About the Author

ELIZABETH LESSER is the co-founder of Omega Institute in Rhinebeck, New York, which offers conferences and workshops attended by twenty thousand people a year. Formerly a midwife, she attended Barnard College and San Francisco State University. The mother of three grown sons, she lives in the Hudson Valley with her husband.

Reviews

“A most extraordinary book . . . Lesser is a brilliantly gifted writer.”—Caroline Myss, author of Sacred Contracts and Anatomy of the Spirit

“Elizabeth Lesser bravely and beautifully explores one of the most compelling questions of life: How do we emerge from suffering and challenge with real, encompassing wisdom and love? Broken Open is personal, pragmatic, and enlightening.”—Sharon Salzberg, author of Faith: Trusting Your Own Deepest Experience

“Rich in food for philosophical mastication, and sparkling in their stylistic clarity, the true-life stories in Broken Open are both entertaining and enlightening.”—Tom Robbins, author of Even Cowgirls Get the Blues, Still Life with Woodpecker, and Villa Incognito

“Insightful reflections . . . Reminiscent of Rachel Naomi Remen’s books (e.g. Kitchen Table Wisdom), the book is gentle in tone without falling into sentimentality an clear without being dogmatic or simplistic.”—Library Journal

“Never again will a painful experience break me down. Instead, I'll use Elizabeth’s book to help me break open into greater strength, acceptance, and awakening.”—Jane Fonda, actress, activist, and author of My Life So Far

"A most extraordinary book . . . Lesser is a brilliantly gifted writer."-Caroline Myss, author of Sacred Contracts and Anatomy of the Spirit

"Elizabeth Lesser bravely and beautifully explores one of the most compelling questions of life: How do we emerge from suffering and challenge with real, encompassing wisdom and love? Broken Open is personal, pragmatic, and enlightening."-Sharon Salzberg, author of Faith: Trusting Your Own Deepest Experience

"Rich in food for philosophical mastication, and sparkling in their stylistic clarity, the true-life stories in Broken Open are both entertaining and enlightening."-Tom Robbins, author of Even Cowgirls Get the Blues, Still Life with Woodpecker, and Villa Incognito

"Insightful reflections . . . Reminiscent of Rachel Naomi Remen's books (e.g. Kitchen Table Wisdom), the book is gentle in tone without falling into sentimentality an clear without being dogmatic or simplistic."-Library Journal

"Never again will a painful experience break me down. Instead, I'll use Elizabeth's book to help me break open into greater strength, acceptance, and awakening."-Jane Fonda, actress, activist, and author of My Life So Far