A Book That Can Make A Difference in Your Life
"I certainly am glad I read this one! MEDITATIONS FOR MORTALS: FOUR WEEKS TO EMBRACE YOUR LIMITATIONS AND MAKE TIME FOR WHAT COUNTS (full title) is part self-help, part philosophy, and part advisory. The book is presented as 28 short chapters (plus an Epilogue), intended to be read as one chapter each day. Together, British author and journalist Oliver Burkeman (author of bestseller FOUR THOUSAND WEEKS) suggests these chapters can help you examine your personal ways of interacting with the world and consider ways to change some aspects, if you choose. All toward the goal of finding greater contentment. Awarded five stars on Goodreads. Sharing insightful observations, and sprinkling in just enough humor, Burkeman explores the ways people often think about their lives, their attitudes toward productivity, their personal relationships, and how they can develop unhelpful patterns of behavior without realizing it. I guarantee you will recognize yourself in some of his descriptions. MEDITATIONS FOR MORTALS is organized into four sections, one for each of the four weeks • The first is Being Finite, centered on recognizing that, for all of us, our time on Earth is limited. • Section two is Taking Action, focused on achieving realistic goals. • Then comes Letting Go, about giving up tendencies you might have that actually cause you unnecessary suffering. • Finally, Showing Up, about celebrating the potential of each moment and accepting what you can't change. You may notice there's an underlying theme of Buddhist philosophy in Burkeman's work. In addition to the Epilogue (the end of which actually brought tears to my eyes), Burkeman includes an Index of Afflictions, a reference guide listing common worries and referencing chapters which most directly address each affliction. Universal troubles like anxiety, avoidance, despair at the state of the world, distraction, guilt, regret and 38 others. I personally found MEDITATIONS FOR MORTALS extraordinarily helpful. A guide to thoughtfully examine how I might allow myself to find more joy each day. This is a book I'm likely to want to read again. As a result, since I was reading a library copy, I now plan to buy my own so I can go back and reread sections, whenever I'm struggling with something in my own life. No doubt I will keep the Index of Afflictions close by. Highly recommended."