kmg365's review against another edition
3.0
There’s a lot of good stuff in this book. That’s high praise for a self-help book. There’s solid advice in plain language (appealing especially to suspicious people like me who start looking around for telltale snake-oil stains when a writer uses flowery, spiritual lingo in order to dazzle and obfuscate) for cutting through the fluffy nougat and extracting the nut of wisdom at the center of the Buddhist bon-bon.
Before I stumbled upon this book, I’d never heard of Dan Harris. I’m the opposite of a news junky, so there’s no reason I would have seen his on camera work. Therefore, my feelings are not a result of any opinions about his on-air persona or his journalistic treatment of any issues.
Here’s what bugs me. This is more an indictment of the publishing business than of Dan Harris, but Dan’s hands are not completely clean, either. Dan’s epiphany about meditation is available to us because he was already a famous person. If Joe Average discovers Jainism and it transforms his life, we’ll never know, because MacRandomSimonEtte can’t make any money off that fact. Dan gets a cushy book deal because Dan represents dollars to corporations, not because he has important things to say that might help other people.
Dan’s experience was no doubt enhanced because after he read a book that he thought was interesting, he’d use his clout to phone the author and become best buds. Okay, they didn’t always become best buds, but again, Joe Average doesn’t get to pick up the phone and say, “Hey, Deepak, what’s shakin’? Can we rap?” Dan also weaseled his way into his first meditation retreat, bypassing the lottery system by calling in favors. Maybe it’s wrong of me to think so, but doesn’t that taint the progress he made there? Does he ever think of the person who would have gotten that spot if he hadn’t played the fame card, and how that person’s life might have been changed? Is the power of meditation reduced if you don’t have direct access to its most famous proponents to ask all those niggling questions?
My feelings of unease were magnified when I got to the chapter where Dan mentions that both corporate America and the American military have embraced the practice of meditation-- both of which seem odd choices for spiritual role models, at least for me. Then Dan got to meet the Dalai Lama, and if I’d been reading a book instead of listening to my mp3 player, I would have hurled it against the wall. What percentage of your readers are going to have that opportunity, Dan? I mean, good for you, but if that meeting (and the ones with Tolle, Deepak, the Buddhist shrink, etc) helped you along your path, the rest of us are going to have to struggle along without that boon, and that makes me more resistant to trying any of the techniques mentioned.
Before I stumbled upon this book, I’d never heard of Dan Harris. I’m the opposite of a news junky, so there’s no reason I would have seen his on camera work. Therefore, my feelings are not a result of any opinions about his on-air persona or his journalistic treatment of any issues.
Here’s what bugs me. This is more an indictment of the publishing business than of Dan Harris, but Dan’s hands are not completely clean, either. Dan’s epiphany about meditation is available to us because he was already a famous person. If Joe Average discovers Jainism and it transforms his life, we’ll never know, because MacRandomSimonEtte can’t make any money off that fact. Dan gets a cushy book deal because Dan represents dollars to corporations, not because he has important things to say that might help other people.
Dan’s experience was no doubt enhanced because after he read a book that he thought was interesting, he’d use his clout to phone the author and become best buds. Okay, they didn’t always become best buds, but again, Joe Average doesn’t get to pick up the phone and say, “Hey, Deepak, what’s shakin’? Can we rap?” Dan also weaseled his way into his first meditation retreat, bypassing the lottery system by calling in favors. Maybe it’s wrong of me to think so, but doesn’t that taint the progress he made there? Does he ever think of the person who would have gotten that spot if he hadn’t played the fame card, and how that person’s life might have been changed? Is the power of meditation reduced if you don’t have direct access to its most famous proponents to ask all those niggling questions?
My feelings of unease were magnified when I got to the chapter where Dan mentions that both corporate America and the American military have embraced the practice of meditation-- both of which seem odd choices for spiritual role models, at least for me. Then Dan got to meet the Dalai Lama, and if I’d been reading a book instead of listening to my mp3 player, I would have hurled it against the wall. What percentage of your readers are going to have that opportunity, Dan? I mean, good for you, but if that meeting (and the ones with Tolle, Deepak, the Buddhist shrink, etc) helped you along your path, the rest of us are going to have to struggle along without that boon, and that makes me more resistant to trying any of the techniques mentioned.
left_unsupervised's review against another edition
3.0
Ten percent
I was really into some parts and bored in others. I honestly don't know who the author is, so I'll have to look him up as I must have seen him on television at some point.
I do like the idea of 10% happier. I think that is a huge improvement.
I was really into some parts and bored in others. I honestly don't know who the author is, so I'll have to look him up as I must have seen him on television at some point.
I do like the idea of 10% happier. I think that is a huge improvement.
lizardlodge's review against another edition
3.0
An interesting and well written memoir, but I liked it also for the inside look at television journalism. There were times I laughed out lout in my car.
steds's review against another edition
3.0
As audiobook. Fine, kinda funny. Big White dude energy- would recommend to capitalists who are somewhat open to change.
staniel's review against another edition
3.0
A good and easy read. Dan has a affable and smooth storytelling style that makes the reading delightful. However, I often found Dan’s lack of self-awareness and acknowledgment of his privilege jarring. He’d share poignant moments in his meditation journey which were at times harshly contrasted his moments entirely lacking empathy or compassion for other people in his stories.
Overall, I’d recommend for those if you’re looking for more information and stories about one’s meditation journey and how it fits into a modern, western lifestyle.
Overall, I’d recommend for those if you’re looking for more information and stories about one’s meditation journey and how it fits into a modern, western lifestyle.
rain123's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
jadior's review against another edition
3.0
I always liked Dan Harris so when I heard he had this book out, I had to read it. It's a true story about his life. He writes the way he talks on TV, sometimes funny, sometimes serious. This isn't a book to help make you "10% Happier" so don't be mislead. Its a book about how he is working on making himself 10% happier. I will say I want to start meditation at his instructions. It's not the guru type meditation, which is the point of his story. All in all, I enjoyed this book