is possible to address the regrets of midlife and let go of burdens. "
— Donna, 11/5/2010" It was a good idea and he had interesting encounters with his old friends. But in the end I didn't care ... it was *his* unfinished business ... not mine. "
— Laura, 9/25/2010" This was a very interesting, at times, inspirational look at one man's journey to do the right thing. It certainly was thought provoking and well worth reading. <br/> <br/>Note: I received this book through Goodreads.com. "
— Joanne, 9/10/2010" Interesting concept. Makes one think about the past and any unfinished business there might be. All of the author's encounters with the past were such a positive happening. A good, enjoyable read. "
— Nancy, 9/6/2010" goodreads giveaway.<br/><br/>i liked this enough. it was introspective and made me think things..but it's not a book i will remember or talk to anyone about. "
— beth, 8/16/2010Lee Kravitz was editor in chief of Parade magazine from 2000 to 2007. Before that, he was the founding editor of React, a magazine for teens, and served as editorial director of Scholastic, Inc. Lee is currently the board president of Youth Communication, and he is active on the boards of the Public Education Network, the League, and Youth Service America. A graduate of Yale College and Columbia Journalism School, he lives in New York City and Clinton Corners, New York, with his wife and three children.
Kevin Foley, an Earphones Award–winning narrator, has more than thirty years of experience in radio and television broadcasting, commercial voice-overs, and audiobook narration. He has recorded more than 150 audiobooks, including River Thunder by Gary McCarthy, for which he earned a Spur Award for Best Audiobook from the Western Writers of America.