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Meditation Is Not What You Think: Mindfulness and Why It Is So Important Kindle Edition
Jon Kabat-Zinn is regarded as "one of the finest teachers of mindfulness you'll ever encounter" (Jack Kornfield). He has been teaching the tangible benefits of meditation in the mainstream for decades. Today, millions of people around the world have taken up a formal mindfulness meditation practice as part of their everyday lives. But what is meditation anyway? And why might it be worth trying? Or nurturing further if you already have practice?
Meditation Is Not What You Think answers those questions. Originally published in 2005 as part of a larger book entitled Coming to Our Senses, it has been updated with a new foreword by the author and is even more relevant today. If you're curious as to why meditation is not for the "faint-hearted," how taking some time each day to drop into awareness can actually be a radical act of love, and why paying attention is so supremely important, consider this book an invitation to learn more -- from one of the pioneers of the worldwide mindfulness movement.
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherBalance
- Publication dateMay 1, 2018
- Reading age13 years and up
- Grade level8 and up
- File size2.8 MB
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This option includes 4 books.
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Editorial Reviews
Review
This warm, witty, and wise guide should bring relaxation to stressed-out people.
-- "Publishers Weekly on Wherever You Go, There You Are"About the Author
Jon Kabat-Zinn, PhD, is professor of medicine emeritus and the founder of MBSR (Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction) and of the Center for Mindfulness in Medicine, Health Care, and Society at the University of Massachusetts Medical School. He has written numerous bestselling books including Full Catastrophe Living; Wherever You Go, There You Are; and Mindfulness for Beginners, and is coauthor, with his wife Myla, of Everyday Blessings: The Inner Work of Mindful Parenting.
Product details
- ASIN : B075QB2JQY
- Publisher : Balance; 1st edition (May 1, 2018)
- Publication date : May 1, 2018
- Language : English
- File size : 2.8 MB
- Text-to-Speech : Enabled
- Screen Reader : Supported
- Enhanced typesetting : Enabled
- X-Ray : Enabled
- Word Wise : Enabled
- Print length : 227 pages
- Best Sellers Rank: #287,482 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #400 in New Age Mental & Spiritual Healing
- #403 in New Age Meditation
- #1,135 in Healing
- Customer Reviews:
About the author

Jon Kabat-Zinn, PhD, is internationally known for his work as a scientist, writer, and meditation teacher engaged in bringing mindfulness into the mainstream of medicine and society. He is professor of medicine emeritus at the University of Massachusetts Medical School and author of numerous books, including Full Catastrophe Living, Arriving at Your Own Door, and Coming to Our Senses.
Customer reviews
Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.
To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.
Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers find the book helpful for mindfulness and meditation. They appreciate the author's writing style and find it inspiring. However, some readers feel the writing is too wordy and there are times when a whole paragraph is just one sentence.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers appreciate the mindfulness and meditation tools in the book. They find it helps them understand why meditation is challenging.
"...grateful for all of his efforts to publicize and scientifically ground the practice of meditation...." Read more
"...This book helps me understand why meditation is not easy. I have learned a lot from the writer's voluminous knowledge in science and meditation...." Read more
"Helpful to anyone learning meditation" Read more
"Best mindfulness book you can buy IMO...." Read more
Customers have different views on the writing quality. Some find it inspiring and praise the author's prose as stirring. Others feel the book is too wordy, with many paragraphs being one sentence.
"...prove the health benefits of meditation, he is among the finest poets whose prose is so stirring, so inspirational, that reading him remains a true..." Read more
"...My only gripe is many times a whole paragraph is one sentence! The writer has a long-long-winding-serpentine writing style...." Read more
"Jon's writing always inspires me! Another wonderful book!" Read more
"To wordy, cannot get more than 5 pages at the time, still no word “ what is Meditation/Mindfulness”...." Read more
Top reviews from the United States
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- Reviewed in the United States on August 16, 2018I have yet to read or listen to anything by Jon Kabat-Zinn that wasn't excellent. As a meditation teacher myself, I am profoundly grateful for all of his efforts to publicize and scientifically ground the practice of meditation. Its recent popularity, due in large part to his pioneering work over the last 30 years, means that thousands of people are now benefiting from the practice of meditation. Just be aware that if you have already purchased "Coming To Our Senses", which was published a number of years ago, that in an effort to make this rather large book more approachable, he recently split up that book into 4 smaller books, and that this is one of them, so if you already purchased Coming To Our Senses, you already have this material.
- Reviewed in the United States on August 24, 2024I used this to add mindfulness to my daily meditations. Keeps me calmer, less anxious.
- Reviewed in the United States on October 18, 2018Kabat-Zinn's 'Coming To Our Senses' in bite size chunks, much less intimidating. If you want to learn about meditation this is the place to start. Learn from the man who created Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction and you can't go wrong. A great introduction to practice.
- Reviewed in the United States on August 1, 2020I've been trying meditation a million times! This book helps me understand why meditation is not easy. I have learned a lot from the writer's voluminous knowledge in science and meditation. My only gripe is many times a whole paragraph is one sentence! The writer has a long-long-winding-serpentine writing style. Many times I have to go back to the beginning of his sentence to keep track of his thought process. Reading his books requires a lot of concentration.
- Reviewed in the United States on November 9, 2023I purchased this title two days ago and am halfway through the book. Truth be told, I have long been a fan of Kabat-Zinn, and have practiced mindfulness meditation in the past. This book has sparked a new commitment to resume same. In fact, it has rekindled such enthusiasm, I’ve underlined nearly every sentence. Yes, it resonates! I feel like I’ve come home!
- Reviewed in the United States on November 11, 2019To wordy, cannot get more than 5 pages at the time, still no word “ what is Meditation/Mindfulness”.
Read to page 30 nothing showing, I do not want to know how many books he has written. Sorry this author was suggested a very good.
- Reviewed in the United States on August 23, 2018Although he is the first scientist to empirically prove the health benefits of meditation, he is among the finest poets whose prose is so stirring, so inspirational, that reading him remains a true pleasure from cover to cover. Can't wait to read the next book in the series.
- Reviewed in the United States on May 31, 2019Great book! If you’re looking to solidify your self compassion and effectively deal with life’s daily challenges this is your book. Essential personal and professional development guide.
Top reviews from other countries
- Derek SmithReviewed in Canada on November 18, 2019
5.0 out of 5 stars Thorough and meaningful
This is a great and inspiring read. Totally great value and will have you thinking from the first page on!. Excellent!
-
MichaelReviewed in Germany on March 15, 2019
5.0 out of 5 stars Durchhalten bis zum 1. Kapitel
Vorwort & Einleitung sind etwas umfangreich geworden. Tipp: mit dem ersten Kapitel wurde es besser.
Eine Erklärung ist, dass der Überblick / das was vorne weg kommt, bevor es eigentlich los geht, für alle 4 Bücher dieser Serie gilt.
Wenn man das Buch als Kletter Tour beschreiben sollte, stände da: Kräfte raubende Schlüssel Stelle zu beginn. Danach genußkletterei bis zum Gipfel
- NickyMReviewed in the United Kingdom on June 5, 2018
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
very good read
- Nadia DavidReviewed in Germany on May 9, 2021
5.0 out of 5 stars Highly recommended
Very clear meditation , reaches deeply, healing.
- Ty SchultzReviewed in Canada on January 10, 2019
5.0 out of 5 stars Fabulous
A very thoughtful and engaging look at the root of meditation and mindfulness practice and history in present form and function.