Zen Slaps from a Cancer Warrior is the irreverent memoir of a passionate photographer/writer fighting cancer on his own terms, while living a love story.

James Hockings is a witty and sometimes profound companion for anyone facing a life-threatening disease. He has written a soulful answer to Hitchens' Mortality.

For Jim Hockings at 64, life was very good indeed. The respected photographer had launched a writing career with the 1960's novel The Redemption of Danny Harper, with more books to follow. In excellent health, the amateur distance runner had overcome prostate cancer ten years earlier, largely through his own research. Best of all, he had met the love of his life and looked forward to a wonderful future with her by his side.

Then cancer attacked again, on a new front.

Here is his spirited counter attack in real time: provocative essays, selected personal correspondence and cancer forum postings, arranged in chronological order, with occasional reactions from his wife, doctor and friends.

Be warned: this is a man who commissioned a statue of Robert Crumb's underground cartoon character Mr. Natural for his gravestone.

I love making morbid jokes that no one expects from someone labouring under a death sentence. The unexpected Zen slap that wakes the student up briefly to alternate ways of thinking...

But Zen Slaps also includes his essay “On the Ability to Love” after a visit to a cancer clinic. After witnessing the “haunted looks of people whose worst nightmare had just come true,” Jim saw for each person:

...An opportunity to teach the 'immortals' still living in their fantasy world what it really means to be a man or a woman. Not by becoming some vision of perfection or bravery — not in the guise of a noble suffering saint, but by becoming a mortal human, stripped of all the trappings and vanities — naked in an uncaring universe and still able to create meaning, still able to give and still able to love...

If you are living in ‘cancer world’, know that Jim Hockings is on your side.

Some early responses

A spell-binding memoir and fascinating read… a good book that you don’t want to put down. A refreshing change from books on similar topics… conversational, “from the heart”… honest and at times very funny.
Marguerite Neimanis, long-time cancer survivor

A charming love story about two funny, erudite, older people that find each other long distance and deal with his ultimately fatal disease, all told in a unique way. Quite enjoyable.
Dr. Frank Warsh, author of the blog "Impatient Care"

The book is very candid and the author quite engaging. A portrait of someone embracing life enthusiastically.
— Gordon Prince, Nova Scotia and Tennessee

As a clinician who focuses on treating bladder cancer, I always marvel at how much I still have to learn. Zen Slaps weaves an honest, clever, and at times poignant tale from the the other side of the table. I am grateful for his funny and witty voice through the chronology of a life being lived, with a deadly disease. Short enough to read in an afternoon but many of the thoughts and ideas linger with you.
Jennifer M. Taylor, MD, MPH

A distinctive voice. For those who can hear it, that voice may be profound… A suspenseful narrative of medical choices. Hockings’ honesty is arresting.
Nicholas Eric Preus, English professor emeritus, Luther College, Iowa

About the Author

James Hockings (1947-2013) was a master portrait and artistic photographer in London, Ontario, for over three decades. A 2010 graduate of the highly regarded Creative Writing program at Humber College, Toronto, he announced his career as a writer in 2011 with the 1960s novel The Redemption of Danny Harper. In the same year he released the dark comedic novel How to Kill Your Wife plus two titles in a Max and Molly Murder Mystery Series. Hockings’ short but prolific writing career also produced two books on photography, How to Photograph Children (2011) and Photographing Feelings (2012). A two-location retrospective of Hockings’ photographic work was exhibited at his alma mater, Luther College, Iowa, in 2013. His photography continues to be on view at http://www.offbroadwayphoto.com

"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.

Store Description

I mainly carry imported books from South East Asia / South Asia for readers of all Age Groups.

Visit Seller's Storefront

Seller's business information

PLETOS INC
6931 51st Avenue, WOODSIDE, Woodside, NY, 11377, U.S.A.

Sale & Shipping Terms

Terms of Sale

We accept return for those books which are received damamged. Though we take appropriate care in packaing to avoid such situation.

Right of cancellation

If you are a consumer you can cancel the contract in accordance with the following. Consumer means any natural person who is acting for purposes which are outside his trade, business, craft or profession.

INFORMATION REGARDING THE RIGHT OF CANCELLATION

Statutory Right to cancel

You have the right to cancel this contract within 14 days without giving any reason.

The cancellation period will expire after 14 days from the day on which you acquire, or a third party other than the carrier and indicated by you acquires, physical possession of the the last good or the last lot or piece.

To exercise the right to cancel, you must inform us, Books Puddle, 244 Madison Ave, Suite # 405, 10016, New York, New York, U.S.A., +1 7183015977, of your decision to cancel this contract by a clear statement (e.g. a letter sent by post, fax or e-mail). You may use the attached model cancellation form, but it is not obligatory. You can also electronically fill in and submit a clear statement on our website, under "My Purchases" in "My Account". If you use this option, we will communicate to you an acknowledgement of receipt of such a cancellation on a durable medium (e.g. by e-mail) without delay.

To meet the cancellation deadline, it is sufficient for you to send your communication concerning your exercise of the right to cancel before the cancellation period has expired.

Effects of cancellation

If you cancel this contract, we will reimburse to you all payments received from you, including the costs of delivery (except for the supplementary costs arising if you chose a type of delivery other than the least expensive type of standard delivery offered by us).

We may make a deduction from the reimbursement for loss in value of any goods supplied, if the loss is the result of unnecessary handling by you.

We will make the reimbursement without undue delay, and not later than 14 days after the day on which we are informed about your decision to cancel with contract.

We will make the reimbursement using the same means of payment as you used for the initial transaction, unless you have expressly agreed otherwise; in any event, you will not incur any fees as a result of such reimbursement.

We may withhold reimbursement until we have received the goods back or you have supplied evidence of having sent back the goods, whichever is the earliest.

You shall send back the goods or hand them over to us or Books Puddle, 244 Madison Ave, Suite # 405, 10016, New York, New York, U.S.A., +1 7183015977, without undue delay and in any event not later than 14 days from the day on which you communicate your cancellation from this contract to us. The deadline is met if you send back the goods before the period of 14 days has expired. You will have to bear the direct cost of returning the goods. You are only liable for any diminished value of the goods resulting from the handling other than what is necessary to establish the nature, characteristics and functioning of the goods.

Exceptions to the right of cancellation

The right of cancellation does not apply to:

the delivery of newspapers, journals or magazines with the exception of subscription contracts; and
the supply of digital content which is not supplied on a tangible medium (e.g. on a CD or DVD) if you accepted when you placed your order that we could start to deliver it, and that you could not cancel it once delivery had started.

Model withdrawal form

(complete and return this form only if you wish to withdraw from the contract)

To: (Books Puddle, 244 Madison Ave, Suite # 405, 10016, New York, New York, U.S.A., +1 7183015977)

I/We (*) hereby give notice that I/We (*) withdraw from my/our (*) contract of sale of the following goods (*)/for the provision of the following goods (*)/for the provision of the following service (*),

Ordered on (*)/received on (*)

Name of consumer(s)

Address of consumer(s)

Signature of consumer(s) (only if this form is notified on paper)

Date

* Delete as appropriate.

Shipping Terms

Shipping rates within U.S.A.

Shipping rates within U.S.A.
Order quantity	12 to 19 business days	12 to 14 business days
First item	� 2.96	� 5.18

Delivery times are set by sellers and vary by carrier and location. Orders passing through Customs may face delays and buyers are responsible for any associated duties or fees. Sellers may contact you regarding additional charges to cover any increased costs to ship your items.