Life is a Ride

In October 2016, 59-year-old Chris Joseph was stunned when he learned he had third-stage pancreatic cancer. In the midst of the panic and tremendous fear that immediately ensued, Joseph followed the doctor's orders without hesitation and underwent chemotherapy--a choice that was almost a fatal mistake.

Months of chemotherapy poisoned his body and nearly destroyed his spirit. With no immediate plan in mind, Joseph fired his oncologist and embarked on an alternative path of recovery, including both natural and Western medicine immunotherapy--one that, against all odds, opened his eyes and healed him, both physically and spiritually.

Life is a Ride documents Joseph's journey from terror and doubt to independence, redemption, love and hope. Whether he's launching a "borrow and pay back" company for all manner of musicians in New Orleans, making his journey to Germany for cancer treatment and watching his friends put together a GoFundMe campaign to make the trip possible, or finding opportunities to bond with family and friends, Joseph's spirit, determination and courage will inspire anyone who's struggled with illness or any other seemingly hopeless situation.

By changing the narrative and choosing to write his own story, Joseph found new levels of determination and courage, as well as joy, wisdom and gratitude. Life is a Ride is the tale of a man that turned a potential death sentence into a life embrace. Read more Continue reading Read less REVIEW
BookLife/Publishers Weekly:Chris Joseph's intensely moving cancer memoir unwinds his distressing years in traditional and alternative medical treatments. In October 2016, Joseph, a 59-year-old single parent living in Santa Monica, Calif., finds his life at an unceremonious standstill upon detection of stage three pancreatic cancer. An indifferent healthcare team and the devastating aftereffects of chemotherapy compel him to take control of his treatment and consider unconventional routes. While chronicling his journey on his blog, he succeeds in finding a stable outlet for his anxiety and apprehensions. In courageous and profound sequences, the reader finds him regaining his composure as he counters his doubts as a father, a boyfriend, a brother, and a friend.
Interactions with his sons are the emotional cornerstones of the book, but he also comments on the American healthcare system and underscores how recovery begins by taking charge of one's life. Readers will appreciate the affecting accounts of other patients that support his informed insights on medical care and fitness, as well as the clear and straightforward prose

Joseph skillfully balances the bleakness of the subject with candidness and levity. His analogy about fear being an "obnoxious roommate who doesn't clean up after himself" is one of the many standout observations of the narration. Liberally infused with candor and vulnerability, Joseph's thorough introspection of his years in cancer treatment is a rewarding examination of love, duty, legacy, and mortality.

Takeaway: This gripping cancer memoir is a unique exploration of identity, community, and the American healthcare system through the story of an ordinary man's life-altering illness.

Actor Michael O'Neill: "Life is a Ride" is an honest and intimate account for anyone who has looked into the abyss of Cancer, its telescope of fear and uncertainty and finding there the heart of who and what you truly love in this life. Told with unflinching vulnerability and often humor, this book clearly highlights the importance of owning one's own health and not simply renting it.

BookTrib:Chris Joseph was diagnosed with Stage III pancreatic cancer at 59, and after months of chemotherapy, which took its toll on both his body and spirit, he decided he had had enough. Joseph fired his oncologist and, with no concrete plan, set off on an alternative path to recovery. Leaving behind an indifferent team of healthcare professionals, he finds opportunities to improve not just his physical health but his spiritual health and the health of his relationships to others.Life is a Ridetakes readers on this unconventional journey with him. An inspirational tale that Joseph courageously penned himself -- in more ways than one -- his thorough introspection of his years in cancer treatment is a rewarding examination of love, duty, legacy, and mortality.

Anna David, Publisher and New York Times bestselling author:Chris Joseph is a wonder. He wrote his book and pursued publication with such a passion that it's no wonder he beat cancer. I'm actually convinced Chris Joseph could beat anything. FROM THE AUTHOR
Thank you so much for purchasing my book, "Life is a Ride: My Unconventional Journey of Cancer Recovery". This is a book that isn't just a cancer journey. It's about taking charge of your health. Ultimately, it's about hope, redemption and love. I started thinking about writing this book in January 2020, and became serious about writing it around the time the pandemic hit in March. Three months of daily writing produced a first draft, and four rounds of edits took an additional two months, leading to the book's release in early September 2020. This was a book I simply HAD to write for my two teenage boys, for my girlfriend Susie, and most of all for me. And it's for anyone who wants a story about hope, love and taking charge of one's health. Please check out my webpage lifeisaridebook.com for podcast interviews, press and other past and upcoming events.-Chris#lifeisaride FROM THE INSIDE FLAP
"In the United States, holes in the medical system and blinders worn by doctors can turn any patient's healing journey into a perilous obstacle course. In Life is a Ride,Chris Joseph draws a map from one devastating diagnosis to empowered wellness, documenting some of the routes patients can take around the worst obstacles. A book of hope for anyone feeling daunted by the path in front of them."
-Kimberly Kaye, FM