This is a 2 CD set with Jon Kabat-Zinn talking about the benefits of meditation on the first CD and going through some meditation exercises on the second.  The explanation on the first CD is done extemporaneously, and is quite casual.  He makes a few jokes and talks a bit about yourself.  He makes one mistake in saying that it was Aristotle who said "Know Thyself," when it was in fact Socrates.  More problematic is his tone; it can be hard to take him seriously because he verges on the absurd.  I had been watching The Office with Steve Carrell before listening to this audiobook and it was hard not to find what he is saying quite silly.  However, when listening in the right mood, he sounds reasonable enough.  The second CD with the meditations was done well — his voice is quite hypnotic.  The meditations are designed to help people experiencing chronic pain or who have serious medical illnesses.  They may be helpful, and anyone who is interested in meditation may find this CD set a good place to start.

© 2007 Christian Perring

Christian Perring, Associate Professor of Philosophy, Dowling College, New York.

Categories: AudioBooks, Wellness, SelfHelp