I started reading this book without realizing it would dive into the topic of meditation (spoiler alert). I was actually searching for inspirational reads on navigating life transitions when Amazon—or Google’s all-knowing algorithm—decided this was the book for me. Some might even say the universe was “manifesting” what I needed, but that’s a debate for another book review.
Dan Harris tells his story with remarkable clarity and charm. For those unfamiliar, Harris is a news anchor on ABC in the U.S. I hadn’t followed his work before, but as a reader, you’re taken on a concise and compelling retelling of his career—from reporting in war zones to a very public on-air meltdown.
After covering post-9/11 Iraq, Harris returned home and turned to what he euphemistically called “self-medication” (translation: cocaine) to cope with undiagnosed PTSD. This all came to a head one morning when he experienced a full-blown panic attack—live on national television.
That moment forced him to take a hard look at his life. He realized he needed to change—not just for his career but for his own well-being. As a journalist, he had access to some of the biggest self-help gurus of the time, including Eckhart Tolle and Deepak Chopra. But their answers left him unsatisfied, pushing him toward a practice that has survived 2,500 years and still remains relevant today: meditation.
The book takes you along for the ride as Harris embarks on his quest to quiet the incessant chatter in his mind. He gradually comes to understand that meditation isn’t just for monks on mountaintops—it’s a practical tool for everyday life, helping him become more present and self-aware.
One of the book’s biggest strengths is its accessibility. Harris writes for the everyday skeptic—the person intrigued by meditation but put off by its usual metaphysical, mystical, or pseudo-scientific packaging. He voices the very doubts many of us have, grilling experts with the same questions we’d ask. He also explores whether practices like compassion and detachment—core to meditation—can survive in a cutthroat corporate environment, using his own newsroom experiences as a testing ground.
While this isn’t a meditation manual (there’s only a short section at the end with some basic instructions), it’s an entertaining and insightful read—especially for those hesitant to give meditation a shot. And for those of us who already practice (like myself), it serves as a refreshing reminder of why we started in the first place—and of those early meditation sessions when all we could think was, how long is this going to last?