In Falling Upward, Richard Rohr seeks to help readers understand the tasks of the two halves of life and to show them that those who have gone ''down'' are the only ones who understand ''up.'' Those who have somehow fallen, and fallen well, are the only ones who can grow spiritually and not misuse ''up''. More than anything else, he describes what ''up'' (in the second half of life) will look like and could look like.

Most of us tend to think of the second half of life as largely about getting old, dealing with health issues, and letting go of life, but the whole thesis of this book is exactly the opposite. What looks like falling down can largely be experienced as ''falling upward.'' In fact, it is not a loss but somehow actually a gain, as we have all seen with elders who have come to their fullness, and life flows out from them naturally.

Fr. Richard Rohr is a Franciscan priest of the New Mexico Province. He founded the Center for Action and Contemplation in Albuquerque, New Mexico in 1986, where he presently serves as Founding Director. An internationally known speaker to many thousands of people a year, Richard's travels have recently taken him to Europe, Australia/New Zealand and South Africa. Teaching on such themes as adult Christian spirituality, men's spirituality, and politics and spirituality, Richard has partnered with such esteemed teachers as Thomas Keating (author of books on centering prayer), Ronald Rolheiser (author of the best - selling The Holy Longing), Joan Chittister (author of The Gift of Years), Phyllis Tickle (author of The Great Emergence), and Jim Wallis (founder of Sojourners and author of God's Politics). Richard is also well known for his numerous recorded teachings, through the Center's quarterly publication, Radical Grace, and is a regular contributing writer for Sojourners and Tikkun magazines.