Books : Wherever You Go, There You are

Rating: - Classic manual on meditation
People consider this book a contemporary classic on meditation for good reasons. It's lovely and accessible. Jon Kabat-Zinn tackles the difficult task of explaining the nonverbal practice of meditation, which many find alien or even threatening, and makes it accessible, useful and even homey. He explains meditation not only with references to classic texts, but also by recounting his own experiences, drawing parallels with Thoreau, and discussing work and family contexts. The chapters are brief, some as short as a page, each focusing on a single topic. Many are accompanied with prompting questions or simple exercises you can try immediately. getAbstract recommends this book to people interested in reducing their stress, deepening their self-awareness and sharpening their focus.

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Rating: - After 100 pages I realised it was a master piece
The first book that I discovered from Myla & Jon Kabat-Zin was in Morewa bookstore in Vienna. It was the German translation of 'Everyday Blessings'(i.e Mit Kindern wachsen, Die Praxis der Achtsamkeit in der Familie). At home, after 100 pages of reading I suddenly realised that I had a master piece in my hands. That is how I discovered the work of Myla and Jon Kabat Zinn.

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Rating: - crystal clarity
Jon Kabat-Zinn's 1970s work at the University of Massachusetts Medical School on Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) was a snowball which is now well down the medical establishment mountain and daily gaining mass, speed and converts from other disciplines. He is a board member of the Mind and Life Institute, a group that organizes dialogues between the Dalai Lama and Western scientists to promote deeper understanding of different ways of knowing and probing the nature of mind, emotions, and reality. Jon's crystal clear prose is peppered with poetry and humour which makes for an enthralling and easy read.

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Rating: - wherever you go--there you are!!
This book is a series of short chapters on a variety of topics such as 'patience', 'letting go', 'trust', 'dignity', 'karma' and 'interconnectedness'. It's a nice guide to beginning meditation, but I use it more to dip into for inspiration. The words therein are calming reminders of what's important in life. If I'm going away I often take it with me to help keep me centred and balanced. Really glad I bought the book.

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Rating: - Meditation For Dummies
For anyone wishing to start meditating and practicing mindfulness this book is all you need. It's full snippets of wisdom from other authors, and practical exercises to get you started. An excellent guide for us non-spiritual westerners.