The Mindful Path to Self Compassion Freeing Yourself from Destructive Thoughts and Emotions by Christopher K. Germer, Ph.D.

The Mindful Path to Self Compassion Freeing Yourself from Destructive Thoughts and Emotions by Christopher K. Germer, Ph.D.

Christopher Germer is writing a book that combines buddhism, meditation, and psychology. While it includes buddhist practices, there is little preaching. In some ways, the book mirrors the concept of a higher power in alcoholics anonymous where the practitioner is asked to believe in a higher power, but not necessarily a religious one.

Librarians often run into issues surrounding this material. Sometimes we are asked to find books on meditation for example, but not religious meditation, or yoga, but not with a religious element.

The meditation exercises are focused on accepting emotions, self compassion, and "loving kindness." This is not a self help book in the traditional sense. It is more focused on self acceptance than self improvement.

I read the book much faster than the author would have wanted me to. This book is meant to be used over a length of time. The meditative exercises in this book take time to do. Some of them are not easy. Because this is a book of practices, the person using it will get as much out of it as they put into it.

Some of the types of exercises are walking meditation, breathing exercises, repeated phrases, and keeping a journal of your emotions. Christopher K. Germer combines meditation with emotions.

In addition to exercises, the author includes psychological research and neuroscience. You could call this book a book of complementary psychology, much like complementary medicine combines traditional medicine with alternative practices. Some of the concepts I liked were the "hedonic treadmill", and changes in brain function associated with long term meditative or religious practices.

The author is a Clinical Instructor of Psychology at Harvard and a founding member of the Institute for Meditation and Psychology.

There are several appendixes, extensive notes with citations from prominent journals, and an index.