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A review by shadysands
McMindfulness: How Mindfulness Became the New Capitalist Spirituality by Ronald E. Purser
Did not finish book. Stopped at 42%.
As an avid Mindfulness 'cheerleeder' I was intrigued to here the sceptical argument, and I actually agree with a lot of the points made in the book. It allowed me to look more critically at the practice as a whole. As a mental health worker I always suggest that a psychosocial model is used utilising many things ASWELL as Mindfulness as I do think connection to community is also important- acknowledging moving away from individualistic society. Was interesting to hear the political points, and I also agree the fundaments of Buddhism have been watered down.
However, I still feel that if it helps people to manage and is accessible to more people there is no harm in practising it. It took a few chapters for the disclosure of 'I'm not commenting on the efficacy of this in therapy'. But the whole book was slating it, when I know many people who benefit from it, alongside studies that suggest this- and thus why can't this be utilised in the wider feild of wellbeing.
Still, I do think the points are very valid. The reason I stopped reading was less in the disagreement, but more the repetition of points that just made it abit boring for me personally to follow. I also found it so pessimistic, which I understand is to be expected in a critical argument, but personally was not in a mindset to continue with it.
Also, if listening on an audiobook on spotify the authors AI sounding tone didn't help- so maybe that's a unique reason for switching off.
However, I still feel that if it helps people to manage and is accessible to more people there is no harm in practising it. It took a few chapters for the disclosure of 'I'm not commenting on the efficacy of this in therapy'. But the whole book was slating it, when I know many people who benefit from it, alongside studies that suggest this- and thus why can't this be utilised in the wider feild of wellbeing.
Still, I do think the points are very valid. The reason I stopped reading was less in the disagreement, but more the repetition of points that just made it abit boring for me personally to follow. I also found it so pessimistic, which I understand is to be expected in a critical argument, but personally was not in a mindset to continue with it.
Also, if listening on an audiobook on spotify the authors AI sounding tone didn't help- so maybe that's a unique reason for switching off.