"Broken Open" is a memoir told in 18 essays exploring a life robustly and thoughtfully lived by acclaimed writer, activist and teacher Martha Gies, who is now entering her eighth decade. With dry wit, sharp insights, and deep empathy for the underdog, the memoir's three sections explore: Act One (The Illusions and Disillusions of Childhood), Act Two (The Search for Right Livelihood) and Act Three (A Forgiving Assessment Of What It All Means).