Matthew Sanford

Testimonials

“Matthew Sanford’s remarkable story puts a human face on an alternative healing path. His experience as a patient and his exploration of yoga and paralysis inform and inspire patients, doctors and rehabilitation professionals alike. He beautifully underscores the limitations of our current medical practices and the necessity for a mind-body-spirit approach to healing and recovery. Matthew is a rising star in the integrative health movement.”
    — Donna Karan, Chief Designer & Creative Director, Donna Karan International & Founder, Urban Zen Foundation

“Waking is a harrowing story of courage, and a primer for joy.”
    — Louise Erdrich, Author

“This is a beautiful, life-giving book. It reads like poetry, and takes the reader inside Matthew Sanford’s struggles and insights as a paraplegic and a man, a son, and a brother, a husband and father. But the “transcendence” of the book’s subtitle is not otherworldliness. This is a story of moving gracefully within the limits, tragedies, surprises, and ordinariness of being human and alive.”
    —  Krista Tippet, “Speaking of Faith,” American Public Media

“On the surface, Matthew Sanford's story makes for terribly gripping reading. But the real reason to pick it up is for the beautiful simplicity with which he describes the mind-body relationship. Through his personal story of healing, he shares inspiring insights for anyone exploring awareness and the essence of life itself.”
    —  Kaitlin Quistgaard, Editor-in-Chief, Yoga Journal


READER REVIEWS

“I picked up this book last night off my side table to read a few pages and get a feel for where it was going. Three hours later I hadn't moved and I didn't stop reading until I finished the book. I kept forgetting to breathe.” 
    — Farfalla Borah, Santa Barbara, CA

“I loved, loved, loved, loved the book and found myself looking at Matt’s picture and bio on the outside cover, saying ‘Thank you.’” 
    — Nichole Hirsch, Long Lake, MN

“It was so wonderful I had to finish it in one day! It stays in my thoughts days later. My soul is still lit up.” 
    — Rachel Gee, Louisville, KY

“I shed tears over the course of this book, but was also in awe of the journey Matt has taken through his life. He shares how he has connected with his injured, imperfect body and has inspired me to do the same. This has been a great book for our book club. Highly recommended.”  
    — J Brekken, Orono, MN

“To all human beings...young, old and everybody in between...I loved this book! It is everything you want when you open a book.”
    — Michele in Colorado (Message Board Post)

“I will continue to love your story and to tell all I know about it and its impact on me. Your story of truth and mind-body connection and human spirit is beautiful and a blessing to my life.”
    — Lydia Holsten, Excelsior, MN

“The biographical part is worth the read in itself. However, you definitely go beyond that in connecting mind and body, life and death, war and peace, and looking after our world. Yes, it all fits together.”
    — Sandy Hawkins, Williams Lake, Canada

“I will be shouting from rooftops and talking to anyone who I can make listen about the book and your work.”   
    — Jane Singer, Minneapolis, MN

“I am in awe of your ability to describe what happened to you and your family and the feelings you had and your reactions to the treatment you received. The medical world has so much to learn from you, as do we all.”
    — Harriet Davis, Excelsior, MN

“Your book is a contribution to the world of yoga and to the large body of memoir literature that continually redefines what we know about the human condition.”  
    — Ann Kimmage, Brunswick, ME

“…it is an admirable piece of writing. You have a great style, a gift for words and an enviable descriptive ability. Your book is engrossing, moving and powerful, yet so sensitive.” 
    — Alyce Cranston, Minneapolis, MN

“Long ago, I found that by listening to the silence of the universe I could find the silence in myself. I just didn’t know what it was until I read your book.”  
    — Sue Kilbride, Waikoloa, Hawaii

“Read the book, you will learn a great deal about yourself and life around us. I sure did. There isn't a life for which this story wouldn't apply for we all experience trauma and pain, life and death -- it's how we choose to live with it that is the ultimate quest.”
    — Gia DesLauriers, Minnetonka MN

“Reading this memoir was like taking an incredible journey; a page-turner that I finished in just two days! It is about strength: the strength of a community, a family and individual spirit. It is about the fullness offered by life if one is willing to reach out and take it.” 
    — TLC, Amazon Reviewer

“It's such an amazing portrait of courage and perseverance! I found it amazingly compelling, and it made me want to do yoga!” 
    — Mary Prudhomme, Philadelphia, PA