Which Kabat-Zinn book first?

[Steve]

Jon

"I loved it so much I ended up rationing myself, allowing myself only a few pages at a time so I could savour it properly, like a raisin."

That's a really nice way of looking at it. JKZ's books are good for just making you feel it all makes sense and it can be tempting to just read and read (and his style of speech and writing just goes on and on in a continuous stream - I believe he really could talk all night). But as he says, you can read until you are blue in the face, but you also need to practice. So savouring like a raisin is very apt.

For me a blend of reading and practising is good. I also read books on positive psychology and am currently reading 'The Happiness Advantage" by Shawn Achor - and its very noticeable that all such books recommend mindfulness/meditation as the bedrock on which to base a more positive/happier outlook.

Steve

[JonW]

Thanks Fee and Steve.
I'll check out the Shawn Achor book.
I'm mainly reading books by Toni Packer at the moment. Though Packer's not strictly writing about mindfulness (she's been described as "a Zen teacher minus the Zen"), she's the closest I've got to encountering a female version of Kabat-Zinn. She's so gently wise that I feel the need to jot down passages every other paragraph. Like Kabat-Zinn, she writes in that "continuous stream" style that Steve mentioned in connection with JKZ.
I doubt I'm for the turning at my age but I do quite "fancy" Jon Kabat-Zinn. There's something about his writing that suggests to me he'd make a damn fine kisser. Anyway, I've got that off my chest now!

[Steve]

Jon

LOL - as nice as he is as a person, and having seen him in real life, I can't say he does it for me in that way! But hey everyone to their own.

Toni Packer's work sound interesting, I'll look it up - as Fee says there is no danger of ever running out of stuff to read! Good job a love of learning is one of my core strengths!

Steve

[JonW]

Steve, every man is entitled to a man crush.
Feel free to share...

[FeeHutch]

I do believe I just LOL'd

I really can't wait for this book to arrive now so I can share both my opinions on JKZ's writing and possible kissing ability!

[flow]

Hello,

I started with Full Catastrophe Living about 3 years ago, passed onto me by my sister, who found it helpful. It changed my thinking and marks when a positive shift began in my life. Last year I passed that book on to someone else, but will probably get myself another copy. Meanwhile, "Wherever You Go, There You Are" is by my bedside. I won't let go of that one.

[JonW]

I was thrilled to notice that Jon Kabat-Zinn (hereafter to be known as The Gorgeous Jon Kabat-Zinn!) has a new book out, or at least a book written in conjunction with Mark Williams. It's a bit pricey but I couldn't resist ordering it. I'll let you all know what I think when I'm done with it.
Cheers, Jon
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0415 ... UTF8&psc=1

[FeeHutch]

I will wait eagerly to hear your thoughts on this one.
I need to read my new book and listen to the audio books before buying anything else. Hopefully it will be a bit cheaper by then

[JonW]

Twenty quid is a bit steep but I'm off the sauce at the minute so I figured I'd only have spent that amount on wine this weekend. This way I'm sober and I get to read yet more JKZ. Though I've got a feeling he's only done the intro to this one...

[Gareth]

I too adore the way that JKZ writes, and I have this man to thank for introducing me to this thing that changed my life.

My only problem with his work is that it sometimes feels a bit wordy and somewhat inaccessible to people who perhaps aren't so intellectually capable. Mindfulness is an very simple concept when you really strip it back, and while JKZ's work is utterly compelling, I don't think it's for everyone.