What do you think?
Rate this book
Meditation for Fidgety Skeptics: A 10% Happier How-To Book
ABC News anchor Dan Harris used to think that meditation was for people who collect crystals, play Ultimate Frisbee, and use the word “namaste� without irony. After he had a panic attack on live television, he went on a strange and circuitous journey that ultimately led him to become one of meditation’s most vocal public proponents.
Here’s what he’s fixated on now: Science suggests that meditation can lower blood pressure, mitigate depression and anxiety, and literally rewire key parts of the brain, among numerous other benefits. And yet there are millions of people who want to meditate but aren’t actually practicing. What’s holding them back?
In this guide to mindfulness and meditation for beginners and experienced meditators alike, Harris and his friend Jeff Warren, a masterful teacher and “Meditation MacGyver,� embark on a cross-country quest to tackle the myths, misconceptions, and self-deceptions that stop people from meditating. They rent a rock-star tour bus (whose previous occupants were Parliament Funkadelic) and travel across eighteen states, talking to scores of would-be meditators—including parents, military cadets, police officers, and even a few celebrities. They create a taxonomy of the most common issues (“I suck at this,� “I don’t have the time,� etc.) and offer up science-based life hacks to help people overcome them.
The book is filled with game-changing and deeply practical meditation instructions. Amid it all unspools the strange and hilarious story of what happens when a congenitally sarcastic, type-A journalist and a groovy Canadian mystic embark on an epic road trip into America’s neurotic underbelly, as well as their own.
Here’s what he’s fixated on now: Science suggests that meditation can lower blood pressure, mitigate depression and anxiety, and literally rewire key parts of the brain, among numerous other benefits. And yet there are millions of people who want to meditate but aren’t actually practicing. What’s holding them back?
In this guide to mindfulness and meditation for beginners and experienced meditators alike, Harris and his friend Jeff Warren, a masterful teacher and “Meditation MacGyver,� embark on a cross-country quest to tackle the myths, misconceptions, and self-deceptions that stop people from meditating. They rent a rock-star tour bus (whose previous occupants were Parliament Funkadelic) and travel across eighteen states, talking to scores of would-be meditators—including parents, military cadets, police officers, and even a few celebrities. They create a taxonomy of the most common issues (“I suck at this,� “I don’t have the time,� etc.) and offer up science-based life hacks to help people overcome them.
The book is filled with game-changing and deeply practical meditation instructions. Amid it all unspools the strange and hilarious story of what happens when a congenitally sarcastic, type-A journalist and a groovy Canadian mystic embark on an epic road trip into America’s neurotic underbelly, as well as their own.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published December 26, 2017
2,818 people are currently reading
11.4k people want to read
About the author
Dan Harris
12Ìýbooks2,043ÌýfollowersDan Harris is the coanchor of Nightline and the weekend editions of Good Morning America. He regularly reports for 20/20, World News with Diane Sawyer, and the weekday editions of Good Morning America. Before joining ABC News fourteen years ago, he worked for local news outlets in Boston and Maine. He lives with his wife, Bianca, in New York City. 10% Happier is his first book.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,012 reviews
November 6, 2017
Meditation for Fidgety Skeptics: A 10% Happier How-to Book, by Dan Harris, Jeff Warren, and Carlye Adler, seemed ideal for me–I am a skeptic, and I am certainly fidgety (much like Jeff, one of the authors, I have ADD)! I’m impressed by how much the book makes meditation accessible, makes it seem like just another part of life, like riding the bus to work or brushing your teeth before bed. Just something you do because it makes sense and makes your life a little bit better.
The whole attitude of the authors gives you permission to “fail� at meditation as many times as is necessary–by making it clear that it isn’t failing in the first place. The whole idea is that you learn to come back to focusing, and that return is success. It makes the stakes much smaller and easier to face. Mindfulness is the goal rather than emptiness. I love the tone of the book. It stays grounded in the everyday and sometimes the hilarious.
One of the parts that particularly appeals to me is the idea that if you’re dead certain you can’t spare five minutes (or sit still for that long), even one minute counts. There’s a ten-breath meditation that I’ve been doing every day since I started reading this book, and even I can manage that! Part of the idea is that you can’t control what arises in your mind, but you can learn how to respond to it. “Hurt more, suffer less.� You might in fact feel some of your emotions more acutely, but you’re less likely to act out on them and hurt others.
There are habit-formation tips, as well as an examination of the hindrances to meditation (such as boredom or restlessness). It’s nice that they acknowledge such barriers as legitimate and important and give us hints for how to handle them. The authors also try to avoid fancy or precious talk; they want to make meditation accessible to everyone, and I think they succeed. Even when they get touchy-feely (such as talking about self-compassion) they find a way to bring it down to earth. In this case, by providing us with an example called the “Giving A Shit About Yourself Meditation�! There’s also a laziness meditation, and a 30 seconds-plus meditation to do when trying to be there for someone else. A couple of the extra meditations in the appendix get a little more froofy, but not overly so (and there are plenty of nuts-and-bolts meditations so that it won’t hurt you to pick one of those and use it instead).
They do acknowledge that if you have a mental illness or a history of trauma that you should check with a mental health professional before embarking on a serious meditation practice. It would have been nice, however, to see a bit more about how meditation can interact with trauma.
The authors consistently made meditation out to be something entirely ordinary, which is about the opposite of what I’m used to, and I think that’s valuable and brilliant. If you want the purported health and mental health benefits of meditation without the daunting cheerleading or fanciness, this is the book for you!
Book provided by publisher for review.
Original review on my site:
The whole attitude of the authors gives you permission to “fail� at meditation as many times as is necessary–by making it clear that it isn’t failing in the first place. The whole idea is that you learn to come back to focusing, and that return is success. It makes the stakes much smaller and easier to face. Mindfulness is the goal rather than emptiness. I love the tone of the book. It stays grounded in the everyday and sometimes the hilarious.
One of the parts that particularly appeals to me is the idea that if you’re dead certain you can’t spare five minutes (or sit still for that long), even one minute counts. There’s a ten-breath meditation that I’ve been doing every day since I started reading this book, and even I can manage that! Part of the idea is that you can’t control what arises in your mind, but you can learn how to respond to it. “Hurt more, suffer less.� You might in fact feel some of your emotions more acutely, but you’re less likely to act out on them and hurt others.
There are habit-formation tips, as well as an examination of the hindrances to meditation (such as boredom or restlessness). It’s nice that they acknowledge such barriers as legitimate and important and give us hints for how to handle them. The authors also try to avoid fancy or precious talk; they want to make meditation accessible to everyone, and I think they succeed. Even when they get touchy-feely (such as talking about self-compassion) they find a way to bring it down to earth. In this case, by providing us with an example called the “Giving A Shit About Yourself Meditation�! There’s also a laziness meditation, and a 30 seconds-plus meditation to do when trying to be there for someone else. A couple of the extra meditations in the appendix get a little more froofy, but not overly so (and there are plenty of nuts-and-bolts meditations so that it won’t hurt you to pick one of those and use it instead).
They do acknowledge that if you have a mental illness or a history of trauma that you should check with a mental health professional before embarking on a serious meditation practice. It would have been nice, however, to see a bit more about how meditation can interact with trauma.
The authors consistently made meditation out to be something entirely ordinary, which is about the opposite of what I’m used to, and I think that’s valuable and brilliant. If you want the purported health and mental health benefits of meditation without the daunting cheerleading or fanciness, this is the book for you!
Book provided by publisher for review.
Original review on my site:
July 8, 2018
As a longtime meditator who is not a fidgety skeptic, I'm not the intended audience for this book. But I was curious after hearing Dan Harris talk about it on NPR. I found this book pretty disappointing and can't imagine that it would help beginners start a meditation practice. It's way too complicated; there are too many different types of meditation given, rather than one simple method. Sort of like throwing spaghetti at the wall to see what sticks.
The worst parts of the book were the meditation instructions written by that "groovy Canadian" teacher Jeff. For someone who is touted to be no-nonsense and refreshingly un-New Age-y, his teaching style is oftentimes downright silly. It was hard to get through his meditation instructions, and I suspect that skeptics would be put off by them. The back-and-forth dialogues between Jeff and Dan were annoying, like eavesdropping on a conversation between two a-holes who think they're sensitive guys.
Overall, I would've enjoyed this book more if it had just been a memoir about the meditation tour. Instead, it's a mishmash of memoir, how-to, research paper, philosophical text, and the kind of superficial "tip lists" that you'd find in a Yoga Journal article. In short, it's a mess. When I read in the epilogue that the book was thrown together in a very short period of time by three different contributors, it made sense why the book was so disjointed.
The worst parts of the book were the meditation instructions written by that "groovy Canadian" teacher Jeff. For someone who is touted to be no-nonsense and refreshingly un-New Age-y, his teaching style is oftentimes downright silly. It was hard to get through his meditation instructions, and I suspect that skeptics would be put off by them. The back-and-forth dialogues between Jeff and Dan were annoying, like eavesdropping on a conversation between two a-holes who think they're sensitive guys.
Overall, I would've enjoyed this book more if it had just been a memoir about the meditation tour. Instead, it's a mishmash of memoir, how-to, research paper, philosophical text, and the kind of superficial "tip lists" that you'd find in a Yoga Journal article. In short, it's a mess. When I read in the epilogue that the book was thrown together in a very short period of time by three different contributors, it made sense why the book was so disjointed.
July 17, 2018
Dan Harris, the ABC news anchor and Jeffrey Warren team together to narrate this fun book about meditation. They went, along with a number of others, on a road trip on a bus around the country, bringing the message of meditation to far-flung locations around the country. They alternate anecdotes about their road trip with discussions about the philosophy and practice of meditation, along with examples of meditation techniques.
For some reason, this book just didn't grab me. I do believe that meditation can be helpful. And, Dan Harris goes in some depth, successfully I think, to rebut the excuse "I would do meditation, but I just don't have the time." However, to me, talking about meditation is something akin to dancing about architecture. It just is not an approach that puts me in the right frame of mind.
For some reason, this book just didn't grab me. I do believe that meditation can be helpful. And, Dan Harris goes in some depth, successfully I think, to rebut the excuse "I would do meditation, but I just don't have the time." However, to me, talking about meditation is something akin to dancing about architecture. It just is not an approach that puts me in the right frame of mind.
January 2, 2022
For the 2021 Reading Glasses Podcast reading challenge, I was supposed to read a book recommended by a library or librarian. My local Burbank branch did not have a recommended shelf, but Brian at the help desk was ready to serve. When asked what I normally read, I said, "Lots of science non-fiction, but I'm open to fiction as well." He had just the thing for me, and recommended Meditation for Fidgety Skeptics. It was a good choice: I'm a skeptic if anyone is, fidgety describes me, and I previously listened to Dan Harris's Ten Percent Happier podcast and subscribed to the Ten Percent app six years ago.
This book is all about talking busy people into making room for meditation in their lives. Harris and his co-authors Jeff Warren and Carlye Adler repeatedly mention the science behind meditation's benefits (that's true, there is), but never feel the need to trot it out for said skeptics. I'm already convinced of the benefits, though, and enjoy meditation when I do it... I just don't make it a priority with all the other things in my life. I'm precisely the person they're gunning for here. The real pitch comes in the form of testimonials, with Dan Harris and others sharing how their regular meditations make them calmer, kinder, and about 10% happier. The idea is that it won't completely change your life, but will yield measurable improvement. You cultivate a habit of reflection that makes you more likely to respond rather than react.
It's hard to argue against meditation, especially the form they're advocating (mindfulness meditation, as opposed to Transcendental, Vipassana, Mantra, Kriya, or other forms). They recommend 5-10 minutes a day to build up a consistent practice (but will take 1 minute if that's all you've got - no pressure!), and build a core around paying attention to your breathing. Thoughts invariably creep in, and one's goal is to acknowledge those thoughts and return the focus to breathing. Beyond that, there are variations and exercises that Warren shares in the book, but the end goal is fairly simple: learning to calm the "monkey mind" and become more in-tune with your internal thought process.
To give themselves a narrative and something to talk about in the book, Dan, Jeff, Carlye and crew hop on board a large tour bus and take it across America to meet with various media personalities, a politician, a military school, police officers, hospital workers and people off the street. They encounter various forms of pushback, and structure each chapter around common excuses: I can't do this, I don't have time for this, people might think I'm weird, meditation is self-indulgent, I might lose my edge, other thing X is my meditation, I can't keep it going... They answer each in turn.
With the stress of a tight schedule and a small crew, they ironically get to see how well their meditative mindsets and jolly reputations hold up when sleeping in cramped quarters, sharing a bathroom, and losing sleep while trying to keep everyone on schedule. Flare-ups do arise, and become part of the problem-solving.
There's a lot of good advice and little takeaways that made me think, "Ooh, that's useful." There are far too many cutesy acrostics for my tastes, but I liked the one that referred to things that will take us out of the game, or need to be addressed before we can be productive: HALT (hungry, angry, lonely, tired). The exercises themselves struck me as somewhat redundant, and many parts of the book are repetitive (lots of little summaries-of-the-thing-you-just-read). The book's humor is bland and toothless, but if you're looking for something to motivate you to make meditation a part of your life, this might be just the kick in the pants you need.
This book is all about talking busy people into making room for meditation in their lives. Harris and his co-authors Jeff Warren and Carlye Adler repeatedly mention the science behind meditation's benefits (that's true, there is), but never feel the need to trot it out for said skeptics. I'm already convinced of the benefits, though, and enjoy meditation when I do it... I just don't make it a priority with all the other things in my life. I'm precisely the person they're gunning for here. The real pitch comes in the form of testimonials, with Dan Harris and others sharing how their regular meditations make them calmer, kinder, and about 10% happier. The idea is that it won't completely change your life, but will yield measurable improvement. You cultivate a habit of reflection that makes you more likely to respond rather than react.
It's hard to argue against meditation, especially the form they're advocating (mindfulness meditation, as opposed to Transcendental, Vipassana, Mantra, Kriya, or other forms). They recommend 5-10 minutes a day to build up a consistent practice (but will take 1 minute if that's all you've got - no pressure!), and build a core around paying attention to your breathing. Thoughts invariably creep in, and one's goal is to acknowledge those thoughts and return the focus to breathing. Beyond that, there are variations and exercises that Warren shares in the book, but the end goal is fairly simple: learning to calm the "monkey mind" and become more in-tune with your internal thought process.
To give themselves a narrative and something to talk about in the book, Dan, Jeff, Carlye and crew hop on board a large tour bus and take it across America to meet with various media personalities, a politician, a military school, police officers, hospital workers and people off the street. They encounter various forms of pushback, and structure each chapter around common excuses: I can't do this, I don't have time for this, people might think I'm weird, meditation is self-indulgent, I might lose my edge, other thing X is my meditation, I can't keep it going... They answer each in turn.
With the stress of a tight schedule and a small crew, they ironically get to see how well their meditative mindsets and jolly reputations hold up when sleeping in cramped quarters, sharing a bathroom, and losing sleep while trying to keep everyone on schedule. Flare-ups do arise, and become part of the problem-solving.
There's a lot of good advice and little takeaways that made me think, "Ooh, that's useful." There are far too many cutesy acrostics for my tastes, but I liked the one that referred to things that will take us out of the game, or need to be addressed before we can be productive: HALT (hungry, angry, lonely, tired). The exercises themselves struck me as somewhat redundant, and many parts of the book are repetitive (lots of little summaries-of-the-thing-you-just-read). The book's humor is bland and toothless, but if you're looking for something to motivate you to make meditation a part of your life, this might be just the kick in the pants you need.
September 6, 2019
I was a little skeptical of this book (perfect audience, no?!), but am happy to say, I found it both enjoyable and a little helpful. The author has a very relatable way of writing, which feels personal and chatty and I enjoyed this book both for the way he uses humor to talk about deeper issues and for the suggestions he makes, which worked in for him. He is reasonable about his aims and I think that's the only way to go about pursuing meditation. You can't expect to turn into the Buddha, but it may bring you some peace and perspective, which is worth the effort it takes. Recommended!
Find more reviews and bookish fun at
Find more reviews and bookish fun at
November 17, 2017
If you are only going to read one book on how to meditate, this one is probably not it. But if you want to know how meditation works for different people while getting to know Dan Harris (and others), this will certainly give you an overview of both.
I was attracted to this book because of it's title and the fact that my own experience with meditation is hampered by both my fidgety nature and my inborn skepticism. The book did address both of these for me. Unfortunately, it's difficult to read this book in one, or even many sittings, without succumbing to ennui and putting it down till later.
That said, Dan Harris is an interesting and entertaining media personality who writes well. He and his co-authors ,Jeff Warren and Carlye Adler embark on a cross-0country bus trip to introduce meditation to varied groups of people (and some from police officers to prisoners), setting up meditation booths for practice in different venues from New York, across, the country, including New Orleans, Tempe and ending in California. Along the way, and interspersed with specific instructions and "cheat sheets to summarize them), we get introduced to personalities like Josh Groban and Stephen Colbert, as well as others, famous and not famous. We also learn about Dan Harris' panic attack, immortalized on YouTube, and Dan's wife and son.
The writing is clear and sounds like practical instructions. It serves a good purpose as introductory material. However, the volume of instruction and its repetitiveness makes it hard to stick with it, lacking a human teacher. I was able to follow some of it by making my own notes as I went along. Also, I did not download a meditation app (which might have helped.) Including Jeff's difficulties with ADD helped by allowing me to relate to him. (Is that what I suffer from?)
Finally, I felt that this book tried too hard to combine these two narratives. I might have enjoyed Dan Harris' autobiography more, all by itself.
I was attracted to this book because of it's title and the fact that my own experience with meditation is hampered by both my fidgety nature and my inborn skepticism. The book did address both of these for me. Unfortunately, it's difficult to read this book in one, or even many sittings, without succumbing to ennui and putting it down till later.
That said, Dan Harris is an interesting and entertaining media personality who writes well. He and his co-authors ,Jeff Warren and Carlye Adler embark on a cross-0country bus trip to introduce meditation to varied groups of people (and some from police officers to prisoners), setting up meditation booths for practice in different venues from New York, across, the country, including New Orleans, Tempe and ending in California. Along the way, and interspersed with specific instructions and "cheat sheets to summarize them), we get introduced to personalities like Josh Groban and Stephen Colbert, as well as others, famous and not famous. We also learn about Dan Harris' panic attack, immortalized on YouTube, and Dan's wife and son.
The writing is clear and sounds like practical instructions. It serves a good purpose as introductory material. However, the volume of instruction and its repetitiveness makes it hard to stick with it, lacking a human teacher. I was able to follow some of it by making my own notes as I went along. Also, I did not download a meditation app (which might have helped.) Including Jeff's difficulties with ADD helped by allowing me to relate to him. (Is that what I suffer from?)
Finally, I felt that this book tried too hard to combine these two narratives. I might have enjoyed Dan Harris' autobiography more, all by itself.
January 4, 2018
I have been meditating for short intervals for about a year and a half, by no means a new meditator and yet not an experienced meditator either. I found the framework, the meditations, and the perspective of two meditators who have worked at building a practice, and struggled at times, to be very helpful. I particularly enjoyed the meditation “welcome to the party� and lines like “your juicy animal body� certainly made me smile. I found Dan’s storytelling and wit funny, humble, and kept the book moving along. His embracing of himself as an imperfect human striving for manageable and obtainable continuous improvement was refreshing.
I did find some of the dialogue between Jeff and Dan to be a bit cheesy, or somewhat rehearsed, but Jeff’s variety of meditations and his genuine love for wanting to spread meditation as a practice without religious or New Age overtones won me over.
Disclaimer: I know one of the founders of the 10% happier app, Ben, who appears in the book, and I deeply enjoyed the stories about their time together on the bus. I have been a subscriber of the app for about a year, and I am continually blown away by what they’ve built. Great optional companion to the book, and the further reading recommended by Dan and Jeff in the book that are listed on the 10 percent happier website I have since been added to my reading list.
Well worth your time if you have any curiosity about meditation or have tried it in the past with or without success.
I did find some of the dialogue between Jeff and Dan to be a bit cheesy, or somewhat rehearsed, but Jeff’s variety of meditations and his genuine love for wanting to spread meditation as a practice without religious or New Age overtones won me over.
Disclaimer: I know one of the founders of the 10% happier app, Ben, who appears in the book, and I deeply enjoyed the stories about their time together on the bus. I have been a subscriber of the app for about a year, and I am continually blown away by what they’ve built. Great optional companion to the book, and the further reading recommended by Dan and Jeff in the book that are listed on the 10 percent happier website I have since been added to my reading list.
Well worth your time if you have any curiosity about meditation or have tried it in the past with or without success.
January 21, 2018
Meditation has gone mainstream. And for good reason. It’s a great way to focus and energize the mind and body. I do it, and if you don’t, you should try. Simple as that.
Perhaps more than anything else this book is a testament to just how mainstream it has gone. That’s not a criticism. But let’s face it, a bus tour is pretty mainstream. Wanting to be 10% happier is very mainstream. And putting it all together in a convenient app is the essence of mainstream in the 21st.
I don’t watch television, so I’ve never seen or heard the name, Dan Harris, the ABC news anchor and correspondent behind the book. He is obviously witty, bright, high energy, very enthusiastic, and clearly sincere in his hopes for this project. And in many ways that makes him perfect for this book. He is a very good pairing with Jeff Warren, the professional meditator who represents the “let’s hug� branch of meditation that many people associate with the practice, who is every bit as sincere and earnest as Harris. It’s a bit like pairing Arnold Schwarzenegger and Danny DeVito in Twins, but I make the comparison in the most positive way.
Their strategy for taking meditation mainstream is to: 1. Make it effortless. (One minute a day will get you started.); 2. To expand mindfulness into a path to patience, compassion, generosity, and, ultimately, happiness. All while keeping it secular without offending the religiously inclined.
It’s a tall order. And they achieve it more successfully than I would have guessed if I had picked up the book with any preconceptions, which I didn’t.
The problem with both meditation and attempts to mainstream much of anything, however, is accepting that line on the horizon. Where does the ground end and the sky begin? There is, as a result, a tendency to overshoot the mark; to extrapolate meditation or whatever you are trying to mainstream into something more that it really is or can practically become.
That line on the horizon, however, is perceived differently by each of us. If you draw it at a level similar to where Dan and Jeff draw it, you will probably love this book. And since you are the one who is likely to be considering this book having read the summary, my rating is for you. I think you will enjoy the book.
I draw the horizon in a different place, however. That doesn’t make me better or worse, but the book, as a result, is much less of a fit for me. I found the book to be far too long and repetitive, too light on the philosophy, too heavy on both the hugging and the flippancy, and far too quick to reference the 10% initiative. While Dan and Jeff clearly come down on the meditative side of Buddhist meditation, to try to explain, I come down on the Buddhist side. While I practice meditation, I am much more interested in understanding what gives our lives meaning and purpose.
But that’s just me.
Perhaps more than anything else this book is a testament to just how mainstream it has gone. That’s not a criticism. But let’s face it, a bus tour is pretty mainstream. Wanting to be 10% happier is very mainstream. And putting it all together in a convenient app is the essence of mainstream in the 21st.
I don’t watch television, so I’ve never seen or heard the name, Dan Harris, the ABC news anchor and correspondent behind the book. He is obviously witty, bright, high energy, very enthusiastic, and clearly sincere in his hopes for this project. And in many ways that makes him perfect for this book. He is a very good pairing with Jeff Warren, the professional meditator who represents the “let’s hug� branch of meditation that many people associate with the practice, who is every bit as sincere and earnest as Harris. It’s a bit like pairing Arnold Schwarzenegger and Danny DeVito in Twins, but I make the comparison in the most positive way.
Their strategy for taking meditation mainstream is to: 1. Make it effortless. (One minute a day will get you started.); 2. To expand mindfulness into a path to patience, compassion, generosity, and, ultimately, happiness. All while keeping it secular without offending the religiously inclined.
It’s a tall order. And they achieve it more successfully than I would have guessed if I had picked up the book with any preconceptions, which I didn’t.
The problem with both meditation and attempts to mainstream much of anything, however, is accepting that line on the horizon. Where does the ground end and the sky begin? There is, as a result, a tendency to overshoot the mark; to extrapolate meditation or whatever you are trying to mainstream into something more that it really is or can practically become.
That line on the horizon, however, is perceived differently by each of us. If you draw it at a level similar to where Dan and Jeff draw it, you will probably love this book. And since you are the one who is likely to be considering this book having read the summary, my rating is for you. I think you will enjoy the book.
I draw the horizon in a different place, however. That doesn’t make me better or worse, but the book, as a result, is much less of a fit for me. I found the book to be far too long and repetitive, too light on the philosophy, too heavy on both the hugging and the flippancy, and far too quick to reference the 10% initiative. While Dan and Jeff clearly come down on the meditative side of Buddhist meditation, to try to explain, I come down on the Buddhist side. While I practice meditation, I am much more interested in understanding what gives our lives meaning and purpose.
But that’s just me.
December 11, 2019
Rounded up to 4 stars because by the last part of the book, they were making me laugh despite myself, and not necessarily where Dan meant me to.
Also because of some useful twists on meditation that Jeff shared.
I’m neither fidgety nor a skeptic (about meditation, we are only talking about meditation), so I didn’t expect to resonate with the book beyond that it’s about meditation, something I’ve long enjoyed and have been doing a lot of lately.
Also, I recently enjoyed a meditation series by Jeff on my favorite app (not the 10% one), and wondered what a book partly written by him would be like.
The first 10-20% had me wondering if I would continue—the hyper-type A, pseudo-bad-boy, semi-commercial, wacky road trip vibe was not really the energy I wanted from a meditation book. I wanted more reflecting and less wincing. But, equanimity.
Dan’s sincere purpose and his drive to share with others softened me up, and the marriage of opposites of these two men who somehow both love to meditate was interesting and eventually hilarious.
Recommended for “fidgety skeptics�, particularly younger ones, and I won’t warn you off of it if you’re none of those things.
Also because of some useful twists on meditation that Jeff shared.
I’m neither fidgety nor a skeptic (about meditation, we are only talking about meditation), so I didn’t expect to resonate with the book beyond that it’s about meditation, something I’ve long enjoyed and have been doing a lot of lately.
Also, I recently enjoyed a meditation series by Jeff on my favorite app (not the 10% one), and wondered what a book partly written by him would be like.
The first 10-20% had me wondering if I would continue—the hyper-type A, pseudo-bad-boy, semi-commercial, wacky road trip vibe was not really the energy I wanted from a meditation book. I wanted more reflecting and less wincing. But, equanimity.
Dan’s sincere purpose and his drive to share with others softened me up, and the marriage of opposites of these two men who somehow both love to meditate was interesting and eventually hilarious.
Recommended for “fidgety skeptics�, particularly younger ones, and I won’t warn you off of it if you’re none of those things.
January 7, 2018
Dan Harris shares more thoughts about meditation and its benefits in this second book in his 10% Happier series. This time he teams up with Jeff Warren, a master meditator, and Carlye Adler, a writer, and the result is a clever and thoughtful look at meditation, especially for those of us who tend to think meditation might be too much work.
I took furious notes as I read this book. Some of my favorites:
There are hindrances in meditation (and life):
Boredom/sleepiness
Desire (to do something, anything)
Aversion (fear, dislike anger)
Worry, anxiety, restlessness
Doubt
To deal with the hindrances, look at them as they appear. Name them. Examine them. Lean into what arises, without judgment.
I also loved the idea of Free-Range Meditation, the idea of using little minutes here and there to meditate.
The whole book is like having a personal meditation trainer, encouraging you, sharing troubles, sharing tips, helping you over the hard parts.
I took furious notes as I read this book. Some of my favorites:
There are hindrances in meditation (and life):
Boredom/sleepiness
Desire (to do something, anything)
Aversion (fear, dislike anger)
Worry, anxiety, restlessness
Doubt
To deal with the hindrances, look at them as they appear. Name them. Examine them. Lean into what arises, without judgment.
I also loved the idea of Free-Range Meditation, the idea of using little minutes here and there to meditate.
The whole book is like having a personal meditation trainer, encouraging you, sharing troubles, sharing tips, helping you over the hard parts.
August 23, 2020
DNF @ 30%
First book was OK. This one is insufferable. There may be some good stuff in here somewhere, but Dan Harris is completely incapable of not writing himself into the center of every sentence. It's like being cornered by the most self-obsessed person at the office party. It's like being held hostage at a karaoke birthday party for someone who is tone deaf.
___
DNF Disclaimer: Usually I don't mark my DNF/abandoned books as "read" or give them a rating. That said, I might do one or both if any of the following is applicable:
A) I read 25% or more. It's a completely arbitrary limit, but that is more than enough time for a book to prove its value to me.
B) I find the content or writing especially inane, insufferable, or just plain old dull.
C) Either the content or author's POV simply annoyed the hell out of me.
First book was OK. This one is insufferable. There may be some good stuff in here somewhere, but Dan Harris is completely incapable of not writing himself into the center of every sentence. It's like being cornered by the most self-obsessed person at the office party. It's like being held hostage at a karaoke birthday party for someone who is tone deaf.
___
DNF Disclaimer: Usually I don't mark my DNF/abandoned books as "read" or give them a rating. That said, I might do one or both if any of the following is applicable:
A) I read 25% or more. It's a completely arbitrary limit, but that is more than enough time for a book to prove its value to me.
B) I find the content or writing especially inane, insufferable, or just plain old dull.
C) Either the content or author's POV simply annoyed the hell out of me.
March 30, 2018
Blehhh! This book. It was actually helpful in getting me to think I can meditate despite being both fidgety and a skeptic, but I could not STAND the writing. Being in this guy’s head sounds miserable - and it bled into his writing style which at times was pompous, self-important, tangential, judgmental. It was a STRUGGLE to finish this one.
January 21, 2018
The book consists of 50% of Dan Harris's experiences (morning TV host and journalist) with the positive effects of mediation on his hyper-stressful lifestyle and 50% guided meditation mini-instructions by Jeff Warren, a hot-looking and completely convincing meditation teacher.
I found Dan's parts/his narration annoyingly glib and cheerful (I don't like morning tv) but absolutely loved the soothing voice and meditative content of Jeff Warren's teachings.
Still, I tried to control my annoyance at Dan Harris since he was probably born this cheerful way and he was likley much more insufferable before he discovered meditation.
Readalikes: anything by Pema Chodron and Advice Not Given by Mark Epstein.
I found Dan's parts/his narration annoyingly glib and cheerful (I don't like morning tv) but absolutely loved the soothing voice and meditative content of Jeff Warren's teachings.
Still, I tried to control my annoyance at Dan Harris since he was probably born this cheerful way and he was likley much more insufferable before he discovered meditation.
Readalikes: anything by Pema Chodron and Advice Not Given by Mark Epstein.
December 4, 2022
A perfect little read to help with my meditation practice. Also great for anyone who is wanting to start meditating or just learn something new :)
February 2, 2020
Dan Harris was the perfect person to teach me about this. He is really speaking my language, and we are the same kind of animal. I struggled through the sections by Jeff, but I found the whole thing useful and helpful. And sloooooooooow. It took me almost six months to read this book! I learned that I am definitely not a natural self-help reader, and also that I must not have checked this book out properly, or they would've asked for it back by now. However, I think it incidentally worked so splendidly to my advantage, because instead of a book/topic that came in and out of my life in three weeks, I had this long period where it was part of my thinking, patterns, etc. So it took hold much more than it otherwise would've, and I really lucked out! The travelogue essence did not really work, and I expect I'd probably like his first book better, but I feel grateful to have come upon it. Very worth the time.
February 28, 2018
OK. I liked the book, but it does remind me of books like Blink, Wisdom of Crowds, etc where a lot of the core concepts can be summarized in a few short pages. Yes, i get the irony of saying this given the title and contents (I also listened to it on Audible at 1.5x speed...so add that to the irony (hypocrisy?)). Anyway, i have been thinking about meditation more and more - and still doing nothing. This book has helpful tips that should get me started. If only I can find the time... :)
April 15, 2018
This is Dan Harris' attempt to not only demystify--but also de-stigmatize--meditation. It follows his 10 Percent Happier bus tour, a cross-country journey wherein he meets with everyday people such as cops, military cadets, recovering addicts, television and radio personalities and attempts to convince them of the benefits of meditation. He's helped in this endeavor by Jeff Warren, a meditation teacher. In fact, the book is set up as an ongoing dialogue between Harris and Warren, with each of them getting their own font to avoid confusion.
In case you didn't know, Harris is a news anchor on ABC and this book is a sort-of sequel to his first book, 10 Percent Happier. In that book, he described how he reluctantly turned to meditation after having a nervous meltdown on national television and found that it helped to calm the howling "asshole" voice that hijacked his mind on a regular basis.
I thought "Meditation for Fidgety Skeptics" often came across as too self-conscious, a little to desperate in its attempt to sell meditation. Harris keeps bringing up how uncomfortable he feels about the more spiritual and mystical aspects of meditation and throughout the book he makes fun of Warren for rolling into that territory. I think anybody who reads this book probably read his first book, or at least heard about it, and are interested enough in meditation that they don't need reminders that they're not weird, possibly cult-loving, crunchy hippies.
On the other hand, I could relate to a lot of his anxieties and insecurities and maybe so could a lot of meditators and would-be meditators. And the relationship between Harris and xxxx is funny and endearing.
There are also actual meditations, authored by Warren, sprinkled throughout the book. However, I have to admit that after a certain point I was mostly scanning through whole passages. I believe the mediations are available for free via the 10 Percent Happier app, and actually hearing them, while you actually meditate, is probably the best way to receive them.
Still, I did gleam some useful and enlightening gems. Mainly, that meditating is not an end unto itself. If you're calmer, happier and have more equanimity in your everyday life, that may be stronger proof that meditation is having a positive effect on your life than how frustrated and disappointed you feel by your inability to completely clear your mind when you're meditating.
In case you didn't know, Harris is a news anchor on ABC and this book is a sort-of sequel to his first book, 10 Percent Happier. In that book, he described how he reluctantly turned to meditation after having a nervous meltdown on national television and found that it helped to calm the howling "asshole" voice that hijacked his mind on a regular basis.
I thought "Meditation for Fidgety Skeptics" often came across as too self-conscious, a little to desperate in its attempt to sell meditation. Harris keeps bringing up how uncomfortable he feels about the more spiritual and mystical aspects of meditation and throughout the book he makes fun of Warren for rolling into that territory. I think anybody who reads this book probably read his first book, or at least heard about it, and are interested enough in meditation that they don't need reminders that they're not weird, possibly cult-loving, crunchy hippies.
On the other hand, I could relate to a lot of his anxieties and insecurities and maybe so could a lot of meditators and would-be meditators. And the relationship between Harris and xxxx is funny and endearing.
There are also actual meditations, authored by Warren, sprinkled throughout the book. However, I have to admit that after a certain point I was mostly scanning through whole passages. I believe the mediations are available for free via the 10 Percent Happier app, and actually hearing them, while you actually meditate, is probably the best way to receive them.
Still, I did gleam some useful and enlightening gems. Mainly, that meditating is not an end unto itself. If you're calmer, happier and have more equanimity in your everyday life, that may be stronger proof that meditation is having a positive effect on your life than how frustrated and disappointed you feel by your inability to completely clear your mind when you're meditating.
March 30, 2018
I gave up about halfway through. I should have known that this would happen, because I couldn't get through his first book 10% Happier. But because I'm doing my dissertation on stress reduction in health professions students, and as part of that I'm developing a course that will likely involve meditation and a captive audience of students who will have mixed feelings about that, I thought this would be worthwhile.
There's something about his narrative that bugs me, and I don't know what it is. He's self-deprecating, but I don't mind that. I think it's just too wordy? I found myself skimming it and being like "I really don't care about this/I don't see why I need to know this." For being targeted to fidgety skeptics, it didn't appeal to a fidgety reader that likes things to get right to the point. I also found myself skipping over the meditations, because they were placed awkwardly in the book (I'd rather they all be at the end). Some were in the middle of the chapters so I was like "am I supposed to do this now before I keep reading the rest?" And it's not really possible to do a meditation at the time I'm reading the book, and especially in an e-book, having them buried within chapters makes it harder to come back to later. The few I read seemed like they would be decent, but I never actually sat down and tried any of them.
Still giving it 2 stars because I was able to get to the halfway point, and I'm sure this book will appeal to some folks. It's not horrible, it just isn't at all for me.
Thanks Netgalley for the ARC.
There's something about his narrative that bugs me, and I don't know what it is. He's self-deprecating, but I don't mind that. I think it's just too wordy? I found myself skimming it and being like "I really don't care about this/I don't see why I need to know this." For being targeted to fidgety skeptics, it didn't appeal to a fidgety reader that likes things to get right to the point. I also found myself skipping over the meditations, because they were placed awkwardly in the book (I'd rather they all be at the end). Some were in the middle of the chapters so I was like "am I supposed to do this now before I keep reading the rest?" And it's not really possible to do a meditation at the time I'm reading the book, and especially in an e-book, having them buried within chapters makes it harder to come back to later. The few I read seemed like they would be decent, but I never actually sat down and tried any of them.
Still giving it 2 stars because I was able to get to the halfway point, and I'm sure this book will appeal to some folks. It's not horrible, it just isn't at all for me.
Thanks Netgalley for the ARC.
April 13, 2020
Pretty close to 5 starts. I could never get into the whole meditation thing but this book hit the right note for me.
April 14, 2018
While this was good, I don’t know that I’m the target audience. Since I’m already sold on meditation, some of the counsel offered here didn’t really resonate with me.
If you’re struggling or a skeptic I could see where this would be a great read. If you’re already convinced, pass this on to someone who isn’t! (yet)
If you’re struggling or a skeptic I could see where this would be a great read. If you’re already convinced, pass this on to someone who isn’t! (yet)
April 18, 2024
Okay, so full disclosure, I have not yet begun a daily meditation routine, but I have downloaded the app, and I do plan on giving it a try. If Dan is right, all I need to do is start and it can be 5 minutes a day--I just need to do it. What's stopping me from starting? Probably the same thing that's stopping millions of people who mean to try something like this. The good news is that thanks to this book, I don't feel guilty about not yet doing it.
But I really did enjoy this book. And I feel like I CAN do it. To be clear I do guided meditations of other kinds (mostly to help with sleep and it does work), but I would really love to shift gears and try some of the tips Dan and Jeff suggest in this book.
I don't know if this book will resonate with everyone, especially those who are looking for something with more substance having to do with meditation. But I think this book is perfectly titled and it spoke to me. I relate to being a fidgety skeptic, with emphasis on the fidgety part. I don't think I'm really a skeptic anymore except whether I can be good at it. But like anything, it's probably something that will just take practice.
So, if you're curious about meditation, but you have doubts you could ever be good at meditation, you should check out this book. It's written with humor and an urge to not take yourself so seriously. Dan and Jeff certainly don't.
But I really did enjoy this book. And I feel like I CAN do it. To be clear I do guided meditations of other kinds (mostly to help with sleep and it does work), but I would really love to shift gears and try some of the tips Dan and Jeff suggest in this book.
I don't know if this book will resonate with everyone, especially those who are looking for something with more substance having to do with meditation. But I think this book is perfectly titled and it spoke to me. I relate to being a fidgety skeptic, with emphasis on the fidgety part. I don't think I'm really a skeptic anymore except whether I can be good at it. But like anything, it's probably something that will just take practice.
So, if you're curious about meditation, but you have doubts you could ever be good at meditation, you should check out this book. It's written with humor and an urge to not take yourself so seriously. Dan and Jeff certainly don't.
February 20, 2021
(“I’ve finished this book!� is an overstatement. I gave it two chapters, 62 pages, before scanning the table of contents again and realizing it would just be more of the same.)
I think I’m not fidgety or skeptical enough to appreciate this book. Or maybe the month that I’ve been dabbling in 10 minutes of meditation three times a week has put me beyond needing this book. The very simple aspects of meditation that he points out in the first 62 pages, I know them already. Also, these first 62 pages could have been edited down at least by half, if it weren’t for all of his trying-to-be-funniness. Call me hypersensitive, but I actually found it offensive when he was joking about his mind devolving into “oh I’m going to fail this interview, oh I’m going to lose my job, oh I’m going to end up teaching Jazzercise in a strip mall in some little city.� How about, get over yourself? There are probably a lot of people who are more than happy to be teaching fitness classes in small cities. Or maybe they aren’t happy, but maybe don’t rub it in as your prime example of failure. Also, maybe not everybody wants to wake up at 3 AM to host a national TV show. I know that is not my No. 1 goal in life.
In short, I guess I found the writer obnoxious and I will find a better book about meditation to continue my early learning about meditation.
I think I’m not fidgety or skeptical enough to appreciate this book. Or maybe the month that I’ve been dabbling in 10 minutes of meditation three times a week has put me beyond needing this book. The very simple aspects of meditation that he points out in the first 62 pages, I know them already. Also, these first 62 pages could have been edited down at least by half, if it weren’t for all of his trying-to-be-funniness. Call me hypersensitive, but I actually found it offensive when he was joking about his mind devolving into “oh I’m going to fail this interview, oh I’m going to lose my job, oh I’m going to end up teaching Jazzercise in a strip mall in some little city.� How about, get over yourself? There are probably a lot of people who are more than happy to be teaching fitness classes in small cities. Or maybe they aren’t happy, but maybe don’t rub it in as your prime example of failure. Also, maybe not everybody wants to wake up at 3 AM to host a national TV show. I know that is not my No. 1 goal in life.
In short, I guess I found the writer obnoxious and I will find a better book about meditation to continue my early learning about meditation.
February 26, 2023
I enjoyed that. I enjoy the 10% Happier podcast, and this was like an extended version of that. As someone who has a generally regular meditation practice, I found some of the explanations and approaches helpful.
January 10, 2024
I thought this book provided practical ways to dive deeper into sitting with your thoughts. I found it helpful with my prayer life as well.
March 11, 2023
This book, along with the Calm app, have been exceptional tools in teaching me the practice and benefits of meditation. It’s been life-changing in my efforts to better manage anxiety and stress. Highly recommend, especially for those who are amateurs/newbies to the practice of meditation.
April 18, 2018
A light read that aims to trouble-shoot the standard barriers to meditation - e.g., I do not have time; I will lose my edge; etc. I enjoyed Harris's first book ("10% Happier") and am a regular listener to his podcast, and - despite not being a skeptic (though I am fidgety) - I was keen to read the follow-up. I took away from it a few good tips, like being easy on yourself when you fall off the meditation wagon (the "begin again" mantra applies at all levels). Nothing earth-shattering in the book for those who have started a practice and can easily maintain it; a good guide for those who have tried to start one but need some useful tips.
February 26, 2018
4.5 stars
Full review here:
Full review here:
January 1, 2018
tl;dr Review:
If you loved 10% Happier, you need this guide.
Full Review:
I first read Dan Harris' original book, 10% Happier: How I Tamed the Voice in My Head, Reduced Stress Without Losing My Edge, and Found Self-Help That Actually Works--A True Story (he enjoys long titles apparently), in 2015. It came into my life at a time when I was in desperate need toÌýdo all of those things: tame the voice in my head, manage my stress, and find self-help.
I tabbed the book and have re-read portions so many times that my original copy is starting to fall apart.
Needless to say, when I sawÌýMeditation for Fidgety Skeptics: A 10% Happier How-to Book by Dan Harris, Jeffrey Warren, and Carlye Adler, I knew I HAD to read it.
Thankfully, it does not disappoint in the least. And part of the description is all you need to know if you've read 10% Happier:
"[Dan Harris and Jeffrey Warren] create a taxonomy of the most common issues [with meditation] ('I suck at this,' 'I don’t have the time,' etc.) and offer up science-based life hacks to help people overcome them. The book is filled with game-changing and deeply practical meditation instructions. . . Amid it all unspools the strange and hilarious story of what happens when a congenitally sarcastic, type-A journalist and a groovy Canadian mystic embark on an epic road trip into America’s neurotic underbelly, as well as their own."
I own my neuroticness (umm hi, my main blog is called The Color Coded Life and this one is Color Coded Books. To say I'm a little Type A is like saying that Beyonce is a little famous), so to have a book that accepts that as well in the journey to understand meditation is exactly what I need.
I knew this book was perfect when in the first chapter, I'd already highlighted and bookmarked 3 different things.
I truly loved how each chapter broke down why any excuse we may have to not meditate is total bullshit and includes a step by step guide on how to overcome it.
If you're like me and have been wanting to really give meditation a try but keep feeling like you can't, then this book is for you.
Though you don't need to, I'd highly recommend reading Dan Harris' first book referenced above. It helps to give context to the entire process. However, if you don't want to do that and just want a guide to mindfulness meditation that's simple, straight-forward, and lacks the pretension of other mindfulness books, then this is the one for you!
I give this book 5 out of 5 thumbs up!
If you loved 10% Happier, you need this guide.
Full Review:
I first read Dan Harris' original book, 10% Happier: How I Tamed the Voice in My Head, Reduced Stress Without Losing My Edge, and Found Self-Help That Actually Works--A True Story (he enjoys long titles apparently), in 2015. It came into my life at a time when I was in desperate need toÌýdo all of those things: tame the voice in my head, manage my stress, and find self-help.
I tabbed the book and have re-read portions so many times that my original copy is starting to fall apart.
Needless to say, when I sawÌýMeditation for Fidgety Skeptics: A 10% Happier How-to Book by Dan Harris, Jeffrey Warren, and Carlye Adler, I knew I HAD to read it.
Thankfully, it does not disappoint in the least. And part of the description is all you need to know if you've read 10% Happier:
"[Dan Harris and Jeffrey Warren] create a taxonomy of the most common issues [with meditation] ('I suck at this,' 'I don’t have the time,' etc.) and offer up science-based life hacks to help people overcome them. The book is filled with game-changing and deeply practical meditation instructions. . . Amid it all unspools the strange and hilarious story of what happens when a congenitally sarcastic, type-A journalist and a groovy Canadian mystic embark on an epic road trip into America’s neurotic underbelly, as well as their own."
I own my neuroticness (umm hi, my main blog is called The Color Coded Life and this one is Color Coded Books. To say I'm a little Type A is like saying that Beyonce is a little famous), so to have a book that accepts that as well in the journey to understand meditation is exactly what I need.
I knew this book was perfect when in the first chapter, I'd already highlighted and bookmarked 3 different things.
I truly loved how each chapter broke down why any excuse we may have to not meditate is total bullshit and includes a step by step guide on how to overcome it.
If you're like me and have been wanting to really give meditation a try but keep feeling like you can't, then this book is for you.
Though you don't need to, I'd highly recommend reading Dan Harris' first book referenced above. It helps to give context to the entire process. However, if you don't want to do that and just want a guide to mindfulness meditation that's simple, straight-forward, and lacks the pretension of other mindfulness books, then this is the one for you!
I give this book 5 out of 5 thumbs up!
December 5, 2017
I loved Dan Harris's first book 10% Happier, so I was excited to see that he'd written another one. This book is just as great! It's both a primer on meditation and a buddy road trip story, about Dan's cross-country trip with his friend, meditation teacher Jeff Warren, as they travel around in a bus to tell people about the benefits of meditation. The combination of Dan's hard-nosed, anti-sentimental nature with Jeff's hippy-dippy love and compassion attitude makes for a delightful read. These aren't lofty gurus, just two regular guys who are excited to share something they feel passionate about with others in order to improve lives. Dan's self-deprecating sense of humor and vulnerability about his flaws make him incredibly endearing, and I think his message comes across as so much more authentic than the kind of spiritual teachers who claim to have it all figured out and who sell promises of some kind of perfect enlightenment. If you're not new to meditation, the practices here are mostly not new, but personally, I can use reminders all the time! And Jeff's way of explaining and presenting them is a delight. I wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone who is even a little bit interested in meditating.
I received a free pre-release copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I received a free pre-release copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
July 19, 2018
I always wanted to know what the fuss around meditation and mindfulness was all about and scepticism was my primary drive.
You can find the story about how Dan Harris, after a panic attack during a live stream of Good Morning America, found in meditation a brand new and healthier lifestyle. Eventually, we're introduced to Jeff Warren, a meditation teacher who provided several guided meditations.
There's no bullshit throughout the entire book which is filled with in-depth explanations on what is meditation and how to get started. I've also found very useful the demystification of Buddhism.
Here are some of my favourite quotes:
"The default mental condition for too many human beings is dissatisfaction. Under the sway of the ego, nothing is good enough."
“I cannot say this frequently enough: the goal is not to clear your mind but to focus your mind for a few nanoseconds at a time and whenever you become distracted, just start again. Getting lost and starting over is not failing at meditation, it is succeeding.�
“Meditation forces you into a direct collision with a fundamental fact of life that is not often pointed out to us: we all have a voice in our heads.�
“Forget mindfulness. You just have to be a gorgeous lazy slacker.�
“Every time you catch yourself wandering and escort your attention back to the breath, it is like a biceps curl for the brain. It is also a radical act: you’re breaking a lifetime’s habit of walking around in a fog of rumination and projection, and you are actually focusing on what’s happening right now.�
You can find the story about how Dan Harris, after a panic attack during a live stream of Good Morning America, found in meditation a brand new and healthier lifestyle. Eventually, we're introduced to Jeff Warren, a meditation teacher who provided several guided meditations.
There's no bullshit throughout the entire book which is filled with in-depth explanations on what is meditation and how to get started. I've also found very useful the demystification of Buddhism.
Here are some of my favourite quotes:
"The default mental condition for too many human beings is dissatisfaction. Under the sway of the ego, nothing is good enough."
“I cannot say this frequently enough: the goal is not to clear your mind but to focus your mind for a few nanoseconds at a time and whenever you become distracted, just start again. Getting lost and starting over is not failing at meditation, it is succeeding.�
“Meditation forces you into a direct collision with a fundamental fact of life that is not often pointed out to us: we all have a voice in our heads.�
“Forget mindfulness. You just have to be a gorgeous lazy slacker.�
“Every time you catch yourself wandering and escort your attention back to the breath, it is like a biceps curl for the brain. It is also a radical act: you’re breaking a lifetime’s habit of walking around in a fog of rumination and projection, and you are actually focusing on what’s happening right now.�
Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,012 reviews
Can't find what you're looking for?
Get help and learn more about the design.