"In Heartwood, Barbara Becker inspires us to follow our curiosity into a world that is both universal and a source of our uniqueness. And what could be better than that?" - Gloria Steinem, bestselling author and activist

"Heartwood is a luminous book...Within the first few pages I knew I could trust Barbara Becker to navigate the holy land of death and grief and take me with her...I have rarely read a book that left me feeling so fundamentally blessed. Highly recommended." - Mirabai Starr, author of Caravan of No Despair and Wild Mercy

“Heartwood is wise and moving without a wasted word. Becker’s luminous meditation on death and life is a gift to us all." - Dave Isay, founder of StoryCorps

"Becker takes us on a poignant journey through her life in Heartwood. She shows us the threads connecting herself to ones who passed and with each tug on a thread we learn more about love and loss, life and death. Precious stories that have the power to move your heart, this book is a true gift. - Sharon Salzberg, author of Real Love and Real Change

“Becker debuts with a stirring chronicle of the events, moments, and stories that led to her reconciliation with mortality…Becker’s eloquence is a salve for confronting a difficult topic…This will be a comfort for anyone contemplating their own mortality, or those in search of advice for others.” - Publishers Weekly, Starred Review

"A graceful meditation on divine deliverance...Once firmly entrenched in our “death-shy” contemporary culture, the author is now a reassuring advocate for peace and interreligious understanding, and she views dying as an opportunity to seek enlightenment and give thanks, regardless of one’s preferred spiritual path." - Kirkus

"A resource filled with wisdom and one that readers will find themselves returning to often in both good times and bad." - Shelf Awareness

"An affecting and informative memoir about the lessons we can glean from life as well as death." - Library Journal