Reading lists

Meditation for Sceptics

These days, it is perfectly possible to practice meditation without the trappings of mysticism or religion. But why would we want to bother? Drawing on neuroscience, philosophy and psychology, these books make the case as to why we should take 'contemplative fitness' seriously.

 
wakingup.png

Waking up: A guide to spirituality without religion
by Sam Harris

Harris, who with the publication of The End of Faith in 2004, became known as one of the 'New Atheists' has always had a hidden spiritual side: in his twenties, he spent time on retreat in India, Burma, and Nepal, under the guidance of Buddhist and Advaita Vedanta teachers. In this book, Harris weaves together neuroscience, philosophy, memoir, and meditative instruction to develop a spirituality that demands no unfounded belief or religiosity.

 
why-buddhism-is-true-9781439195451_hr[1].jpg

Why Buddhism is true: the science of meditation and enlightenment
by Robert Wright

Ignore the unnecessarily contentious title: this book is a gem. Wright, an evolutionary psychologist and somewhat reluctant meditator, explains how natural selection has optimised us for passing on genes, not for happiness. Worse still, there are certain traits and habits which, while evolutionary advantageous to our prehistoric ancestors, tend to make us miserable today. Wright makes a persuasive case that Buddhism has not only accurately diagnosed our unfortunate condition, but has provided the means for us to liberate ourselves from it in the form of meditation.

 
cover_teach_us[1].jpg

teach us to sit still: a skeptic's search for health and healing
by tim parks

In this memoir, novelist and translator Tim Parks finds himself suffering from what, at first, seems a lot like prostitis. He finds himself in intense physical pain around his groin, unable to pee or have sex. After a dispiriting series of inconclusive hospital visits, during which he is pored over by Italian doctors far less squeamish about his body than he is, Parks comes to the conclusion that his ailment may well be as much mental as it is physical and so enrolls himself, much to his surprise, on a meditation retreat in Tuscany. Along the way, Parks reflects on his relationship to religion, health, literature, and art with wit and insight. A superbly funny and thoughtful book.

 
ScienceofMeditation

The science of meditation: how to change your brain, mind and body
by Daniel Goleman and richard davidson

Goleman, a psychologist and science journalist, and Davidson, a neuroscientist, have been at the forefront of the meeting between meditation and science. In this book, they break down the evidence from thousands of scientific studies of meditators, both novice and expert, and spell out what can and can't be claimed about the benefits of meditative practice.