jessspeake's review against another edition
informative
reflective
medium-paced
2.0
Moderate: Drug abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Addiction, Drug use, and Religious bigotry
Minor: Gun violence and War
ashwaar's review against another edition
funny
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
3.75
Graphic: Addiction and Drug use
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders and Drug abuse
Minor: War, Violence, Religious bigotry, and Gun violence
dellibro's review against another edition
inspiring
medium-paced
1.5
Graphic: Mental illness, War, Addiction, and Drug abuse
meliroo's review against another edition
reflective
1.5
If you're searching for a guide on meditation and mindfulness, I'd suggest looking elsewhere. This is definitely a memoir.
I think it's fair to note this book was written in 2014, and I would like to think that editing would have helped to remove some of the less savory language choices in 2022.
I'm still having a hard time understanding the choice to deadname a trans woman - it just seemed very irrelevant and insensitive to include that.
Some thinly veiled racist comments in addition to abelist language (and slurs) made this a big YIKES for me. 1.5⭐
I think it's fair to note this book was written in 2014, and I would like to think that editing would have helped to remove some of the less savory language choices in 2022.
I'm still having a hard time understanding the choice to deadname a trans woman - it just seemed very irrelevant and insensitive to include that.
Some thinly veiled racist comments in addition to abelist language (and slurs) made this a big YIKES for me. 1.5⭐
Graphic: Addiction, Deadnaming, Ableism, Drug abuse, and Drug use
Moderate: Religious bigotry, War, Panic attacks/disorders, and Transphobia
beccaruthe's review against another edition
funny
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
3.5
I liked this book quite a lot more than I thought I would after hearing the By The Book podcast episodes on one of Dan Harris’ other books. I think I have a slightly different perspective on the book since I have tried meditation, though have not had a consistent practice. It is mostly an autobiography geared at showing the transformative power of meditation without making meditation seem like it will be the answer to anything that ails you.
I had a hard time getting past a very brief transphobic statement. I have seen many other reviews that mentioned it, except on StoryGraph. I wonder if that is because transphobia is more discussed now in the wider public than when the book was first published. I doubt if the book was published today it would have even been included but I think anyone going into the book should know it’s in there.
It’s worth a read if you are interested in meditation or you have struggled to meditate. I would recommend borrowing it from your local library if possible. It’s not a book I see myself returning to but it did inspire me to start meditating again.
Spoiler
One of the most surprising aspected is Dan Harris’ struggle with loving-kindness meditation. For me, that is my favorite type, or focus, of meditation.I had a hard time getting past a very brief transphobic statement. I have seen many other reviews that mentioned it, except on StoryGraph. I wonder if that is because transphobia is more discussed now in the wider public than when the book was first published. I doubt if the book was published today it would have even been included but I think anyone going into the book should know it’s in there.
It’s worth a read if you are interested in meditation or you have struggled to meditate. I would recommend borrowing it from your local library if possible. It’s not a book I see myself returning to but it did inspire me to start meditating again.
Graphic: Gun violence
Moderate: Addiction, Panic attacks/disorders, and Transphobia
Minor: Drug abuse, Drug use, Violence, and War
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