Your To-Die-For Life: How to Maximize Joy and Minimize Regret . . . Before Your Time Runs Out

by Karen Salmansohn

Overview

Want to make sure you’re not just alive . . . but truly living? Start by contemplating your own death.

Wondering what a life well-lived looks like? Eager to live a life that’s richer, bolder, and more unapologetically YOU? Then it’s time to stop running from the truth that your life is finite—and start facing your mortality head-on.

Because nothing will motivate you to seize the day . . . more than realizing your days are numbered.

Karen Salmansohn, bestselling author of How to Be Happy, Dammit and a leading behavioral change expert went on her own “I’m-going-to-die” journey. And it made her life better. Way better. So she began sharing these tools with her clients, and their lives also began to bloom in amazing ways.

Science backs up the perks of mortality awareness. Studies show that when you embrace the fact that your time is limited, you stop wasting energy on nonsense—and start making choices that align with your deepest values.

In Your To-Die-For Life, Salmansohn shares a wide range of practical, research-based tools—to help you to dismantle your fears—and step into the life you were meant to live. You’ll discover how to:

• Write your own eulogy: Sounds a little dark, right? But it's actually a genius way to reverse-engineer the life you want.
• Create a “to-die” list: Think of this as a “what matters most” list. You’ll learn how to better focus on what truly makes you come alive—and build simple micro-habits to bring more of that into your everyday life.
• Do a life audit: Let go of the clutter that’s draining your time, energy and attention.

Your To-Die-For Life is packed with a range of eye-opening studies, inspiring philosophical truths, and Salmansohn’s signature cheeky humor. She’ll make you laugh, she’ll make you think, and she’ll make you want to stop wasting time on things that don’t light you up.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781637747025
Publisher:	BenBella Books
Publication date:	07/22/2025
Pages:	256
Product dimensions:	8.90(w) x 5.90(h) x 0.70(d)

About the Author

Karen Salmansohn is a bestselling author (with 2 million books and courses sold), leading behavioral change expert, and columnist for Oprah and Psychology Today, as well as the founder of the popular personal development site NotSalmon.com, which has a vibrant community of 1.5 million followers. She’s been sparking transformations in individuals and companies for a few decades and is passionate about digging deep and finding fascinating insights, tools, and studies from all areas of life, including psychology, Eastern and Western philosophy, neuroscience, quantum physics, and more.

She began writing “self-help for people who wouldn’t be caught dead doing self help” in 1999 with the bestseller How To Be Happy Dammit—the very first personal development book of its kind to have a feisty title, edgy humor, and stylish interior design, which paved the way for self-help authors to write irreverent personal development books. Since then, she’s written many bestsellers, including The Bounce Back Book and Think Happy. Now she’s excited to pioneer the mortality awareness movement by illuminating life’s most avoided conversation—death—and reminding others to live more bravely.

Editorial Reviews

Fascinating! Who knew trauma and death could be so inspirational?”
—Jenny Lawson, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Furiously Happy

“This is not only the funniest book about death I’ve ever read, it’s also an inspiring, useful guide for living with greater joy and purpose . . . and less fear and regret.”
—A.J. Jacobs, New York Times bestselling author of Drop Dead Healthy

“What I love most about Your To-Die-For Life is how Karen transforms our greatest fear into our greatest teacher. This book isn’t just about preparing for death—it’s about keeping the end in mind in order to truly live. A must-read for anyone seeking a more meaningful life.”
—Kristine Carlson, New York Times bestselling coauthor of the Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff book series

“Life is precious, and Karen Salmansohn’s Your To-Die-For Life is a powerful reminder of just that. Instead of fearing mortality, this book challenges us to use it as fuel—to stop waiting, start living, and focus on what truly matters. With eye-opening insights and practical wisdom, Karen helps us shift our perspective, embrace each day with purpose, and create a life we won’t regret. If you’ve been caught up in the busyness of life, consider this your wake-up call.”
—Mark and Angel Chernoff, New York Times bestselling coauthors of Getting Back to Happy

"Your To-Die-For Life is the perfect how-to guide for those of us who yearn for deeper meaning but often find ourselves lost in a blur of screens and mundane tasks. Karen’s wise, witty voice and her research-based advice reminds us: ‘Yes, I was here. I lived fully. I paid attention.’ Don’t miss out on your life, or this book!”
—Nanea Hoffman, founder of Sweatpants & Coffee

“I love Karen Salmansohn. She knows exactly what to say to help me wake up and LIVE. In Your To-Die-For Life, she made me laugh out loud while delivering profound truths I find so easy to forget or discount. This book pushed me out of a rut and back toward finishing my novel when I wanted to give up. It’s soothing and challenging, a rare mix that was exactly what I needed! Read this if you find yourself needing a nudge to keep going after your dreams!”
—Jen Louden, author of Why Bother: Discover the Desire for What’s Next

“As someone who’s all about breaking rules and challenging status quos, I’m totally here for Karen Salmansohn’s Your To-Die-For Life. This isn’t just another self-help book—it’s a manifesto for those ready to design a life that’s as unique and powerful as they are. It’s raw, it’s real, and it’ll light a fire under your tush to start living authentically.”
—Esther Blum, RDN, CDN, CNS, menopause expert and author of See ya later, Ovulator!

“Death is inevitable—why not make it your life coach? With wit, wisdom, and wildly practical advice, this book flips the script on mortality, turning it into your ultimate catalyst for joy, purpose, and a damn good life. Fun, unexpected, and seriously life-changing!”
—Arielle Ford, author of The Love Thief

“With wisdom, wit, and a dose of irreverence, Your To-Die-For Life by Karen Salmansohn challenges you to confront your life’s what-ifs and why-nots. The insights and actionable steps in this book can serve as a loving kick in the butt to help readers embrace the life they want.”
—Andrea Syrtash, founder and editor-in-chief of Pregnantish

“Karen Salmansohn’s Your To-Die-For Life is a powerful and uplifting book that reframes the often-taboo topic of mortality into an inspiring, wisdom-filled conversation infused with light humor. This book encourages you to embrace the fragility of life as a catalyst for creating a life rich in happiness, purpose, and fulfillment.”
—Dana-Maxx Pomerantz, founder of The Be Happy Project

“Karen’s book focuses beautifully on one of my favorite topics: how to stay alive inside of life. Let this experienced guide walk with you toward greater depth and joy in your life.”
—Jacob Nordby, creative coach and author of The Creative Cure

“Your To-Die-For Life is not about dying—it’s about living with the volume turned up, filters turned off, and fears turned down. Karen Salmansohn writes as if life itself depends on it, because, well, it does. A powerful reminder that contemplating death can be the ultimate motivation to live more carefully and deeply.”
—Susan Shapiro, author of The Forgiveness Tour

“This isn’t just another self-help book—it’s a wake-up call wrapped in wisdom, humor, and profound truth. Karen Salmansohn takes the taboo topic of death and transforms it into an inspiring guide for living. Your To-Die-For Life offers exactly what our busy, distracted world needs: a reminder that our time is precious and now is the time to start living like we know it.”
—Lori Deschene, founder of Tiny Buddha and author of Tiny Buddha’s Gratitude Journal

“Ideally we all want to live a life without regret, but the process to get there and maintain that involves incredible self-growth, focus, and the ability to share our purpose with others. Your To-Die-For Life teaches us all the values to live with and by now so when we have shuffled off this mortal coil we know those around us shared in that purpose and joy when it mattered the most.”
—David Homan, CEO of Orchestrated Connecting

“I love the wisdom and inspiration Karen shares with her warm voice and signature sassy wit that will coax you to go for it! If not now, when?! I’m living proof that it’s never too late to pursue a passion and embrace your time here, if you make it a priority.”
—Robin Gorman Newman, Tony Award–winning Broadway producer and author of How to Marry a Mensch

"If life’s a journey, Your To-Die-For Life is the cheeky road map showing you where to stop for fantastic views and how to avoid bumps along the way. Karen Salmansohn delivers her strategies for fully embracing our finite lives with an empowering combo of humor and poignancy.”
—Stella Grizont, national bestselling author of The Work Happiness Method

“Your To-Die-For Life isn’t just a book—it’s a powerful interruption to the autopilot existence we sometimes find ourselves in. Karen Salmansohn doesn’t sugarcoat or sidestep; she speaks straight to the part of you that knows there’s more and won’t settle for anything less. This isn’t about someday—it’s about now. Every page is a push, a wake-up call, a challenge wrapped in love. It’s like sitting down with the boldest, most unstoppable version of yourself and getting real about what you’re here to create. If you’re ready to stop waiting and start fully living, this book is your moment.”
—Josselyne Herman-Saccio, master coach and vision architect

“Life isn’t meant to be endured—it’s meant to be savored, celebrated, and occasionally turned upside down just to see what falls out of its pockets. Your To-Die-For Life will help you to do just that! Through powerful practices and insightful perspectives on your mortality, you’ll learn to create a life that feels less like a should-do list and more like a love letter to yourself.”
—Lisa McCourt, author of Free Your Joy: The Twelve Keys to Sustainable Happiness

“In such a beautiful way, Karen weaves humor and deep care with creativity, passion, and credibility. It’s absolutely outstanding. Reading this book gives you the feeling of a beautiful roller-coaster ride of awareness, curiosity, education, fun, and so much more! Thank you, Karen, for bridging this topic with such grace and ease.”
—Adam Gaskill, CEO and founder of The Nonprofit Creators and Innovate for Humanity

“Karen Salmansohn presents a compelling case for making peace with our mortality in Your To-Die-For Life. Each chapter is a stepping stone toward a life lived with less fear and more bravery, love, purpose, and meaning.”
—Meri Frischman, founder of The Proage Woman

"In Your To-Die-For Life, Karen Salmansohn reminds us that mortality isn’t just the dark shadow we might believe it to be. It’s a light illuminating every precious moment. Like a compass pointing true north, this book guides us toward living with intention rather than inertia.”
—Skylar Liberty Rose, pro-aging advocate

“I’m fluent in the language of empowerment, and Your To-Die-For Life speaks directly to my soul! Leave it to ever clever Karen Salmansohn to turn a scary idea into the jet fuel required to get off autopilot and craft instead—day by day, moment by moment—a life bursting with authenticity, meaning, and joy. This ‘get-to-living’ guidebook is inspirational and actionable to the last word.”
—Becky Vollmer, author of You Are Not Stuck

“This book offers more than wisdom . . . it offers a path to self-discovery. Karen’s insights help us navigate our lives with greater mindfulness, making each moment count in a profoundly meaningful way. A must-read for anyone looking to deepen their connection to themselves and the world around them.”
—Steve Stein, publisher and founder of BetterListen and WisdomFeed

“"Karen Salmansohn’s Your To-Die-For Life dares readers to embrace every messy, beautiful moment of life with courage and humor. It’s a bold, heartfelt reminder that true living begins where fear of the inevitable ends.”
—Karen Giberson, president and CEO of the Accessories Council

“Karen provides a much needed breath of fresh air to the often-daunting end of life conversation. Her punchy, funny, and deeply insightful new book invites the reader to flip the script and see our own mortality as unending well of inspiration for the here and now.”
—Michael Hebb, author of Let’s Talk About Death (over Dinner) and founder of Death Over Dinner

From the Publisher