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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⭐
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⭐
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.
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.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence
Moderate: Addiction, Panic attacks/disorders, and Transphobia
Minor: Drug abuse, Drug use, Violence, and War
merula's review
1.0
The way the author talks about a transgender colleague is really transphobic and that made it had for me to lend credence to the rest of what he had to say.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Transphobia
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