Reviews tagging 'Addiction'

10% Happier by Dan Harris

7 reviews

fkshg8465's review against another edition

emotional medium-paced

1.5

Read this book because a colleague raved about it, but I have no idea why. Nothing wrong with the book, but also nothing revelatory. Actually, it bored me more than anything. It’s basically a public figure who struggles to find his center. It felt egotistical, which is antithetical to the Buddhism he clings to in many cerebral ways.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Drug use, Homophobia, and Religious bigotry

jessspeake's review against another edition

informative reflective medium-paced

2.0

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Content Warnings

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

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Content Warnings

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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, War, Addiction, and Drug abuse

prachidayal's review

funny hopeful informative medium-paced

4.0

• Medium read (6 - 8 hours)
• The way Harris spoke about third-world countries and warzones was disconcerting. He also seemed rather aggressive in some interviews (like in the Paris Hilton interview).
• An insightful and relatable read. From the thought that went into the title to the sheer honesty, this book's praise of meditation was very convincing.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction

Moderate: Mental illness and Homophobia

meliroo's review

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⭐

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Content Warnings

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.

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.

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.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence

Moderate: Addiction, Panic attacks/disorders, and Transphobia

Minor: Drug abuse, Drug use, Violence, and War