Briefly Perfectly Human by Alua Arthur Summary
Overview of Briefly Perfectly Human
America's foremost death doula Alua Arthur offers a transformative guide to embracing mortality as life's greatest teacher. Endorsed by Jodi Picoult and featured on Chris Hemsworth's "Limitless" series, this NYT bestseller reveals how facing death unlocks our most authentic, vibrant living.
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Key takeaways
A Taxi, a Scrunchie, and the Question That Changes Everything
Ever dodge death over a red scrunchie? Picture racing through Trinidad, Cuba, narrowly missing a taxi while carrying a hair accessory you promised to return to a stranger named Yesenia. As the vehicle whizzes past, your mind floods with absurd worries-dying abroad, family shame, and yes, whether you're wearing acceptable underwear. This isn't the plot of a quirky indie film. It's the moment that transformed Alua Arthur's life and led her to become one of America's most sought-after death doulas. At the bus station afterward, still shaken, Arthur meets Jessica-a German traveler with a red quill pen tattoo who helps delay the bus. As they journey together, Jessica casually reveals she has terminal uterine cancer and is seeing the world before she dies. Unlike Jessica's friends and family who tiptoe around mortality, Arthur leans in with genuine curiosity. The question she asks becomes a turning point: "When you look at yourself on your deathbed, who do you see?" This simple inquiry unlocks something profound in both women. Jessica realizes she wants to write a book about her travels. Arthur, at thirty-four, contemplates her own mortality for the first time-truly contemplates it-and envisions the person she wants to become before her final breath. Years later, she understands that without this "coincidental" encounter, she might be dead-not physically, but spiritually crushed under the weight of living someone else's life.
The Body's Story and Death's Early Lessons
The Loss That Became a Calling
Compassion, Boundaries, and the Art of Showing Up
Death Doesn't Discriminate, But We Do
Becoming the Person You Were Meant to Be
The Uncomfortable Truth That Sets You Free
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"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
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