An inspiring and spellbinding book, The Courage of a Butterfly by Edmond E. Frank follows the spiritual odyssey of an unlikely protagonist who meets an Angel at the moment of death. Jeff is in the ICU in spite of his deepest wishes and with more work yet to accomplish, with a fifty-fifty chance of survival if only he can get through the next three days. Jeff finds himself in the most unexpected company with Mr. Death, also known as “Big D.,” and thus begins the journey that will bring light into his life and awaken him to a consciousness that has eluded him. Journey with this character as he navigates an uncharted world, redefining his past, his relationship with Meg whom he loves dearly, and his child. In the transition, and guided by the wise Angel of Death, Jeff Williams reaches a new level of consciousness and truth —and some of the truths are disturbing. But what makes it even more interesting is the person he becomes.

At times comforting and at times loaded with bold ideas, The Courage of a Butterfly is about change, an allegory of transformation that invites readers to face and encounter life with the courage of a butterfly, ready to accept reality and find real inner freedom in change. Edmond E. Frank weaves lessons into an imaginary story and makes it a compelling read for readers, inviting them to think about life, change, reality, and personal transformation from a fresh perspective. Themes of love, family, freedom, and the fear of death are well-written. But the power of truth shines through as one of the most dominant themes. It is as mind-boggling as it is entertaining. The Courage of a Butterfly is not a book to rush through but one to read patiently while thinking about the impact of the words, the message in the scenes, and savoring the different spiritual aspects of the narrative. This book is a spiritual classic with universal and timeless lessons.

If you are among the overwhelming majority who find life-changing epiphanies in a miraculous moment, The Courage of a Butterfly by Edmond E. Frank will inspire and appeal to you. Jeffrey Williams has been diagnosed with massive pulmonary embolism. In one of his critical moments at ICU 304, he gets a visit from the Angel of Death. Williams pleads that he cannot die yet, for he has not done hardly any of what he wants to do. But at 45 years old, what has he been doing? Thus it strikes Williams that he has been spending his time doing what others expected from him but not what he truly wanted. An agreement is sealed for Williams to live with courage and work through each of the many fears that he will face. Evolving in life is the most frightening of all things, so he must become more than others are willing to become—have the courage of a butterfly. And so begins a new life for Jeffrey Williams.

The Courage of a Butterfly is inspiring with a satisfying ending that will continue in a sequel. The best thing about this story is the notion that you can be given a second chance to live the kind of life you want without any obligation to live up to the expectations of others. You are struck by the image of the Angel of Death as more like an amiable pro bono lawyer who is more than willing to represent your case. While Edmond E. Frank claims that his book is based on truth, he leaves the judgment of everything else to you as the reader. As for the characters being based on real people, he leaves it up to you to decide. But whatever deep truth this story imparts, it is likely that it is your truth as well, which makes this title a must-read.