Mindfulness Plain & Simple

by Oli Doyle

MINDFULNESS PLAIN & SIMPLE provides the tools, tips and tricks you need to de-stress and de-clutter your mind.

Inner peace and happiness are available now, and they're closer than you think. By taking just a few minutes out of your day and making the simple but dramatic shift into the present moment, you will find more focus, effectiveness and clarity than you ever thought possible. There is no jargon, religion or new age vision quest, just simple tools to be happier and more confident straight away.

Oli Doyle is renowned for teaching mindfulness directly to those with no experience. For anyone seeking a simple, practical guide to living mindfully, this book is a must.

Genres: Nonfiction, Self Help, Mental Health, Spirituality, Health, Buddhism

135 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published November 7, 2010

About the author

Oli Doyle first started practising mindfulness in 2003, and all he could find were books by the Dalai Lama and other Buddhist writers. Like many others, he found the task of putting those words into practice incredibly difficult, so he set about deconstructing this practice of mindfulness and translating the experience into everyday language. He now teaches mindfulness workshops and through his website and his teaching project, www.alittlepeaceandquiet.com, he provides the practical teaching to help readers deepen their practice quickly. His first book, MINDFULNESS PLAIN AND SIMPLE is aimed at people new to mindfulness and offers an easy way in to the discipline, helping people learn how to be mindful and find peace and happiness.

Reviews

[Caroline Mitchell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is needed by the world. I am no stranger to mindfulness so there was nothing new in this book that I did not already know, but it provided a nice reminder to maintain my practice, if only for a few minutes every day. If you are a complete beginner to mindfulness, this book will serve you well.

[Henry · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first Zen meditation guide I've read that is written by a Westerner, given the fact there are a lot of them - what I can say about myself is I've been too lazy and ignorant. This book seems to be a successful one to me, on bringing What Zen meditation is about to those who were born and raised in Western culture in a straightforward, plain and simple way, just as the title of the book implies. No mumbo-jumbo, no "intellectualization", no much philosophical analysis, not even too much background introduction. Like Zen itself, the book just "cuts though". It tells readers, hey, it's not difficult at all to be mindfulness: just get free from your mind, ignore its chattering thoughts and "be present". As a professional spiritual coach, Oli Doyle, not like some intellectuals engrossed into metaphysical talk, knows from his experience exactly what a beginner in Zen needs to become mindful. He knows all tricks our shrewd and unscrupulous ego possesses and the technique to disarm them.

People may have said this for hundreds of years, that West and East should learn from each other. I'm not sure if an Asia-born lay Buddhist and Zen practitioner can write a book as effective and yet "plain and simple" like this book of Doyle's. We tend to make things complicated, using obscure ancient terminologies and esoteric styled commentaries, only to frighten away the youth and make them think Buddhism/Zen only belongs to some old hermits living in 19th-Century caves. This even does more harm when Zen is concerned, ironically, when we know Zen's spirit as "direct realization".

Zen is just "that", with easy access open to all. Anyone who follows the teachings and instructions of the book and practices Zen meditation every day will at least be one living a happy life with much less anxiety than average people. Buddhism is not a religion; it just tells you how to get free of suffering.

[Vanessa · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars.

BookTube-A-Thon 2017 Book 3: A book you bought because of the cover.

Review to follow.

[Amanda Robinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book really resonates with me. It's easy to get lost so deeply in your thoughts day to day that you aren't actually living in the moment but always in the past or the future.

Stress and anxiety and the feelings and emotions that accompany them become normal and you forget what peace actually is. You distract yourself and put the emotions in a drawer in your mind until one day that draw over loaded with emotion breaks and you can no longer carry on. Everything that you have taken for granted becomes an impossible task even small things that were one pleasurable trigger feelings of anxiety and panic. It's a wake up call.

Lots of mindful exercises at the back to help you back on the path to peace. This book isn't about only feeling positive thoughts and emotions it's about learning to live with the negative and accepting that they are there, not getting lost in them and letting them go.

[Keith CARTER · Rating 5 out of 5]

I must say it was fate that this book should land on my mat as for the last 2 years I have suffered from panic and anxiety disorders. However this book is not just for sufferers of panic or anxiety. This book could be the answer for anyone stressed out from the relentless pace of life these days. I read this book in one sitting and Ican tell you honestly I learned more from this book than my overworked gp could hope to teach.It teaches us in laymans terms how to "live in the moment" and not to worry about what is waiting for us in the future and what has happened in the past. These are things which mostly are beyond our control.
Throughout the book there are set out for us relaxation and meditation techniques. Also Mr Doyle gives us a web address in which we can download 10 free audio classes which "are designed to deepen our mindfulness practice".
I can honestly tell you since reading this book it has given me hope and a chance to take back control of my life as I was being controlled by the anxiety. Mindfulness could be the answer to a lot of peoples prayers, this book is certainly mine.

[Keely · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm sure this book would help some people, but it just wasn't for me.

I got this book about 6 years ago when I was recovering from the lowest point my life. I had every intention of reading it at the time and I think I did pick it up and read a few pages before realising I didn't feel like reading it right then and then it just sat on my shelf.
Fast forward to now. I'm hoping to move to a different country this year so I am trying to read some books that I don't think I will want to keep. This book was one of the ones that could have gone one of two ways. I would have found it very useful and enlightening or just not very useful to me. Sadly it was the latter.
I gave it 3 stars becuase as I said, I'm sure it would help some people and there wasn't anything really wrong with it. The book just simply wasn't for me.

[Aisha Alhashmi · Rating 3 out of 5]

It is as it says; the information given were plain and straightforward without any philosophical approach towards life or so! If you e read many books about mindfulness before this book would not add to your knowledge however it is an excellent book for someone who've been looking around a lot about mindfulness or was seeking it--beginner.
Good read; especially the few last parts !

[Yohana Januarty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Round up from 3.5⭐️

Good book for beginner in mindfulness. 👌🏻

[Lotte · Rating 3 out of 5]

As far as overviews into mindfulness go, this book does well. It is clear and concise in its delivery making the text readable and accessible for all, not just academics.

Doyle has broken down the subject of mindfulness into bite-size, manageable topics making it easy to take in the information provided. The sub-sections in which these topics are placed provide a gradual path that takes you through brief explanations and applications for real life. They also provide handy reference points if you're looking to skim read this book for the sections you require.

However, for me as a novice within this area, I found this book created more questions than it answered. The more I read the more I wanted to question, and that subsequently led to me challenging the concept of mindfulness - something I'm sure the author did not intend. I think the topic of mindfulness brings up many queries as it is being discussed, and although Doyle touches upon some of them, I found myself seeking bigger, greater explanations. As the title suggests 'Plain & Simple' Doyle was obviously trying to avoid complex discussions and explanations. Unfortunately his approach wasn't quite indepth enough for me.

As a starting text I would recommend this book for anyone. Given that it's short in length, basic and provides an outline, it will certainly provide you with enough of an insight to decide if you wish to pursue further texts. If you're looking to read this book to further your knowledge, this just isn't the text you're looking for!

[Valerie (Pate) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was wonderfully refreshing. It delivers exactly what it advertises, and that always makes for a happy reader. I had been told often enough about mindfulness and the zen-like practice of being “in the moment”, but even after reading quite a bit about the subject, I still wasn’t quite sure how it was meant to be applied to an everyday life.

Oli Doyle provides simple, down-to-earth explanations of his own experiences. He gives a strong background case for the good of meditation and mindfulness, and then backs it up with excercises that the reader can begin right away. Doyle addresses all the little questions I had - “What happens when my mind wanders?”, “Is there a right way and a wrong way to do this?”, “How long before I see the benefits?”…

It is all included in this short, accessible volume, which you may find yourself referring to again for refreshers if, like me, you find yourself truly intrigued by what Doyle has to say.

So often we are told of the wonders of meditation, and yet I believe we often feel it is something so difficult or unavailable to the average person. I suggest you read this book if you are at all intrigued by a “mindful” approach to life. In fact, I have given this book twice as a gift to people I believed could benefit from its teachings.
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[Lynn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I started this as a buffer to those times when I felt brain fog and just couldn't concentrate. For some, I'm sure, this will really work and I will take some of the hints away with me but I did find a lot just common sense and sometimes very repetitive. I find myself being cynical about the whole Mindfulness label as it seems to be another name for meditation. Reading, or listening, about how to empty the mind is counterproductive but the action and practice is not. Take from this what you will but also take it with a pinch of salt and just live!

[Lucy Lowe · Rating 2 out of 5]

“Anytime you believe a thought that says life should be different from what it is right now, you will suffer”
― Oli Doyle, Mindfulness Plain & Simple

This is a good introduction into mindfulness, but for me was a little repetitive and could have focused more on the realities of trying to focus on mindfulness, rather than just in the last chapter.

[Ida · Rating 3 out of 5]

There are some good pointers in here but I wish the author wouldn't go so far in romanticising the concept. It makes it feel like it's being overmarketed which would make most people run in the opposite direction. Like I'm never going to laugh if someone steals my car.

[Rob Barker · Rating 4 out of 5]

As the title says … plain and simple. A pleasure to read considering that this is a subject that can be over complicated.

[Lisa Guiry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting book for beginners in mindfulness. I will definitely be practicing the suggestions in this book.

[Daniyal Zia · Rating 1 out of 5]

There's a chap about unconditional happiness. He advocates for aiming to be unconditionally happy, because happiness/sadness is all from our own minds and what is there to lose. He mentions how we may have tried diets and
a bunch of other external things and found they don't work, because they're external things. It's as if he's thrown out all the existing research on malnutrition, hydration, sleep deprivation, social connectedness, violence, exercise, sunlight, drugs and to ignore biological fact that externalities affect the human mind and body. I'm sure people's grief is all in the mind.
How about situations of life where brainwashing oneself into happiness will lead to worse outcomes, compared to feeling sadness, discontent, anger or whatever else. Should trafficking victims choose happiness about their experience, or choose discontent or even anger, to escape or to go through the long-winded legal processes post-escape. Should illegally abused children override biology and choose happiness and gratefulness during their abuse? Sounds like an abuser's wet dream (no I'm not accusing him of being one) and a good way to create dysfunctional, emotionally-stunted kids who believe they deserve what they get. Same for victims of bullying - be a happy pushover regardless of whether the perpetrators respond well to that and choose happiness over steps to better the situation. Should MLK Jr have chosen happiness over what he perceived to be racial and economic injustice? Should those not able to access physical healthcare be happy and never complain? Should unions be happy with whatever low pay their workers get? Would Oli himself be writing a book if people in the past hadn't had various non-happy feelings that drove them to improve education for commoners? Let's ignore the power of those non-happiness feelings to drive the chain of positive change. Let's throw pragmatism regarding improveable situations out of the window, for some woowoo dogma. He'll have people choose happiness and inaction, then get slapped with even worse non-happiness (if not outright pain, but I suppose we should be happy seeing others pain too) when the consequences of that inaction and the natural, well-studied biological reaction to it come to bite them and require even more self-brainwashing to be happy, compared to if they addressed their problems earlier.
I'm also not sure what this part has to do with mindfulness. But obviously he's chosen to be happy writing claptrap, so at least he took his own advice by doing that. If anyone has issue with this review, you've not followed his advice to be unconditionally happy.
I suppose I'm happy I read his nonsense, to better know my own values and how they contrast with his and to better know what dangerous and untruthful nonsense is out there. No offense to the author, who probably wrote the book with good intentions.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

My friend knew I had been going through a particularly difficult time when she gave me this book for my birthday last year. I've had trouble with anxiety for most of my life and she thought this book might help.

I had practiced mindfulness before, but I had an on and off again relationship with it.

In 'Mindfulness: Plain and Simple', Oli Doyle puts forth what mindfulness is, why we need it and how it can help us overcome our busy minds which take us away from reality.

As someone who knew what mindfulness was and had practiced it (both by myself and in a class setting) I learned so much I did not know.

The most helpful part for me was part 1 on human suffering and why we need mindfulness.
Having someone reaffirm that your thoughts are stories about reality and not reality itself, was very reassuring.

As well as this, the part about accepting the present moment for what it is
was just what I needed to hear.

The book also contained exercises which allowed me to put into practice what I learned.

I highly recommend it for anyone interested in mindfulness as a coping mechanism or simply as way to be more present.

Overall, I really loved this book and found it very helpful. I know I will refer back to it time and time again.

End Note: Mindfulness isn't a quick fix, but it has helped me handle things better and I have noticed a massive difference since I began reading this and book practicing it regularly.

[Elaine Lewis · Rating 2 out of 5]

Apparently, if your relationship ends, and you accept that it’s over and you haven’t got a partner anymore, there’ll be no suffering. There’ll be no grieving the relationship, no missing the person, you just accept you’re no longer together and you’ll be fine. It also says that our minds come up with drama, because we’d be bored if they didn’t. The author must have a very simple and straightforward life, if they genuinely believe the complex issues that so many people manage on a daily basis, are solely a product of their minds. We already know his wife is the primary parent after the section where he states that their baby was unwell with a virus, “So I took him to give my wife a break” I couldn’t read much further than that, because my obviously unruly mind, couldn’t get past that. I’m so sick of our patriarchal society and its unrelenting belief that raising children and taking care of domestic and emotional labour is predominantly women’s responsibility. Maybe the book improved following the no suffering when relationships end, if we just decide they’re done, and move on, and I may be missing something completely mind blowing, but I completely lost interest in reading after that.

[Safira Ryanatami · Rating 4 out of 5]

"We spend lots of time in our heads instead of living our lives" --Oli Doyle
.
For me, this is a book that perhaps will change the way of life --- I was thinking that in life we should look always happy, we should think positively in each moment, or we should focus on the goal (I here bold the word: focus). Well, it is not false as well. At some point, I admit that sometimes we need it to survive. But yet, there is apparently a better choice to live the life, which is to live mindfully or commonly named live in the (present) moment.
.
A mindful life is simple as we breathe mindfully instead of dwelling to the past memories or foreseeing the future projection, because those all only exist in our heads ---or in other words, those all are not real. Since we live for now, perhaps we would appreciate and even love people and things around us much better, even to ourselves.
.
Ps. This is the first self-help book that I really pay attention closer, because I think this is a worth book to read and to understand. Beside, it is also as a reminder for me to live mindfully, however until I share this post I still learn to live with mindfulness ☺.

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

It took me a while to read this - to start with only reading a few pages at a time over two to three months, and then reading the second half of it in a couple of weeks. I tried all the exercises as I went along. I think it's a great introduction and starting point for Mindfulness. I already feel able to focus more on the NOW and live in the moment. I am not managing to sit down regularly at the moment and practice Mindfulness based on the exercises in the book (but it is the school summer hols - I intend to try harder when the children are back at school). Oli Doyle writes clearly and simply introducing Mindfulness through a series of simple exercises, examples and scenarios. I would definitely recommend this book if you are interested in Mindfulness - and stick with it - pursue the book to the end - don't give up. Well worth it and something I intend to take further.

[Mons · Rating 4 out of 5]

As long as you live lost in thought, you are not really living - you are a ghost.
[…] any time you believe a thought that says life should be different from what it is right now, you will suffer.

Concepts and thoughts mentioned were repeated over and over again in the upcoming pages. I'm not sure If this is something I should be bothered by for how recursion can strengthen or in some cases change notion, impression.
Although the book is absolutely simple and easy-to-read, It contains nice advides people might should really follow.

So much time is spent thinking about what will happen tomorrow that we barely experience today.
The whole human world is just an external representation of the human mind…

[nina · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Peace is not something that starts from the outside and filters in; it begins with our inner state and then radiates outward." Page 42

Fortunately, i finished it today!

After read this book, i feel calmer. It's about being mindfulness to the present and forget the things did happened in the past and not worrying about the future. Just breath....

Many sentences that blow my mind. This book tells you that do not worry about anything, what's happening with other than you can handle, just breath and be mindfulness. It's also really easy to read (even though i finished it after a month reading bcs i was lazy af lmao). Also I highlight many sentences/quotes.

"Believing those stories often leaves us feeling helpless and without hope, unable to do anything to improve our lives." Page 23

[Universal Awakening · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful, easy-read - highly recommended. This is a really nice little book which helps you to shift your perspective about how you view life. Most human beings are living in their own limited worlds, viewing life through the filters of thoughts and feelings. This book will help you to step beyond your personal world so that you feel much more light and relaxed. Oli Doyle's pointings will help you directly experience the peace that you have been longing for.

[Nina Cali · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

The analogies and examples provided made sense and are relatable however there were a few scenarios that fell flat. Some examples I wanted to be further discussed. That could be because those resonated to me more compared to the rest.

I would still say this book helps you get started on mindful living. It makes the mindfulness practice less daunting. This is truly a practical guide to mindfulness.

[Clare · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've read some outstanding books lately on awareness, awakening, mindfulness etc so I'll admit that, at first, I felt that this book wasn't going to live up to the others. But it resonated more as I read on. It's definitely one I'd recommend - stick with it to the end. It's really because of the way it compares to some others I've read that I can't give it 5 stars.

[Mandy Noble · Rating 5 out of 5]

To the point

Simple but profound. Explains the state of the mind- how we believe our thoughts and spend most of our time lost in them not really living a full life. Then the second half of the book offers several different mindfulness practices and some common Q&As. There are lots of books on mindfulness but if you only read this one you’ll be all set.

[Carole Ross · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book explains very well what mindfulness is all about. This is more a book for people who are not familiar with mindfulness. Having read others books previously on the same subject I feel I haven't learn much more. But it's still good to have a reminder.

[Ryan Barry · Rating 2 out of 5]

"Mindfulness is not intellectual,it's a thing you do" states the author,and they are correct.
I thought "So why am I reading this book then?"

At that point I took the book's advice, and left it there. Bland, uninformative,and full of info that's widely available on the internet.

[Elisa Ferroni · Rating 5 out of 5]

Plain and simple as the cover says.
A great introduction to mindfulness and a lighter way to live. Language is simple and arrives immediately, it gets you also thanks to many relatable examples of daily struggles.
I liked it very much and highly recommend it.

[Austin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book! Honestly quite life changing...really opened my eyes to how simple life really is when you're anchored in the present. Highly recommend this one!