Staying Alive: Real Poems for Unreal Times

Staying Alive is a poetry anthology edited by Neil Astley, featuring 500 life-affirming poems from around the world. The collection spans multiple decades and brings together voices from diverse cultural backgrounds, including both renowned and emerging poets. The poems are organized into thematic sections that mirror the human experience - from love and loss to politics and mortality. The anthology includes works by Seamus Heaney, Mary Oliver, Pablo Neruda, Sharon Olds, and many others writing in English or in translation. Each section opens with brief contextual notes, while maintaining focus on the poems themselves. The collection serves as both an introduction to contemporary poetry and a resource for experienced readers. The anthology speaks to poetry's enduring power to express universal human truths and emotions during times of personal and societal upheaval. Through its global scope and thematic organization, it presents poetry as an essential tool for understanding and navigating modern life.

Readers appreciate the accessible poetry selection and diverse international voices featured in this anthology. Multiple reviewers note how the thematic organization helps navigate difficult emotions and life experiences. Several teachers mention using it successfully with students who typically dislike poetry. Positive comments focus on: - Poems that speak to real human struggles - Mix of contemporary and classic works - Clear organization into meaningful sections - Usefulness for poetry newcomers Common criticisms: - Too many poems about death and grief - Some selections feel repetitive in tone - Limited representation of experimental styles Ratings: Goodreads: 4.39/5 (1,247 ratings) Amazon UK: 4.7/5 (168 ratings) Amazon US: 4.5/5 (42 ratings) Notable reader quote: "This anthology saved me during a difficult time. The poems are carefully chosen to help readers process universal experiences." - Goodreads reviewer Multiple readers describe it as their most-referenced poetry collection for both personal reading and teaching.

Good Poems by Garrison Keillor A collection of accessible poems selected to speak to everyday experiences and human connections.

Poetry of Presence: An Anthology of Mindfulness Poems by Phyllis Cole-Dai and Ruby Wilson The poems focus on living in the present moment and finding meaning in daily existence.

Poems That Make Grown Men Cry by Anthony Holden and Ben Holden A compilation of poems chosen by notable men for their emotional impact and life-changing potential.

Essential Poems from the Staying Alive Trilogy by Neil Astley This distillation of the Staying Alive series presents core poems about human experience and survival.

The Poetry Pharmacy by William Sieghart The poems serve as prescriptions for various life situations and emotional states.

🌟 "Staying Alive" became one of the best-selling poetry anthologies in the UK, selling over 200,000 copies since its publication in 2002. 🌟 Editor Neil Astley founded Bloodaxe Books in 1978, revolutionizing British poetry publishing by introducing many international and diverse voices to English-speaking audiences. 🌟 The anthology draws its title from the John Travolta film but was chosen to reflect both personal and political survival in challenging times, featuring poems about life, death, love, and loss. 🌟 The book spawned two successful sequels: "Being Alive" (2004) and "Being Human" (2011), forming a trilogy that has helped make contemporary poetry more accessible to general readers. 🌟 Many poems in the collection were selected based on their effectiveness in helping people cope with personal crises, and the book has been used in therapeutic settings and recommended by mental health professionals.