LifeLines: An Inspirational Journey from Profound Darkness to Radiant Light

Written by Melissa Bernstein

Narrated by Melissa Bernstein and Lisa Larsen

Join Melissa Bernstein, Co-Founder of the wildly successful toy company Melissa & Doug, on a journey to triumph over anxiety, depression, and despair—a story she hopes will help others find their path to meaning and inner peace. Now, more than ever, Melissa’s message is needed by others, and her promise to all who journey with her is that YOU ARE NOT ALONE. This uniquely annotated audiobook takes fellow seekers behind the scenes of Melissa’s transformation with bonus commentary and insights, to help them with their own journeys.


Who would ever guess that Melissa Bernstein, happily-married mother of 6, creator of over 5,000 toys which have sold over a billion dollars, begins many days the same way far too many others do, wondering if she’ll make it to tomorrow? Melissa shows us that when darkness descends, and it seems there’s no escape, there actually is a way out, there actually is hope, and there actually is a path that can lead to meaning and purpose.


In this dually-narrated audiobook, narrator Lisa Larsen leads listeners on Melissa’s path through depression, revealing how Melissa’s “lifelines” transformed despair into a beacon of hope. Melissa herself reads selections from the book’s extensive verses, which chronicle both her struggles and her breakthroughs.



Melissa then takes listeners “behind the scenes” of these verses with annotated commentary, providing insights into where she was along her journey to self-discovery and inner transformation when she wrote each line of verse. With this bonus material, Melissa hopes to share a framework for people seeking their own path from darkness to light.

• Language: English
• Publisher: LifeLines, LLC
• Release date: Mar 16, 2021
• ISBN: 9781735439723

Melissa Bernstein

Melissa Bernstein, mother of six, married 30 years, and founder of toy company Melissa & Doug, has struggled with existential anxiety and depression throughout her life. Although her toys have touched millions of children, Melissa longs to connect with people in a more direct and personal way. She reveals her journey in LIFELINES, her first book, which she wrote to help others who are also suffering. Melissa’s mission is to help other seekers on their journey inward so they too can transform darkness into light. Join the LifeLines community at LifeLines.com.