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Unplug: A Simple Guide to Meditation for Busy Skeptics and Modern Soul Seekers
A modernized approach to meditation that will appeal to anyone, even if - especially if - you believe you have no time, you can't sit still, or that "it's just not you."
Whether you're a Fortune 500 CEO or someone bogged down with a never-ending to-do list, the proven secret to being more effective and living a happier, healthier life is to hurry up and slow down, to unplug. Studies show that you can get more done - and do it better - by doing less, just by consciously unplugging for a few minutes each day and meditating.
This revolutionary book by the founder and CEO of the groundbreaking LA-based meditation studio Unplug Meditation brilliantly simplifies this powerful practice and shows the overwhelmed and overworked how easy it is to unplug in order to relieve stress, regain focus, and recharge.
Schwartz debunks the common misperceptions about meditation, including the notion that you need to sit still for long periods of time, or that you need to "turn off your brain." She also shares the life-changing benefits you will experience, the proven science of how meditation literally changes your brain, as well as easy techniques and tips to easily incorporate meditation into your daily life.
Whether you're a Fortune 500 CEO or someone bogged down with a never-ending to-do list, the proven secret to being more effective and living a happier, healthier life is to hurry up and slow down, to unplug. Studies show that you can get more done - and do it better - by doing less, just by consciously unplugging for a few minutes each day and meditating.
This revolutionary book by the founder and CEO of the groundbreaking LA-based meditation studio Unplug Meditation brilliantly simplifies this powerful practice and shows the overwhelmed and overworked how easy it is to unplug in order to relieve stress, regain focus, and recharge.
Schwartz debunks the common misperceptions about meditation, including the notion that you need to sit still for long periods of time, or that you need to "turn off your brain." She also shares the life-changing benefits you will experience, the proven science of how meditation literally changes your brain, as well as easy techniques and tips to easily incorporate meditation into your daily life.
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First published March 7, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 196 reviews
April 5, 2017
It's too bad this book wasn't around last year, when I made a summer project out of reading all the books in my local library on Buddhism and meditation, in the hopes of putting together the best bits into a guide for New-Age-wary atheists like myself; because that's exactly what this book is, a no-nonsense guide to just the biological, Western-friendly aspects of meditation that make it work in a modern setting, dispensing not only with all the foreign phrases but also all the pointlessly rigid details about meditation that are usually handed down in New Age guides like biblical laws. (How should you "properly" sit during meditation? Schwartz: However you want. How long should a "proper" meditation session last? Schwartz: However long you want.)
It's a refreshingly straightforward guide to a subject that's still wrapped in a lot of distracting mumbo-jumbo when meditation fans typically talk about it, and Schwartz takes an attitude towards it that's much more in line with the medical-friendly Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program than any particular religion or Eastern philosophy; so it's a real shame, then, that Schwartz isn't actually that good a writer, who betrays here her former career as a fashion/makeup expert and Today Show regular by penning a book that will be much too twee and glib for many people's tastes, and that spends the entire first 25 percent of its page count doing ridiculous LA name-dropping and endlessly beating around the bush before finally getting to the part you bought the book for in the first place. It's still getting a decent score from me today (although those 4 stars would actually be 3 1/2 if Goodreads allowed half-star ratings), because the part in the middle about meditation itself is still very good, basically all the best bits from everyone else's books compacted into an extended magazine article's worth of really useful information; but if you want the optimal reading experience here, you should only read the middle Part 2 of the book and skip Parts 1 and 3 altogether, and I can't in good conscience give a 4+ star review to a book that's only readable for one-third of its page count. One of those books to check out of the library instead of buy, but certainly worth doing so if you're looking for a good Western-friendly primer to this notoriously diversion-filled subject.
It's a refreshingly straightforward guide to a subject that's still wrapped in a lot of distracting mumbo-jumbo when meditation fans typically talk about it, and Schwartz takes an attitude towards it that's much more in line with the medical-friendly Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program than any particular religion or Eastern philosophy; so it's a real shame, then, that Schwartz isn't actually that good a writer, who betrays here her former career as a fashion/makeup expert and Today Show regular by penning a book that will be much too twee and glib for many people's tastes, and that spends the entire first 25 percent of its page count doing ridiculous LA name-dropping and endlessly beating around the bush before finally getting to the part you bought the book for in the first place. It's still getting a decent score from me today (although those 4 stars would actually be 3 1/2 if Goodreads allowed half-star ratings), because the part in the middle about meditation itself is still very good, basically all the best bits from everyone else's books compacted into an extended magazine article's worth of really useful information; but if you want the optimal reading experience here, you should only read the middle Part 2 of the book and skip Parts 1 and 3 altogether, and I can't in good conscience give a 4+ star review to a book that's only readable for one-third of its page count. One of those books to check out of the library instead of buy, but certainly worth doing so if you're looking for a good Western-friendly primer to this notoriously diversion-filled subject.
October 20, 2017
The book is all about self-promotion. I've interacted with the author in real life, and trust me she is anything but zen.
March 10, 2021
I borrowed this book from my local library on a whim, intrigued by the title of the book. It turned out to be truly terrible. The author, a former fashion editor, left her stressful job after being introduced to the practice of meditation. She proceeded to take hundreds of hours of meditation classes and workshops, devouring books and podcasts on meditation, before opening her own meditation studio in LA called the "Unplug Meditation Studio."
I had quite a few issues with this book. First, despite the breadth of training and teachings the author received on her meditation journey, the book is entirely dismissive of the non-Western traditions and histories of meditation. My gut feeling after reading this book was that the author simply took elements of meditation that she learned about and liked, mashed them together into her own new "brand" of meditation (dubbed the "simple formula for straight-up meditation"), and successfully marketed that to the type-A, privileged, Goop-reading, LA-types.
Second, this book spends about 100 pages trying to convince the reader of the benefits of meditation. I already believe the benefits, and I don't think any reader who picked up this book needs convincing on this point - the book is titled as a "guide" to meditation, which is what I was expecting from it (and hardly got). The "benefits" part of the book was also quite problematic - there's a real lack of any reference to studies or data backing up the author's claims - the author often just says "trust me!"
Third, to give an idea of what the few pages providing a "guide" to meditation entailed, there are meditations titled "weight loss meditation," "Starbucks meditation," and the "obsession obliterator meditation." While there are a couple of useful meditations (like the aromatherapy meditation), I found many to be completely silly. The book is also titled as a guide to meditation for "skeptics," and so I'm not sure why the author thought to include things like crystal healing, tapping, and chakra balancing.
My final gripe about this book is that it reads as an ad for the author's meditation studio, and is peppered with testimonials from studio clients.
If you're looking to learn about meditation, and for an entry point into the practice, don't start here.
I had quite a few issues with this book. First, despite the breadth of training and teachings the author received on her meditation journey, the book is entirely dismissive of the non-Western traditions and histories of meditation. My gut feeling after reading this book was that the author simply took elements of meditation that she learned about and liked, mashed them together into her own new "brand" of meditation (dubbed the "simple formula for straight-up meditation"), and successfully marketed that to the type-A, privileged, Goop-reading, LA-types.
Second, this book spends about 100 pages trying to convince the reader of the benefits of meditation. I already believe the benefits, and I don't think any reader who picked up this book needs convincing on this point - the book is titled as a "guide" to meditation, which is what I was expecting from it (and hardly got). The "benefits" part of the book was also quite problematic - there's a real lack of any reference to studies or data backing up the author's claims - the author often just says "trust me!"
Third, to give an idea of what the few pages providing a "guide" to meditation entailed, there are meditations titled "weight loss meditation," "Starbucks meditation," and the "obsession obliterator meditation." While there are a couple of useful meditations (like the aromatherapy meditation), I found many to be completely silly. The book is also titled as a guide to meditation for "skeptics," and so I'm not sure why the author thought to include things like crystal healing, tapping, and chakra balancing.
My final gripe about this book is that it reads as an ad for the author's meditation studio, and is peppered with testimonials from studio clients.
If you're looking to learn about meditation, and for an entry point into the practice, don't start here.
February 23, 2019
Book 9 of the POPSUGAR challenge - A book about a hobby
I've always been interested in practicing meditation, but always thought it was too hard. I can't turn off my brain, I'm constantly bombarded by my thoughts, I fidget and move around too much. Unplug makes meditation so simple. It doesn't matter if you can't turn your brain off, you simply recognize the thoughts trickling back in and refocus. I find that stress (like everyone) effects my sleep and my mood, so it was refreshing to read about ways to deal with it and not necessarily letting things go, but letting them be. When you notice yourself getting angry or upset, label the emotion, recognize it and move on.
I will definitely be adopting many of the methods from this book and hopefully be on my way to successfully meditating and noticing the benefits in my life. I highly recommend this book and will probably be buying it for people I know would be interested in it or could benefit from it.
I've always been interested in practicing meditation, but always thought it was too hard. I can't turn off my brain, I'm constantly bombarded by my thoughts, I fidget and move around too much. Unplug makes meditation so simple. It doesn't matter if you can't turn your brain off, you simply recognize the thoughts trickling back in and refocus. I find that stress (like everyone) effects my sleep and my mood, so it was refreshing to read about ways to deal with it and not necessarily letting things go, but letting them be. When you notice yourself getting angry or upset, label the emotion, recognize it and move on.
I will definitely be adopting many of the methods from this book and hopefully be on my way to successfully meditating and noticing the benefits in my life. I highly recommend this book and will probably be buying it for people I know would be interested in it or could benefit from it.
June 29, 2017
I picked up this book because it was supposed to be a no-nonsense, straightforward guide to meditation for the busy person. The first 1/3 of the book begins by explaining to you why you should be meditating and trying to convince you of the benefits of meditation. I found this to be a waste of time because thinking realistically, if I purchased the book in the first place I already believe, at least on some level, of the benefits of meditation and that I should be doing it. She even wrote instructions to skip quite a few pages if you didn't need convincing. The middle 1/3 is fairly good information, that I found somewhat helpful. But then the last 1/3 of the book she starts explaining the mystical side of meditation talking about "chakras" and crystals that can promote healing and other nonsense that has helped make people see meditation as this pseudo-science thing that only hippies and those that believe in palm readings, ghosts, reiki and such would do. All in all I thought that 2/3 of the book was crap that wasn't relevant and the 1/3 of the book that wasn't total crap was okay at best. If I could rate just the middle third of the book I would give it 3 or 4 stars out of five.
October 25, 2020
A colleague recently recommended to me that before I start making any drastic life changes, I should learn how to meditate.
Wanting to learn more, I came across what seemed like an accessible, short, and sleek looking book. Too bad it turned out to be a huge waste of time.
First off, the author spends a significant amount of time describing her past and how she went from being a strung-out fashion editor, director, and stylist for some of America's largest magazines to giving it all up to start a meditation studio. This just seemed so trite and disconnected from the audience she was trying to appeal to (i.e. "busy skeptics" - it's right in the title). I bet if I could just leave my job and not worry about money I too, would have no problem meditating. /s
Then she spends MANY pages outlining the benefits of meditation. If someone is picking up with is book, you probably don't need to spend 40+ pages convincing them of the benefits of meditation. I wouldn't have spent $20 on this stupid book if I thought meditation was synonymous with malarkey.
It's not until page 119 (of 197) where she begins to talk about how to practice meditation. Then for a mere 43 pages we discuss how to meditate. This was useful.
But then she veers way off into left field to discuss all of the stuff any skeptic would skoff at (i.e. healing power of gemstones, tapping, etc.). This book is literally titled "A simple guide to meditation for busy SKEPTICS..." - I'm starting to think the author was deliberately trying to alienate anyone skeptical by writing about these techniques.
Also, throughout this short book the author regularly cites Davidji (by my count at least 11 times), so you're probably better off buying his works since he seems to be a major player in meditation.
Either way, you're probably better off reading a blog on meditation then buying/reading this book.
Wanting to learn more, I came across what seemed like an accessible, short, and sleek looking book. Too bad it turned out to be a huge waste of time.
First off, the author spends a significant amount of time describing her past and how she went from being a strung-out fashion editor, director, and stylist for some of America's largest magazines to giving it all up to start a meditation studio. This just seemed so trite and disconnected from the audience she was trying to appeal to (i.e. "busy skeptics" - it's right in the title). I bet if I could just leave my job and not worry about money I too, would have no problem meditating. /s
Then she spends MANY pages outlining the benefits of meditation. If someone is picking up with is book, you probably don't need to spend 40+ pages convincing them of the benefits of meditation. I wouldn't have spent $20 on this stupid book if I thought meditation was synonymous with malarkey.
It's not until page 119 (of 197) where she begins to talk about how to practice meditation. Then for a mere 43 pages we discuss how to meditate. This was useful.
But then she veers way off into left field to discuss all of the stuff any skeptic would skoff at (i.e. healing power of gemstones, tapping, etc.). This book is literally titled "A simple guide to meditation for busy SKEPTICS..." - I'm starting to think the author was deliberately trying to alienate anyone skeptical by writing about these techniques.
Also, throughout this short book the author regularly cites Davidji (by my count at least 11 times), so you're probably better off buying his works since he seems to be a major player in meditation.
Either way, you're probably better off reading a blog on meditation then buying/reading this book.
November 7, 2017
An almost 200 page book with only about 15 pages of real content. Just skip to the content you want to read, you're not missing anything. Useless tangents and name dropping. This book is essentially an advertisement for the author's meditation studio in LA.
September 24, 2017
'Unplug: A Simple Guide to Meditation for Busy Skeptics and Modern Soul Seekers' by Suze Yalof Scwhartz and Debra Goldstein didn't actually win over this skeptic.
Starting out with a series of name-dropping stories about how meditation can change your life, it takes a while for this book to seem to get to the point. Once it does, it includes simple enough instructions and guided meditation techniques for the different types of day the reader might have. There are also meditations for children.
I'm not sure what I expected, and I'm really probably the wrong audience for this book. The first half of the book was just too chatty and felt a bit too self-congratulatory. The technique portions seemed helpful enough and could be useful for those looking for a way to find a way to mindfulness.
I received a review copy of this ebook from Crown Publishing and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.
Starting out with a series of name-dropping stories about how meditation can change your life, it takes a while for this book to seem to get to the point. Once it does, it includes simple enough instructions and guided meditation techniques for the different types of day the reader might have. There are also meditations for children.
I'm not sure what I expected, and I'm really probably the wrong audience for this book. The first half of the book was just too chatty and felt a bit too self-congratulatory. The technique portions seemed helpful enough and could be useful for those looking for a way to find a way to mindfulness.
I received a review copy of this ebook from Crown Publishing and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.
September 30, 2017
I first noticed the cover of this book and that is what drew me in. Then I noticed what it is about and decided it would be worth the time to read it and I was right. The author tells you a new way to look at how you can meditate. I liked what she says - everyone can do it. You do not need to have the traditional way of sitting, things they say or how to do it. The idea is to just get started meditating. As she says there will never be extra time to do but you have to make time for it, just like you make time for everything else in your life, i.e. reading, working out, sports, tv watching etc. You can start by just doing it five minutes a day and work your way up to 30 minutes a day. You can do it lying down, standing in line or sitting in your favorite chair. She even tells you how you can meditate in your car in a traffic jam or standing in line at the grocery store, both of which I need to start doing. The author tells you how to pick your mantra, how to find what is comfortable for you and when to do it. She also threw in some stories from real people and their thoughts on unplugging. I liked her ideas and made myself some good notes. This book was well written and easy to read.
October 7, 2018
I am blown away!! I wish I could give this 6 stars. I listened to this and then read the book. My cousin fecommended it to me and I believe this might be LIFE CHANGING...yes I said that. The author of this book read the audible. She herself is so excited to pass on all the information about meditation. She explains how it changed her. She wanted to pass on all her information on what it was, how to do it, the misconceptions, the benefits, the science behind it, and the many types. It is for "busy skeptics and modern soul seekers". Truly and honestly I was a skeptic. However, I cannot wait to start and give it a try. It seems like a win win. Love the whole idea of "unplugging" from distraction and experience the PRESENT moment. I know it will take practice and I need to remember to have patience with the process. Seems once your soul gets awakened you will want to keep it going. Suze Yalof Schwartz says you have the power to take yourself on an inner vacation at ANYTIME to find your passion, your purpose, and your peace. I am so excited to UNPLUG, sit in silence, and MEDITATE!!!! Now I want to share with everyone.
February 23, 2022
Sounded promising initially but I can't say I learned anything new.
March 14, 2017
I love how easy to read this is and how its broken down in easy to follow steps. I have a hard time meditating and I hope this will help!
April 14, 2019
‘*‘ Meine Meinung ‘*‘
„Schnell“ ist ziemlich relativ. Im Klappentext steht, dass die Autorin „schnell und wirksam Abhilfe beim Entschleunigen und Abschalten schafft“. Dass sie aber erst einmal zwei Drittel des Buches darüber schwafelt, wie sie zur Meditation gekommen ist und was man alles nicht braucht, ist alles andere als „schnell“. Das ist massives Entschleunigen der Erwartungserfüllung.
Es ging mir auch ziemlich auf den Keks, dass sie immer wiederholte, welche genialen, wichtigen Jobs sie in der Vergangenheit inne hatte und dass sie eine erfolgreiche Frau ist. Diese Art der Selbstbeweihräucherung kommt bei mir echt schlecht an.
Aber das letzte Drittel kommt endlich zu Meditationen. Sei es eine Meditation in der Warteschlange, eine vor dem Einschlafen oder eine vor einem Vortrag, hier gibt es endlich konkrete Anleitungen und Tipps, wie es am besten klappen könnte. Es hat mir gut gefallen, dass allgemein immer darauf Wert gelegt wurde, dass jeder anders ist und dementsprechend auch individuelle Voraussetzungen zum Meditieren benötigt. Der eine meditiert besser im Sitzen, der andere besser im Liegen. Hauptsache, man meditiert.
Esther Schweins hat das komplette Hörbuch wunderbar akzentuiert gelesen. Bei den Meditationen, die vorgestellt wurden, hätten es auch locker eine geführte Meditationen sein können. Denn ich konnte mich super auf die Stimme einlassen. Diese Meditationen habe ich auch auf dem Mobile weiterhin gespeichert und werde mir die eine oder andere mal in der Warteschlange oder in Bus und Bahn anhören.
Da für mich erst das letzte Drittel dem Klappentext entsprach und meine Erwartungen erfüllte, gibt es 3 Meditations-Sterne.
‘*‘ Klappentext ‘*‘
Immer auf dem Sprung, von einer Aufgabe zur nächsten hetzen - die Anforderungen unseres Alltags lassen uns manchmal schier verzweifeln. Die Meditations- und Achtsamkeitslehrerin Suze Yalof Schwartz schafft schnell und wirksam Abhilfe: Einfach mal bewusst abschalten, radikal entschleunigen - und meditieren. Nein, dafür müssen wir nicht in ein Kloster gehen oder zuhause stundenlang auf dem Meditationskissen sitzen. Schon ein paar Minuten am Tag reichen aus, um spürbar ausgeglichener, gelassener und gesünder zu werden und neue Lebensenergie zu tanken!
„Schnell“ ist ziemlich relativ. Im Klappentext steht, dass die Autorin „schnell und wirksam Abhilfe beim Entschleunigen und Abschalten schafft“. Dass sie aber erst einmal zwei Drittel des Buches darüber schwafelt, wie sie zur Meditation gekommen ist und was man alles nicht braucht, ist alles andere als „schnell“. Das ist massives Entschleunigen der Erwartungserfüllung.
Es ging mir auch ziemlich auf den Keks, dass sie immer wiederholte, welche genialen, wichtigen Jobs sie in der Vergangenheit inne hatte und dass sie eine erfolgreiche Frau ist. Diese Art der Selbstbeweihräucherung kommt bei mir echt schlecht an.
Aber das letzte Drittel kommt endlich zu Meditationen. Sei es eine Meditation in der Warteschlange, eine vor dem Einschlafen oder eine vor einem Vortrag, hier gibt es endlich konkrete Anleitungen und Tipps, wie es am besten klappen könnte. Es hat mir gut gefallen, dass allgemein immer darauf Wert gelegt wurde, dass jeder anders ist und dementsprechend auch individuelle Voraussetzungen zum Meditieren benötigt. Der eine meditiert besser im Sitzen, der andere besser im Liegen. Hauptsache, man meditiert.
Esther Schweins hat das komplette Hörbuch wunderbar akzentuiert gelesen. Bei den Meditationen, die vorgestellt wurden, hätten es auch locker eine geführte Meditationen sein können. Denn ich konnte mich super auf die Stimme einlassen. Diese Meditationen habe ich auch auf dem Mobile weiterhin gespeichert und werde mir die eine oder andere mal in der Warteschlange oder in Bus und Bahn anhören.
Da für mich erst das letzte Drittel dem Klappentext entsprach und meine Erwartungen erfüllte, gibt es 3 Meditations-Sterne.
‘*‘ Klappentext ‘*‘
Immer auf dem Sprung, von einer Aufgabe zur nächsten hetzen - die Anforderungen unseres Alltags lassen uns manchmal schier verzweifeln. Die Meditations- und Achtsamkeitslehrerin Suze Yalof Schwartz schafft schnell und wirksam Abhilfe: Einfach mal bewusst abschalten, radikal entschleunigen - und meditieren. Nein, dafür müssen wir nicht in ein Kloster gehen oder zuhause stundenlang auf dem Meditationskissen sitzen. Schon ein paar Minuten am Tag reichen aus, um spürbar ausgeglichener, gelassener und gesünder zu werden und neue Lebensenergie zu tanken!
January 22, 2018
Love this! Quick, easy and to the point. I've been dipping into a couple other books on meditation and mindfulness lately and this is by far my favourite. She makes meditation seem so simple! There are a bunch of 1-5 minute meditation exercises you can do throughout the day (e.g. While in line at Starbucks or while dealing with a stressful situation), but my fave is the straight up meditation, which is basically just sitting comfortably and focusing on your breath. It's also super non-judgmental, so even if your mind wanders or you struggle to concentrate, it's okay, you can try a different type of meditation or you can just acknowledge the blip and move on.
August 16, 2020
This book is written for true beginners, folks who are very stressed and have not tried yoga or meditation at all. There’s a capitalist thread that doesn’t sit well with me...do we really need a DryBar for meditation?
February 27, 2019
Definitely helped a lot but damn. This shouldnt have been a book. The information could be given out in 5-10 pgs only.
November 21, 2017
Wow! What a lovely, lovely, lovely little book! I feel like I will get another copy so that I can have one in my office and one at home as a reference. I agree that if more people picked up a couple of the practices mentioned here, the world would be a better place. I am also reading Start With Why by Simon Sinek and was fascinated with the author and owner of Unplug's mighty WHY. Stellar, grounding, flowing, breathFULL, and worth-the-read.
November 11, 2019
Okay - this wiggly, busy-brained, meditation dabbler/skeptic is sold. As much as I wanted to hate this book for its vain and shallow valley-girl tone, and a few divergences into crystal and essential oil “science,” there was enough solid logic included to nevertheless convince me that I’ve been doing meditation wrong, and a full-hearted attempt at forming a meaningful meditation routine will be worthwhile, for reasons I hadn’t thought of previously.
February 8, 2019
This book has a lot of great things to try in meditation as well as some good guidance.
It was a lot more personal stories than I was expecting—- almost felt like name dropping and advertising for the unplug studio.
Overall, informative but could have been more to the point.
It was a lot more personal stories than I was expecting—- almost felt like name dropping and advertising for the unplug studio.
Overall, informative but could have been more to the point.
May 8, 2018
So well written and easy to understand. I plan to buy a few for people as Christmas gifts.
August 28, 2020
افکارتان را مانند برگ هایی تصور کنید که در یک رودخانه افتاده اند و آب دارد آن ها را با خود می برد. یا مانند ابرهایی که در آسمان حرکت می کنند و از زاویه ی دید خارج می شوند.
December 26, 2019
I enjoyed this book and as someone who knows little about meditation it was very informative. I just found it got really repetitive after awhile.
September 11, 2024
Motivated me to restart meditating again! Good read. Language is very simple though. I wish the author would provide more resources (like good places to buy crystals for crystal healing meditations in person or a list of sound bath practitioners she recommends). I really liked that she ended with a simple 4-week graduated plan to start meditating, and will start my 5 min meditations for a week beginning tomorrow! Can’t wait!
July 9, 2017
This book does a great job of simplifying all the meditation information out there to make it accessible for everyone. It gives a clear message and it helps you to know where to go to learn more information about what you do want to learn about. The clear message of "no matter how much you meditate, you will gain benefit out of it" and "even 5 minutes a day is beneficial" and why is really helpful. I had to skim some of it due to the fact that was already aware of the benefits of meditation and don't really need the testimonials, but it was still a short read even without those.
April 5, 2017
I really loved this book. It takes a very simple and practical approach to meditation and mindfulness, that made it quite appealing and approachable to me.
Thanks to this book, I am now back to meditation, and I think this time I am going to make stick. I am more convinced than ever that, very much like exercising and fitness, mindfulness is a way of life. It is not a one-time fix. It is fitness for the brain.
Thanks to this book, I am now back to meditation, and I think this time I am going to make stick. I am more convinced than ever that, very much like exercising and fitness, mindfulness is a way of life. It is not a one-time fix. It is fitness for the brain.
June 15, 2025
Such a life changing book. Really puts things into perspective and teaches you the importance of slowing down.
And teaches you meditation practices!!
And teaches you meditation practices!!
December 20, 2016
3.5 stars
A short and easy-to-read dive into meditation without any religion, Buddhism, or woo. Divided into short sections, Unplug starts with answering the question of what is meditation, discusses misconceptions about meditation, and then goes into the impact meditation might have on your life.
There are lots of quotes in this from everyday meditation practitioners and meditation instructors, making for a nice change of tone and pace.
Where this book shines, though, is in part 2 and the discussion of how to meditate, the types of meditation out there, and the 15 daily meditations (some as short as 1 minute!) listed. Truly, if all you do with this book is open it and read the Unplug and Recharge section you'll be on your way to meditating, or you'll be a better meditator, or you'll be inspired to pick up a practice again.
My only quibble would be that a resource section at the back for those who would like to learn and explore further would have been great. Not all of us can get to the Unplug Studio in L.A. for classes :)
A great addition to the meditation/mindfulness genre, and an excellent choice for those looking for a gentle introduction to the practice of meditation.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
A short and easy-to-read dive into meditation without any religion, Buddhism, or woo. Divided into short sections, Unplug starts with answering the question of what is meditation, discusses misconceptions about meditation, and then goes into the impact meditation might have on your life.
There are lots of quotes in this from everyday meditation practitioners and meditation instructors, making for a nice change of tone and pace.
Where this book shines, though, is in part 2 and the discussion of how to meditate, the types of meditation out there, and the 15 daily meditations (some as short as 1 minute!) listed. Truly, if all you do with this book is open it and read the Unplug and Recharge section you'll be on your way to meditating, or you'll be a better meditator, or you'll be inspired to pick up a practice again.
My only quibble would be that a resource section at the back for those who would like to learn and explore further would have been great. Not all of us can get to the Unplug Studio in L.A. for classes :)
A great addition to the meditation/mindfulness genre, and an excellent choice for those looking for a gentle introduction to the practice of meditation.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
April 26, 2017
I have deeply mixed feelings about this book.
My initial gut-reaction is to be so annoyed that some privileged white girl wrote a book about meditation. But surely that's not fair. Meditation is for everyone, INCLUDING privileged white girls. As a privileged white girl myself, who am I to look askance at Ms. Schwartz's attempts to bring meditation to a wider audience?
And I DO think she delivers to her audience. I'd wager there are probably millions of people who wouldn't pick up a more traditional book about meditation but found this one accessible. That's a GOOD thing. More meditators is good for the planet.
So, I gotta applaud Ms. Schwartz knowing her audience and knowing what she's selling. She does a really good job of making meditation easy and accessible to a typical middle-class WASP audience.
And even for those of us who have always meditated, it's still nice to read little things like this. It may be somewhat "shallow" but it certainly does no harm.
Ms. Schwartz is a little bit woo-woo from time to time but she takes herself lightly enough that one needn't get bothered by it. If she wants to align her chakras with crystals, more power to her.
All things considered if she opened up a "meditation studio" near me, I might find myself stopping in.
My initial gut-reaction is to be so annoyed that some privileged white girl wrote a book about meditation. But surely that's not fair. Meditation is for everyone, INCLUDING privileged white girls. As a privileged white girl myself, who am I to look askance at Ms. Schwartz's attempts to bring meditation to a wider audience?
And I DO think she delivers to her audience. I'd wager there are probably millions of people who wouldn't pick up a more traditional book about meditation but found this one accessible. That's a GOOD thing. More meditators is good for the planet.
So, I gotta applaud Ms. Schwartz knowing her audience and knowing what she's selling. She does a really good job of making meditation easy and accessible to a typical middle-class WASP audience.
And even for those of us who have always meditated, it's still nice to read little things like this. It may be somewhat "shallow" but it certainly does no harm.
Ms. Schwartz is a little bit woo-woo from time to time but she takes herself lightly enough that one needn't get bothered by it. If she wants to align her chakras with crystals, more power to her.
All things considered if she opened up a "meditation studio" near me, I might find myself stopping in.
February 6, 2017
This simple little guide is like that one friend who gets really into things for a month and makes everyone that she's ever met try it. This book is charming, and it has some good information in it, but it comes off as shallow. The author had the experience of studying meditation and opening up her own studio to teach others to practice, but it doesn't show that in the writing. It definitely has some great implementation guides, though.
Overall, I wouldn't say it's profound or groundbreaking, but it's definitely enjoyable.
Overall, I wouldn't say it's profound or groundbreaking, but it's definitely enjoyable.
July 3, 2017
This could be better titled McMeditation or Mediation for the Shallow. While her intention to make a complex practice and subject more accessible is laudable and at times even helpful, the whole thing comes across as just plain wrong-headed. Learn to meditate so you can be more successful in business, close that deal, lose ten pounds. All seems very self-serving and missing the big picture. The reader would be better served by Pema Chodron's How to Mediate or Mindfulness in Plain English
by Bhante Henepola Gunaratana. Flash in the pan.
by Bhante Henepola Gunaratana. Flash in the pan.
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