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BOOK BRIEFS | EASTERN HORIZON 63

BOOKS IN BRIEF BOOKS IN BRIEF

Scott Snibbe, How to Train a Happy Mind.
A Skeptic’s Path to Enlightenment. Watkins: London, UK. 20241. pp 238. US$19.95
www.watskinpublishing.com.

As the author, a self-professed Buddhist, In this first part of the book, Scott
mentioned at the start of the book, his explains what is analytical meditation,
purpose is to share a structured program how to practice it, and the nature of
of thought that brings happiness and the mind. Working in much the same
meaning to your life, develops your best way as cognitive behavioural therapy,
qualities, and deepens your connection analytical meditation goes beyond the
to others, all without requiring religious calm-inducing practice of mindfulness to
belief. His Holiness the Dalai Lama, who actively train the brain through easy-to-
wrote the Foreword to the book, said follow narrative visualizations.
that while the Buddhist religion is the
spiritual practice that concerns followers Breaking the path down into concise
of the religion only, Buddhist science and steps and written in a relatable tone with
philosophy have shown themselves to be plenty of references to popular culture,
of benefit to humanity at large, including this is the ideal book if you recognize your
even to non-believers of Buddhism. mind as both the source of your problems
and the source of your solutions. EH
Eager to share the life-enhancing benefits
he found in Buddhism, Scott Snibbe
presents an 8-step program that allows
anyone to build positive mental habits.
Inspired by the ancient Buddhist path
to enlightenment known as lam rim and
yet firmly grounded in modern science,
How to Train a Happy Mind is the first
mainstream book to show how you
can achieve happiness using analytical
meditation.