Her newest book is Stay: A History of Suicide and the Arguments Against It (Yale University Press, 2013).

She is the author of the bestseller Doubt: A History, a history of religious and philosophical doubt all over the world, throughout history. Jennifer Michael Hecht is a poet, historian, and commentator. Career Opportunities at The CT Forum - Primary Dropdown Navigation /about-us/career-opportunities-at-the-ct-forum/.Forum Event Consulting - Primary Dropdown Navigation /about-us/forum-event-consulting/.Frequently Asked Questions - Primary Dropdown Navigation /about-us/frequently-asked-questions/.

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Contact Us - Primary Dropdown Navigation /about-us/contact-us/.The Connecticut Forum Blog - Primary Dropdown Navigation /about-us/the-connecticut-forum-blog/.Submit a Question for the Panelists - Primary Dropdown Navigation /events/submit-a-question-for-the-panelists/.All Events - Primary Dropdown Navigation /events/all-events/.Volunteer - Primary Dropdown Navigation /support/volunteer/.Corporate and Foundation Giving - Primary Dropdown Navigation /support/corporate-and-foundation-giving/.Individual Giving - Primary Dropdown Navigation /support/individual-giving/.Donate Now - Primary Dropdown Navigation /support/donate-now/.Donate Now - Secondary Navigation Facebook - Secondary Navigation Twitter - Secondary Navigation LinkedIn - Secondary Navigation.The first step is to consider the arguments and evidence and choose to stay. If we meditate on the record of human wisdom we may find there reason enough to persist and find our way back to happiness. Bear witness to the night side of being human and the bravery it entails, and wait for the sun. Know that people, through history and today, understand how much courage it takes to stay. There is love and insight to live for, bright moments to cherish, and even the possibility of happiness, and the chance of helping someone else through his or her own troubles. History and philosophy ask us to remember these mysteries, to look around at friends, family, humanity, at the surprises life brings - the endless possibilities that living offers - and to persevere. “None of us can truly know what we mean to other people, and none of us can know what our future self will experience.

Doubt by Jennifer Michael Hecht