Encounters with Life and Death

In Encounters with Life and Death, Neil takes the reader on a wide-ranging journey through seminal experiences from his life, some professional and many deeply personal. He unpacks how they have shaped his views on what it means to be human and how he has used them to deepen his relationship with his own humanity. It is less a memoir than a reflection on what he believes really matters in our lives, as well as an exploration of how we and the societies in which live distance us from what we should find most important. His insights also draw on many years of travelling the world working in education, which have left him increasingly disillusioned by the effects of formal education systems on people globally. He shares how key events and experiences have shaped his own daily thoughts, habits, and practices, as well as his priorities for the second half of his life. In doing this, he explores how he hopes to reduce the unhealthy effects of those who seek to manipulate us and of his attachments to possessions and behaviours that do not serve him.

Encounters with Life and Death invites you to spark meaningful conversations about reshaping education to nurture authentic human connections. How can you empower yourselves and others to live more fulfilled lives? Join Neil in rethinking how to truly connect with what matters, exploring how we can reconfigure education systems to empower learners to find a deep connection with their own humanity and that of the people around them.