SHALLOW AS A PUDDLE.
I wanted to like this book but it proved irritating, ridiculously simplistic dotted with subtle but preaching judgments. If you are new to inquiring into your spirituality or are a younger adult or teenager this might be fine as a starting place; some of it is appropriate. However for me it gave nothing and lacked mature wisdom. E.g. 'suicide is committed by those who think death can end their suffering, it can't.' Well if you have lost all dignity with perhaps motor neuron disease, your family traumatized, helplessly watching you deteriorate and instead you choose to take your own life say after paving the way for a loving exit to end horrific suffering, then that should be respected. I abhor the blanket statements this author has made, clearly suicide can end suffering when medical advances can keep people alive in torment, and who is to say that is not someone's path, to choose to end their suffering by peaceful means with contemplation? This book lacks refinement and higher intelligence, it's clunky and at a kindergarten level. Frankly rather than being preached at ask thought provoking questions, listen to inner truths as a guide. This is limp. Repeatedly likening life to a simulation computer game was very annoying and trivializing, this book at times ignored or minimized the human condition which is one of suffering at times. To me there was a persistent element of denial by not engaging with deeper questions, opting for facile superficiality. Trauma, survival and stress plays a huge role in many people's lives which is seldom addressed and therein lies the key, and how that afflicts and limits and needs to be dealt with on a spiritual path, indeed you can do all the meditation, love and beauty in the world, but unless looking at the ugly side of life and one's shadow, you're not doing the work and reading your Akashic record won't assist fully.