If I Die Before I Wake by Eli Shaw

A soul-elevating read about compassion, caregiving, and sacrifice in countless forms, If I Die Before I Wake: A Caregiver’s Journey by Eli Shaw is a heart-rending and revitalizing memoir. Penned as a series of reflective essays on his diverse roles in providing support and love for people around the world – both in his personal and professional pursuits – this isn’t a chronological report of Shaw’s life so much as a philosophical and experiential collage. Regardless of the decade or crisis, from AIDS and drug abuse to cognitive disabilities and systemic racism, Shaw has been in the thick of societal challenges, and explains his journey with humility, poise, and insight. Certain anecdotes stretch on with excessive detail, and there are some repetitive revelations over the course of the book, but as a whole, this is a carefully written tale of a life admirably lived, and an inspiration for those who also wish to mend a broken corner of the world.