Reviews

True Refuge by Tara Brach

ancientolive's review against another edition

emotional inspiring slow-paced

5.0

The meditations in this book are incredibly helpful, and the book is written in such a conversational and supportive tone. 

benjaminj1996's review

challenging hopeful informative inspiring reflective relaxing medium-paced

4.25

My review of this is much the same as Brach’s previous book “Radical Acceptance”. It’s a really well written, comforting, wise and helpful book. I get a real sense that Tara Brach is a genuine, kind person and that her writing and work comes from a place of compassion rather than a drive to seem clever or superior or to earn money. Again, this book draws heavily on Buddhist teachings (but not only) and yet also leaves space for people’s own interpretations and versions of what is essentially an ancient method of therapy. It does sometimes get a little bit too spiritually flowery for me, but Brach is consistently good at making sure that the reader knows the mythical elements she’s explaining are there for metaphorical or demonstrational purposes only - they’re not something to be believed in outright. So I liked that. 

 

I’d say there’s quite a bit more technical information here but it’s presented in a very friendly and down to earth way, and I think it’s also important to add that there’s a lot of great wisdom in here for anyone, regardless of culture or religion. The book itself is essentially about dropping preconceptions of what things are, and what you yourself are, so I’d highly recommend the reader to try doing the same when approaching this book - I think many people will be pleasantly surprised. 

aya_the_papaya's review against another edition

4.0

A good reminder to be gentle with ourselves and focus on mindfulness. Easy to read and personable.

s_o_n_n_i_e's review against another edition

4.0

A very beautiful book. I wish there was a separate audio for all the meditations here.

peakshelfcare's review against another edition

5.0

A revelation on nearly every page. This book is dense and intense and requires slow processing for the reader. Although Tara is Buddhist her writing is not anti-religion or pro-Buddhism. She talks about grief, loss, suffering, anxiety, stress, and challenges in a way that is relatable, warm, and intuitively centered. This is a great book for any adult who is tired of the busy-culture in America and desires a quieter mind with more enjoyment of the small moments of life.

daniellejstewart's review against another edition

hopeful inspiring reflective relaxing slow-paced

4.25

sunshinemilk's review against another edition

1.0

Tara, just eat the damn cookies. And stop including copaganda in your books because it makes the book unsafe for a lot of people to gain knowledge from (EXAMPLE: makes jokes about getting into a ‘paddy wagon’ during her gentle arrest with the ‘nice policemen’). I guess it also shows that the well is poisoned.

This will be the last Tara Brach book I read:(

swampy's review against another edition

slow-paced

3.25

magicfern's review against another edition

hopeful inspiring reflective slow-paced

4.0

nina_av's review against another edition

hopeful informative inspiring reflective relaxing slow-paced

4.0