Reviews

Calm: Vintage Minis by Tim Parks

bart_gunn's review

Go to review page

4.0

Complete empathy with Tim in the frustrations felt at trying to quieten the mind to meditate. But he stuck with it and so will I!

yourlocalpsiamac's review

Go to review page

reflective relaxing fast-paced

3.0

cheves8's review

Go to review page

challenging emotional reflective slow-paced

3.75

lpraus's review

Go to review page

challenging reflective fast-paced

4.5

biblio_mom's review

Go to review page

2.0

Firstly I am in love with the velvety texture of the cover. Secondy, this author is funny. I like the story-telling method of writing for a self-help book. Only the book does not have "enough ingredients" to make it a very good read. But i have a great time reading

pardonmywritings's review

Go to review page

3.0

The Penguin Vintage Mini Quiz said that I needed more calm in my life so i read this. I have to say it's interesting - maybe I overthink alone even though I don't share those thoughts out loud with others...

roshnara's review

Go to review page

3.0

This is almost like my internal monologue every time I try meditation! Tim Parks goes through all the frustrations of a skeptic meditator - the uncomfortable poses, the pins and needles, the runaway thoughts, the thoughts running after the runaway thoughts - and he manages to push through and actually experience Vipassana and its rewards. (Unlike me)
A lot of what he writes is what an average stressed city dweller would think about, on meditation, and somehow he addresses the concerns in a manner that is equally cryptic and believable.
I'm semi-torn between reading the full book from which this excerpt was taken(Teach Us to Sit Still), and finding a meditation retreat myself so I can see if it really does pay off. That's how nice a read this is.

shostakovichtchaikovsky's review

Go to review page

2.0

(1.5 stars: more review to come)

otl1987's review

Go to review page

4.0

Anyone who has attempted meditation will relate to the experiences Tim Parks describes here. Personally, I laughed at his description of the thoughts he had while meditating, because I've had the same ones. I was also moved by the emotions, that I think only one that has experienced them can truly understand. His words and thoughts also brought into my focus abstract thoughts and wonderings I've had about spirituality and life.
Overall, this is an easy read, it's the telling of personal experiences on meditation and how it affects the mind, the body, the thoughts. I'd suggest it to anyone who is merely curious about meditation, but also to those who have been practicing for years. It has something for everyone and I think I'd read it again at some point.

mapscitiesandsongs's review

Go to review page

3.0

BookTube-A-Thon 2017