An appealing, instructive mixture of Eastern spiritual practices and modern psychological research.
A Tibetan Buddhist monk and a psychologist offer a poetic and practical treatise on the practice and science of meditation.
In the same vein as The Art of Happiness, in which psychiatrist Howard Cutler explored Dalai Lama's wisdom from his Western perspective, Goleman and Rinpoche offer a dual perspective on meditation. The authors successfully synthesize their ideas and viewpoints, demonstrating their shared interest in science as well as their extensive experiences with meditation. The text is a smooth, interwoven narrative of science, religion, and poetry, and each chapter begins with a discourse of various aspects of Buddhist meditation practice by Rinpoche, followed by a discussion of the relevant scientific research by Goleman. Alongside Rinpoche’s discussions of classic meditation practices—particularly those that help us to let go of worry, cultivate empathy, or quell our anger—are Goleman’s clear explanations of the evolutionary basis for such emotions and the ways in which science has confirmed the efficacy of ancient Buddhist practices in helping us regulate these emotions. The book is highly practical by nature, and each chapter ends with a step-by-step guide to various meditation practices, elements that will be useful for both experienced meditators and novices. For every specific emotional problem addressed—e.g., chronic worrying—the authors present actionable steps based on both Tibetan Buddhist meditation techniques and modern psychological tools. Far from being another fluffy self-help book in which meditation is characterized as an emotional and mental panacea, this book does not shy away from discussing the potential downsides of practices such as compassion and mindfulness and offers ways to combat negative side effects. Although experienced meditators might already be familiar with most of the information found in the book, they will still garner inspiration from Rinpoche's delightful, and often funny, discourses.
An appealing, instructive mixture of Eastern spiritual practices and modern psychological research.Pub Date: Dec. 6, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-982-17845-1
Page Count: 224
Publisher: Atria
Review Posted Online: Oct. 25, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 15, 2022
It’s not Shakespeare, not by a long shot. But at least it’s not James Franco.
A noted actor turns to verse: “Poems are a Saturday in the middle of the week.”
McConaughey, author of the gracefully written memoir Greenlights, has been writing poems since his teens, closing with one “written in an Australian bathtub” that reads just as a poem by an 18-year-old (Rimbaud excepted) should read: “Ignorant minds of the fortunate man / Blind of the fate shaping every land.” McConaughey is fearless in his commitment to the rhyme, no matter how slight the result (“Oops, took a quick peek at the sky before I got my glasses, / now I can’t see shit, sure hope this passes”). And, sad to say, the slight is what is most on display throughout, punctuated by some odd koanlike aperçus: “Eating all we can / at the all-we-can-eat buffet, / gives us a 3.8 education / and a 4.2 GPA.” “Never give up your right to do the next right thing. This is how we find our way home.” “Memory never forgets. Even though we do.” The prayer portion of the program is deeply felt, but it’s just as sentimental; only when he writes of life-changing events—a court appearance to file a restraining order against a stalker, his decision to quit smoking weed—do we catch a glimpse of the effortlessly fluent, effortlessly charming McConaughey as exemplified by the David Wooderson (“alright, alright, alright”) of Dazed and Confused. The rest is mostly a soufflé in verse. McConaughey’s heart is very clearly in the right place, but on the whole the book suggests an old saw: Don’t give up your day job.
It’s not Shakespeare, not by a long shot. But at least it’s not James Franco.Pub Date: Sept. 16, 2025
ISBN: 9781984862105
Page Count: 208
Publisher: Crown
Review Posted Online: Aug. 15, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 2025
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
SEEN & HEARD
SEEN & HEARD
Worthwhile reference stuffed with facts and illustrations.
A compendium of charts, time lines, lists and illustrations to accompany study of the Bible.
This visually appealing resource provides a wide array of illustrative and textually concise references, beginning with three sets of charts covering the Bible as a whole, the Old Testament and the New Testament. These charts cover such topics as biblical weights and measures, feasts and holidays and the 12 disciples. Most of the charts use a variety of illustrative techniques to convey lessons and provide visual interest. A worthwhile example is “How We Got the Bible,” which provides a time line of translation history, comparisons of canons among faiths and portraits of important figures in biblical translation, such as Jerome and John Wycliffe. The book then presents a section of maps, followed by diagrams to conceptualize such structures as Noah’s Ark and Solomon’s Temple. Finally, a section on Christianity, cults and other religions describes key aspects of history and doctrine for certain Christian sects and other faith traditions. Overall, the authors take a traditionalist, conservative approach. For instance, they list Moses as the author of the Pentateuch (the first five books of the Hebrew Bible) without making mention of claims to the contrary. When comparing various Christian sects and world religions, the emphasis is on doctrine and orthodox theology. Some chapters, however, may not completely align with the needs of Catholic and Orthodox churches. But the authors’ leanings are muted enough and do not detract from the work’s usefulness. As a resource, it’s well organized, inviting and visually stimulating. Even the most seasoned reader will learn something while browsing.
Worthwhile reference stuffed with facts and illustrations.Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2005
ISBN: 978-1-5963-6022-8
Page Count: -
Publisher: N/A
Review Posted Online: May 23, 2010
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
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