PHOSPHORESCENCE

A cancer diagnosis sparks a journalist’s quest for awe and wonder.

Nothing forces a reevaluation of the meaning of life more than the distinct possibility of death, which is what happened to Sydney-based journalist Baird. “In the vortex of cancer,” she writes, “all other sounds drown out, and you hear only the beating of your heart, the drawing of your own breath, the uncertainty of your foot­falls.” In these philosophical ruminations, Baird explores how sickness and trauma can create a kinship with others in similar circumstances, allowing us to move forward despite all the pain, fear, and anxiety. Writing about her love of swimming in the ocean, she explains the awe of seeing phosphorescence in the water and compares the experience to our own internal light, which keeps us going at our darkest hours. She discusses how some people are inherently good and emit a joyfulness that makes them “glow” and how scientists have begun studying the source of happiness in our bodies. “Life is tempestuous and life is precious,” writes the author, “and recognizing that those two are twinned is part of the secret of the truly phosphorescent.” Among the dozens of other topics she addresses throughout this emotional, introspective book: how exposure to nature is essential for our health; the profundity of experiencing awe (“Awe can fuel adrenaline, but it is the result of more than danger, risk, and speed: It is about witnessing something spectacular and rare”); the importance of quiet in our lives; and why the stories of women, people of color, and the LGBTQ+ communities are as vital as those involving White men. Baird skillfully intertwines her personal journey with some research and scientific data, constructing a backdrop for these reflections that readers can apply to their own journeys. It’s impossible to read this book and not sense a shift in one’s thinking about happiness, joy, and a range of other emotions.

Graceful, expressive meditations on many of life’s intangibles.