The author was inspired to create this book after reading that psychological research shows that just 8 weeks of daily mindful meditation practices significantly lowers the activity in the stress centre of the brain. She could see that while 8 weeks doesn’t sound long, it would be much easier to do if supported by a guide - and this is it. There are topics for each week, each with relevant activities and daily practices. So week 1 is about Presence, and you are invited to think about paying attention, sound, sight, smell, taste, touch etc. each with a practice to try, from “meditating through sound’” to “connecting through touch”. It’s an agnostic approach, and the practices integrate Buddhist, yoga, and Christian philosophy, mental health treatment, modern psychology, and much more. It’s a clever idea, which is well executed.

200pp, 216 x 140 mm, Paperback, 2023, RRP £13.99