Introduction

Winter is not the death of the life cycle, but its crucible once we stop wishing it were summer. Winter can be a glorious season in which the world takes on a sparse beauty and even the pavements sparkle. Resting is a radical act now, but it's essential. This is a cross roads. We all know a moment when you need to shed a skin. If you do, you'll expose all those painful nerve endings and feel so raw that you'll need to take care of yourself for a while. If you don't, then that skin will harden around you. It's one of the most important choices you'll ever make. A surprising cluster of novels and...