Not necessarily mindless
352660
I'm not a film critic.  I found this movie, entertaining.  I found the lack of murder and mayhem to be very refreshing.  The movie was written, it would seem for the adults, unlike so much of what is in the theaters lately.  I enjoyed it very much.
315775
few gaps in the logic...just don't think too much and enjoy!
3631078
The well written work is worth a read but needs but needs a few reruns to grasp its depth. Too often, not enough thought is applied before making a decision or undertaking a task. This book will demonstrate that a mindful approach to all aspects of life is in fact the path of least effort and stress. To "stop and smell the roses" is actually stimulating rather than just taking a break.
1399834
Wilson's book goes beyond the surface of a lot of the talk about the state of the family today.  Unlike some other publications geared toward the religous community, this is purely a secular work, even if it does confirm many of the problems pointed out by pro-family Catholic and evangelical groups.

The thesis is this:  in the wake of society's overall material wealth and the advancement of individual rights, both good things in general, the state of marriage as a societal good has declined considerably.  In too many cases, the cohesive unit that functioned as a means of protection, support, and guidance for children has lost its glue, and the government has come to step in and perform some of these functions in certain situations, which isn't necessarily a good thing.

The chapter-by-chapter layout takes a look at the problem from different angles (single motherhood, divorce, African-American slavery, etc.) and compares the trends not with a romanticized ideal, but with what other cultures have done historically, to determine whether this trend is an anomaly or something to be expected, and where it might lead.

Among the more interesting tidbits is the fact that for whatever problem no-fault divorce has had today, it was not the result of a nefarious plan by feminists or others whose goal is to take down the family structure.  Rather it was the unintended consequences of a plan to make technical corrections to the law to comply with what had become practice.  The drafters of the no-fault laws were working under the naive assumption that these changes to remove the threat of a judical order finding fault would be complemented with government incentives to enter therapy and reconcile before the order be given.  When this didn't happen, the no-fault divorce provisions made it easier to dissolve the marriage without any restrictions.

This detail was to highlight that you're not getting a political or cultural polemnic in this book, but rather a systematic discourse on the problem with angles not normally seen in this debate.
3194620
The theme is interesting, and the characters and side-plots keep it from being one-dimensional and it was light enough that it was not mental "work" to read it. At the same time, it did not use its simplicity as a vehicle to pump a zillion outdated stereo-types about the traditional male para-military culture down my throat. It was relaxing and fun and nice to read.
1985480
A thoroughly enjoyable read, although some chapters/experiences are more interesting than others. This is not a self-help book, per se, but rather a thoughtful overview about how our own thinking impacts the way we feel.
519179
The subject may be very serious, but not handled in a maudlin fashion. The characters are believable and interesting in a very human way, not super heroes like in fantasies.
4589887
Some extra reviewing, or restating thought process, not too bad.
2641309
Solid writing, unusual storyline, perhaps a bit too introspective.
3065750
Most of the research mentioned in this book is not new. But reading about it in a neatly organized way has a powerful effect that left me thinking. The author's personal journey makes it more interesting and approachable than a purely academic text.

This book doesn't promise to fix you, and it won't. It might offer some ideas, but the solutions are not simple, nor easy. The whole point of it is that self help is not enough. It's time we start helping each other.
2081189
A very enjoyable and thought provoking book that was easy to read, but had some mental exercise to understand.
3253831
Anyone who has ever tried quickly realizes that any form of meditation isn't easy. More often than not the mind is an unquiet place and we tend to be assailed second to second by an insistent voice urging us to do this or that; to fulfil our role as a human doing rather than a human being! The good news is that with this form of meditation, which does not require focussing on a particular point, design or flame etc. whilst chanting the same word repeatedly, the meditator takes careful note of the various sensations he or she notices. Indeed, as the name suggests, this is the very object of Vipassana, or sensation-based meditation. Of course, some sensations are more pleasant than others but the object of the exercise is to notice in a detached way whatever the sensation may be and not to reject or accept any however pleasant or unpleasant.

Before outlining meditation techniques, Glickman provides a brief history of his belief system, Buddhism and its development, through a potted history of the Buddha's own search for enlightenment but, though highlighting that there is good evidence to suppose that Vipassana is the meditation method that Buddha himself developed, points out that his readers do not have to be Buddhists themselves to benefit from the form of meditation he espouses.

For anyone seeking a comprehensive introduction to mindfulness and sensation-based meditation written in an entertaining and engaging style this book provides the perfect starting point. However, as the author himself is careful to stress, that is exactly what it is - merely a starting point - and no substitute for practice over a sustained supervised period from a trained teacher, something commonly to be found on 10 day retreats.
2142573
This book presents a different, non-traditional approach towards living a less stressful life.  The concepts presented follow a logical development and the reader can follow along in a general fashion.  To really appreciate the message, however, I believe that one needs to read some of the book several times.  One needs to reflect the concepts presented in terms of what the author offers; one also needs to reflect on individual patterns of thought and action with relationship to the author's message.
2784620
This book talks a lot about mindfulness and meditation without really giving any instructions or discussing a lot of the religious resistance that is encountered, especially in the South.  My experience is that a lot of people in the deep South, where I am from, believe that meditation is a way to open the door to the devil, or at least demonic forces.  It looks silly when I write it down, but that's a line this book doesn't really go down, that I think needs exploring - handling opposition to the practice. Some people consider mindfulness and meditation a religious function and wouldn't WANT it funded or researched with state funding, and especially not implemented in schools.  Some tips on refuting these things would help.

The author writes well - the book is easy to read and flows.  It has really great anecdotes and makes a great case for mindfulness helping with a lot of the problems that the US and individuals face today.  With me, he was preaching to the choir.

There's not a lot of instruction in the book on HOW TO be mindful or meditate.  There's just a tad of hints at instruction-concentrating on breathing - touched on here and there, but there's nothing in depth, and the reader will have to look elsewhere for that.

It's a book that makes a good case, but starts sounding a bit too much like enthusiastic 'safe' political rhetoric aimed at people often without much power to really implement anything.  It makes the case over and over again.  It will be great to quote or pull information for if YOU have to make such a case for a program  or study.  I, someone who has meditated daily for years - was left feeling like "Ok, so what now?" and like I needed to read another book.
1773774
A lot of the basics of vanilla buddhism are here, in a form palatable to the shortest of attention spans.  I found Sylvia Boorstein's work  personable, though somewhat dull (perhaps I should say  "peaceful").  If you are one with little time free for deep  thought outside of your current focuses, this is an easy way to gain a  snapshot of western Buddhism.  It might even be helpful, for in the manner  of the three-word phrase, "Buddhism is Buddhism".  Those of you  with more time and more interest have many more choices for your reading  pleasure, such as Suzuki's "Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind".  Ms.  Boorstein is not to be discounted, and although this isn't the best book  I've ever read, it is a labor of love.  So if you're flying cross-country,  this definitely beats airplane movies.
2854180
Perhaps slightly imaginative? The author does attempt not to reveal an agenda for or against the perception of a Church with a true and genuine spiritual radar. He does portray Cardinals who appear to genuinely believe in their spiritual calling and have sincere devotion, while behaving as mere men in their competitiveness and otherwise human pursuits
157195
As the subtitle of The Conscious Mind suggests, "Programming the Brain-Computer", the underlying analogy of this short, pithy book is that the mind acts much like a computer. Just like a computer, it is possible to modify or change the brain's "software", and by this live a more meaningful and positive life.  Although this concept is not a new one, the authors feel that with awareness and work, the individual has within him/her self, the ability to modify not just thoughts and ideas, but entire life styles.  There is emphasis on the idea of our SELF as a combination of "Body - Mind - Spirit", and that a good portion of this comes from the Ego.  The Ego is influenced by the 5P's, Power, Profit, Prestige, Possessions, Privilege and Pleasure.  When any of these P's begin to dominate, negative energies are produced that can adversely affect the Ego.  It is through the individual's free will that personal modification can occur to correct or control these energies and thus our Ego.  Unfortunately there are a large number of "programs" over which we have little or no control e.g. the autonomic nervous system (hunger, breathing, fear), however, there are still a large number of "programs" that we can modify for our well being.  By being aware of those "P's" that are adversely affecting us, we can obtain objectives leading to the modification of existing "programs".  It is through this reprogramming that we will be able to lead a life that has more a more positive outlook, energy and balance.

Although the ideas presented here are understandable, it may be that the actual "reprogramming" may be more difficult than suggested, and unfortunately the guidebook on the mechanisms of change is enthusiastically, but minimally instructive.  The book seems to good place to start in what possibly should be called "Reprogramming the Brain-Computer".