The Mindfulness Revolution

February 14, 2011
Mindfulness, in both its Buddhist and secular forms, is becoming increasingly familiar to a broad range of Americans. This essay collection describes mindful attention and how it can be applied to such diverse aspects of life as parenting, trauma recovery, money, illness, relationships, and the like. The contributors bring their considerable knowledge and skills to bear on the task of helping others and themselves. The book acknowledges the influence of the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction method pioneered at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center by Jon Kabat-Zinn, who has provided two essays; other writers include an unsurprising lineup of notables: Jack Kornfield, Joseph Goldstein, Pema Chödrön, Matthieu Ricard, Norman Fischer, Dzogchen Ponlop, Thich Nhat Hanh, Daniel Goleman, and the Dalai Lama. Of particular note are Karen Maezen Miller's meditation on housework, Sue Moon's graceful acceptance of senior moments, and Bob Howard's close attention to soil. Simple practices for the reader are included. While the definitions of mindfulness grow repetitive, these clearly written essays taken together form a solid introduction to a now mainstream approach to personal change.