Decided to read this after coming across a few recommendations for it and as someone who is always put-off by the air of religion that often accompanies meditation practice while also recognizing its benefits I thought I would enjoy it. 

Unfortunately what I was hoping to be a bit more detailed look at meditation and its benefits turned out to be largely autobiographical and takes until about halfway into the book to truly even start mentioning the first acquaintance with meditation. 

I think it could be helpful to people who have absolutely no understanding of meditation and who may benefit from a more personal encounter and transition to the practice, but if you like motivation to come more from scientific research and studies or much broader anecdotes, then you may also find this to be overly verbose. 

I appreciate some of the insights given through his interviews with more serious practitioners and highlighting the work of those utilizing meditation and Buddhist practices in a scientific setting, such as Mark Epstein, has lead to new sources. They, as well as the small introduction and FAQ to meditation at the end were the most beneficial portions.