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theauthoress's review against another edition
4.0
"… we don't like the way reality is now and therefore wish it would go away fast. But what we find as practitioners is that nothing ever goes away until it has taught us what we need to know. Even if we run a hundred miles an hour to the other side of the continent, we find the very same problem awaiting us when we arrive. It keeps returning with new names, forms, and manifestations until we learn whatever it has to teach us…"
If the quote above doesn't tell you this is a book that is fitting for the decade we're in right now, then I don't know what will.
"Comfortable with Uncertainty" is my first experience with Pema Chodron's writings. It's a short book, made up of short chapters not more than a couple of paragraphs. Kind of like Ryan Holiday's "Daily Stoic", written in a simple, readable format that doesn't weigh you down with too much information. You could either consider it a positive or a negative, though; there's only so much you can take away from a short passage on a single theme.
But the good thing is that the same basic points are repeated throughout the book, which worked for me because I usually need to look at a concept several times from different angles so it sinks in and I can actually apply it in life.
It's funny, I discovered Pema Chodron a few years ago, watched a video of hers, thought she was sharing some real wisdom. But I didn't really get involved in her content until the last quarter of 2020 when I was listening to an audiobook by Danielle LaPorte, who mentioned a quote or two by Chodron.
I'm glad this author returned into my life at the right moment when I most needed her book.
Final thoughts and rating:
4/5 stars.
Short book, short chapters. Great for anyone who likes spiritual books (or Buddhist wisdom), wants to cultivate a more compassionate approach to life, or find a greater sense of peace and resilience when faced with life's challenges.
If the quote above doesn't tell you this is a book that is fitting for the decade we're in right now, then I don't know what will.
"Comfortable with Uncertainty" is my first experience with Pema Chodron's writings. It's a short book, made up of short chapters not more than a couple of paragraphs. Kind of like Ryan Holiday's "Daily Stoic", written in a simple, readable format that doesn't weigh you down with too much information. You could either consider it a positive or a negative, though; there's only so much you can take away from a short passage on a single theme.
But the good thing is that the same basic points are repeated throughout the book, which worked for me because I usually need to look at a concept several times from different angles so it sinks in and I can actually apply it in life.
It's funny, I discovered Pema Chodron a few years ago, watched a video of hers, thought she was sharing some real wisdom. But I didn't really get involved in her content until the last quarter of 2020 when I was listening to an audiobook by Danielle LaPorte, who mentioned a quote or two by Chodron.
I'm glad this author returned into my life at the right moment when I most needed her book.
Final thoughts and rating:
4/5 stars.
Short book, short chapters. Great for anyone who likes spiritual books (or Buddhist wisdom), wants to cultivate a more compassionate approach to life, or find a greater sense of peace and resilience when faced with life's challenges.
sarahelem's review against another edition
5.0
An excellent compilation of Buddhist teaching and wisdom to reframe hardship and unhealthy habits that no longer serve you, or the path of bodhicitta.
julialynne248's review against another edition
4.0
I took my time reading this one. It can be a quick read, but I decided to read one section every day. It gave me more time to digest and reflect.
tpanik's review against another edition
3.0
A thorough collection that gives students numerous launch points for further study.
lauralashleylovestoread's review against another edition
5.0
This was a really pleasant, easy, insightful read on Buddhist teachings that gel with all the other thought work I've been practicing. I took a lot out of it.
jeffreyp's review against another edition
5.0
I'm digging this one. Who would have thought dealing with uncertainty was something that lots of people go through, not just me...?
kair's review against another edition
2.0
A good overview of the key concepts of Buddhist philosophy packed into bite-sized chapters. The author has distilled them to fit "a western mind", but I still found most of the book too vague, too abstract.
I think many of the things described in the book you have to glimpse before the words really start making sense. Without the experience, the words sound hollow like the typical self-help "find your passion" books.
I might give this book another go some time in the future to see to test out my thesis. For those who want to step towards eastern thinking practices, I still recommend [b:Mindfulness: An Eight-Week Plan for Finding Peace in a Frantic World|11350120|Mindfulness An Eight-Week Plan for Finding Peace in a Frantic World|J. Mark G. Williams|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1317067851l/11350120._SX50_.jpg|26625541] as an excellent practical way of getting started.
I think many of the things described in the book you have to glimpse before the words really start making sense. Without the experience, the words sound hollow like the typical self-help "find your passion" books.
I might give this book another go some time in the future to see to test out my thesis. For those who want to step towards eastern thinking practices, I still recommend [b:Mindfulness: An Eight-Week Plan for Finding Peace in a Frantic World|11350120|Mindfulness An Eight-Week Plan for Finding Peace in a Frantic World|J. Mark G. Williams|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1317067851l/11350120._SX50_.jpg|26625541] as an excellent practical way of getting started.
kait_unicorn's review against another edition
4.0
This is like Pema condensed or Pema Coles Notes. Or Buddhism 101.
Great overview and light touch introduction to practice.
Great overview and light touch introduction to practice.
wandering_not_lost's review against another edition
3.0
I'm really not sure who this book was FOR. There's too much description of basic principles and definitions for someone who has already read a few books on Buddhist theory/mindfulness. Yet there's too little discussion for this to really be a good "introductory" explainer book. Even with its flaws, though, I found myself dogearing pages with phrasings that really struck me, so I feel like I still took something away from it.