In his follow-up to Full Catastrophe Living--a book in which he presented basic meditation techniques as a way of reducing stress and healing from illness--here Jon Kabat-Zinn goes much more deeply into the practice of meditation for its own sake. To Kabat-Zinn, meditation is important because it brings about a state of "mindfulness," a condition of "being" rather than "doing" during which you pay attention to the moment rather than the past, the future, or the multitudinous distractions of modern life. In brief, rather poetic chapters, he describes different meditative practices and what they can do for the practitioner. The idea that meditation is "spiritual" is often confusing to people, Kabat-Zinn writes; he prefers to think of it as what you might call a workout for your consciousness. This book makes learning meditation remarkably easy (although practicing it is not). But it also makes it seem infinitely appealing. --Ben Kallen

From Publishers Weekly
Kabat-Zinn ( Full Catastrophe Living ), founder of the Stress Reduction Clinic at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center, here urges readers to practice "mindfulness," a more than 2000-year-old Buddhist method of living fully in the present, observing ourselves, our feeling, others and our surroundings without judging them. Free of trendiness, the book presents meditation as a natural activity that can be practiced anytime and anywhere, without props or trappings. Kabat-Zinn explains how to live in the moment by taking up such techniques as "non-doing," trust and concentration. He shows readers meditation postures and ways to meditate, including visualizing mountains and lakes, and concentrating on walking or standing. Amusing anecdotes illustrate applications of mindfulness in everyday life, including "Cleaning the Stove While Listening to Bobby McFerrin," "Cat Food Lessons" and two chapters on parenting as a form of meditation (children as "live-in Zen masters"). This warm, witty and wise guide should bring relaxation to stressed-out people. Author tour. Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal
Kabat-Zinn, the founder and director of the Stress Reduction Clinic at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center, provides an excellent handbook on living fully in the present moment through mindfulness meditation. This meditative technique, widely used in Buddhist practice, is presented in nonsectarian form with sufficient instructions for the beginner (who may also order the cassette tapes to facilitate disciplined practice). Kabat-Zinn's previous Full Catastrophe Living (Delacorte, 1990) was directed to those in crisis; this book, which is for everyone, includes reflections on the beauty of the present and meditation's emotional and spiritual applications. An important book for public and seminary libraries, and for health and New Age collections.Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From AudioFile
The subtitle, Mindfulness Meditation in Everyday Life, says it all: a simple and straightforward introduction to Buddhist meditation practice from one of the country's leading authorities on stress-reduction techniques. The program has as its goal a personal transformation of the listener. The presentation is clear and effective, suiting the material and expressing the author's ideas. C.S. (c)AudioFile, Portland, Maine

From Booklist
Presented, like a 12-step daily reader, in little chapterbursts, this is a guide to pure meditation. That is, meditation not "in order to relax, to experience a special state, to become a better person, to reduce some stress or pain, to break out of old habits and patterns, to become free or enlightened"--although those are "all valid reasons to take up meditation"--but for what Kabat-Zinn calls "mindfulness"--a waking from the dream of knowing what our lives are about and where we're headed to the realization that each of us is always in just one place and moment. Beyond that realization, we may achieve wisdom--at least so thought the Buddha and other sages Kabat-Zinn cites. In his book's three parts, Kabat-Zinn presents, first, the rationale for taking up "a personal practice of mindfulness," then some matters of meditational form (e.g., "Dignity," "Posture," "How Long to Practice?"), and last, applications and perspectives on mindfulness. Throughout his jargon-free, directly written text, Kabat-Zinn sprinkles suggestions for practice, and he appends a list of helpful tapes. Ray Olson

FROM THE PUBLISHER

A simple and straightforward introduction to Buddhist meditation practice from one of the country's leading authorities on stress-reduction techniques, Wherever You Go, There You Are has as its goal a personal transformation of the listener.

Dr. Kabat-Zinn has taught this two-thousand-year-old Buddhist method of relaxation to thousands of patients in his Stress Reduction Program at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center. Through mindfulness, one makes every moment count. By "capturing" the present and living fully within each moment as it happens, one can reduce anxiety, achieve inner peace, and enrich the quality of life.

With warmth and humor, Wherever You Go, There You Are blends stories, anecdotes, poems, images, and scientific observations with easily followed instructions. The result is a unique audio program that is part inspiration and part study guide to a revolutionary new way of being, seeing, and living.

FROM THE CRITICS

AudioFile - Cheryl Stiles