heathward's reviews
589 reviews

My favourite sections were 1991-2017, which I really didn't expect. It was interesting, and I have to see rather calming, to see the boom and austerity years historicized. 

You become more relaxed when you decide to take up residence in your own mind and your own business. Life is easy when you simplify and make peace with your train of thought. When you believe your ‘bad’ thinking; you suffer. How many people, events, and things did you try to control with your mind today? Stay in your own mind and enjoy the laser like energy of having a clear mind. You don’t worry because you care; you worry because that is what you have learned to do.

This was a short book, which I read in e-book format over a couple of days. The strategies for remembering were great. Everything else was bad and the preachy voice of the author was awful. 

 Listened as an audiobook. It was very long, about 16 hours in total, though I do listen at 0.7 speed. More to the point, it was very dense. I am sure there is gold in there. But I'll need to read someone else's notes first. 

It was a slow day at work today so I managed to finish The Book mostly in one sitting. 

Some thoughts as I read:

- The separate self is an illusion. I exist as a network of relationships and processes.

- Everything exists in relationship, requiring an ecological understanding of interconnected patterns. 

- By embracing life’s harmonious conflicts and letting go of control, genuine experiences can unfold.

- Experience emerges through interaction - without observers, phenomena like rainbows wouldn’t exist.

- Life’s truths unfold through playful, direct experiences, embracing balance, shadow, and light.

I liked the barometer of importance idea. 

Fun, inspiring and snackable. Could be completed in an hour. My one problem is I read it before bed - this is the kind of book you want to read in the morning, to get you going.