An Answer to the Conflicts in Our Lives - Gift From the Sea

I found many sentences that could have been written today. Here we are 60 years later and this book still speaks to the issues men and women face. We are no closer to the answers. The questions are still with us. A brilliant summary of the problems faced in modern life. No cure but a program to live by.

Anne Morrow Lindbergh, wife of the famous transatlantic pilot, suffered the tragic loss of her baby who was kidnapped and murdered in about 1933. That may be the basis of Anne's deeply introspective reflections, but it's not subject of her book. Her meditations and quiet moments on the seashore inspire a re-evaluation of the simple objects of life. Her analogies of the sand, the shells, and the surf -- as they apply to man's existence -- are without parallel.

Anne Morrow Lindberg was a well-educated, highly intelligent person, a gifted writer, and a poet par excellence. She was a loyal and loving yet subservient wife, a wonderful mother, and an accomplished pilot, navigator, and adventurist. She also had quite a story to tell herself and to be told by others.

I have seen the movie depictions, read the books about her super hero husband, and most recently read a wonderful historical fiction work by Melanie Benjamin, The Aviator's Wife that filled in numerous voids in what the public knows about the intimacies and facts surrounding the Lindbergs, fictional though some of it may be.

All these literary glimpses and silver screen journeys into the private lives of the not so private first family of aviation encouraged me to read Gift from the Sea. Anne Morrow Lindberg was not the first or only woman to suffer, sacrifice, and take up her dutiful place in the shadow of a powerful and influential husband and remain quiet and unimposing up to a point. But she is unique in the fact that she has allowed a look into her mind, heart, and soul through her own works.

Gift from the Sea is a treasure to be appreciated slowly and repeatedly because one fast read will not disclose the wonders and beauties of the great pearl formed through the tragedies, irritations, heartbreak, and disappointments that deposited themselves in the oyster of Anne's life.

What does a woman subordinated to the egotistical needs and demands of the most famous man in the world, with a vision the size of that world need, want, and dream of in the mature years of her life. Her repayment for years of dedicated service and seemingly unrequited love for a man with an agenda was to betrayal and placed second, third, or fourth in line of her dear, sweet husband and his other lovers and mothers of his illegitimate children.

Alone on a beach, in a small cottage, walking along the shoreline with only the gentle rolling surf and waves lapping at the sand to speak to her, Anne finds that she resonates with the beauty, utility, freedom, and natural splendor of the vacated sea shells that she finds. A variety of colorful and gracefully designed shells speak different messages to her soul. And she shares those musings with the readers.

The past will not change, the present is being formed in the crucible of her life already lived and the decisions she will make based on where and who she's been. Anne spoke out to the myriad women of the world who could say to and about her life experiences "Amen Sister, speak it, preach it." And preach it she did.

Read Gift from the Sea once, put it down and go back again and again. Almost as if the shells are magic the message matures and morphs with age and the frame of mind of the reader at the time of the read. It's a small book, but it contains a wealth of spiritual jewels for the seeker.

As a male, I recommend this book to both men and women with the suggestion that oftentimes women are better at sharing their heart than are men.

I agree with Anne's daughter Reeve that re-reading the book brings renewed blessings originally penned in 1955 but are still relevant in 2013.

it is a wonderful book. Everyone, Man, woman it doesn't matter. This is a MUST read book and I really am not one to have the patience to sit down and read a whole book, but I actually read it in one day and have re-read it many times Do yourself a favor and read this book.

The title of my review is too restrictive because every woman should read this book, those who have sat on a beach and contemplated life and those who have done their contemplating at a kitchen table, during a run, or while lying in bed. This story--these lessons--will speak to you. They will speak to women differently at different stages of her life and for that reason this book should be read and read again later in life.

Anne Morrow Lindberg was a well-educated, highly intelligent person, a gifted writer, and a poet par excellence. She was a loyal and loving yet subservient wife, a wonderful mother, and an accomplished pilot, navigator, and adventurist. She also had quite a story to tell herself and to be told by others.

I have seen the movie depictions, read the books about her super hero husband, and most recently read a wonderful historical fiction work by Melanie Benjamin, The Aviator's Wife that filled in numerous voids in what the public knows about the intimacies and facts surrounding the Lindbergs, fictional though some of it may be.

All these literary glimpses and silver screen journeys into the private lives of the not so private first family of aviation encouraged me to read Gift from the Sea. Anne Morrow Lindberg was not the first or only woman to suffer, sacrifice, and take up her dutiful place in the shadow of a powerful and influential husband and remain quiet and unimposing up to a point. But she is unique in the fact that she has allowed a look into her mind, heart, and soul through her own works.

Gift from the Sea is a treasure to be appreciated slowly and repeatedly because one fast read will not disclose the wonders and beauties of the great pearl formed through the tragedies, irritations, heartbreak, and disappointments that deposited themselves in the oyster of Anne's life.

What does a woman subordinated to the egotistical needs and demands of the most famous man in the world, with a vision the size of that world need, want, and dream of in the mature years of her life. Her repayment for years of dedicated service and seemingly unrequited love for a man with an agenda was to betrayal and placed second, third, or fourth in line of her dear, sweet husband and his other lovers and mothers of his illegitimate children.

Alone on a beach, in a small cottage, walking along the shoreline with only the gentle rolling surf and waves lapping at the sand to speak to her, Anne finds that she resonates with the beauty, utility, freedom, and natural splendor of the vacated sea shells that she finds. A variety of colorful and gracefully designed shells speak different messages to her soul. And she shares those musings with the readers.

The past will not change, the present is being formed in the crucible of her life already lived and the decisions she will make based on where and who she's been. Anne spoke out to the myriad women of the world who could say to and about her life experiences "Amen Sister, speak it, preach it." And preach it she did.

Read Gift from the Sea once, put it down and go back again and again. Almost as if the shells are magic the message matures and morphs with age and the frame of mind of the reader at the time of the read. It's a small book, but it contains a wealth of spiritual jewels for the seeker.

As a male, I recommend this book to both men and women with the suggestion that oftentimes women are better at sharing their heart than are men.

I agree with Anne's daughter Reeve that re-reading the book brings renewed blessings originally penned in 1955 but are still relevant in 2013.

it is a wonderful book. Everyone, Man, woman it doesn't matter. This is a MUST read book and I really am not one to have the patience to sit down and read a whole book, but I actually read it in one day and have re-read it many times Do yourself a favor and read this book.

The title of my review is too restrictive because every woman should read this book, those who have sat on a beach and contemplated life and those who have done their contemplating at a kitchen table, during a run, or while lying in bed. This story--these lessons--will speak to you. They will speak to women differently at different stages of her life and for that reason this book should be read and read again later in life.

I attended a friends wedding in the Summer and the bides father read an excerpt from the book "Gift from the Sea". I fell in love with the book right away because what the writer said was so true. I requested for the author and soon as i got back I bought the book.
You cannot put it down once you start reading. You would think the author is talking to you or knows you.
It is a Must Have! to read and re-read.

when you consider when this book was originally written you might think it would become outdated. It really doesn't -- there are some things that fit in the past -- yet so much still applies today. Love the comparisons to shells. I have a tropical place and have one of these books waiting for each of my visitors!

when you consider when this book was originally written you might think it would become outdated. It really doesn't -- there are some things that fit in the past -- yet so much still applies today. Love the comparisons to shells. I have a tropical place and have one of these books waiting for each of my visitors!

Beautiful book which will leave you thinking. It's exquisitely written, and timeless.

When you need a gift, but are not sure exactly what to buy, this can often be a great option. I've sent it to many friends who have been thrilled with it.

Enjoy!