Mindful Thoughts for City Dwellers: The Joy of Urban Living

Mindful Thoughts

by Lucy Anna Scott

We've come to believe that living in a city is the very opposite of living a mindful life. But this couldn't be further from the truth. Enriching, inventive, ever-evolving, and social, cities are rich with ingredients for sparkling spiritual health.

In this beautifully illustrated little book, Mindful Thoughts for City Dwellers leads the reader on a joyful journey through the city. From noticing urban nature to embracing noise as sound, author Lucy Anna Scott shows us how to find a home for the head, and the heart, in the metropolis—humanity's greatest invention. 

Genres: Nonfiction

160 pages, Hardcover

Published March 5, 2018

Reviews

[☘Misericordia☘ ⚡ϟ⚡⛈⚡☁ ❇️❤❣ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fresh ideas. I can see how I could be irritated by these at certain points. But right now this is the advice I wanted and was able to enjoy.

Q:
I once met a man who saw skyscrapers as mountains. (c)
Q:
Hours after the birders have made their descent, the bar on the forty-second floor beneath fills with the mingled sound of champagne flutes. The lunchtime gaggle migrates in from the banks and investment houses to chew over market sentiment and strips of rare beef drenched in tarragon mayonnaise. Across ponds of crisp white tablecloths, diners toss titbits of information between themselves about the next big kill: news of a promising territory, gossip over the whereabouts of a weak and shaky bottom line. In there, the world is flat and theirs to conquer. Outside, the wind chooses a new direction. (c)
Q:
Tipping our eyes to the skies can remind us that it is possible to invest more grace in our own terra firma gestures. We tend to assume agitated postures in tedious queues for coffee, or waiting for a delayed bus. We run for trains when there’s no pressing reason; dart to a laid-back weekend brunch engagement. Minds react to the physical haste by always wanting to be where we’re not. In this heightened state, our thoughts charge our feet. When overwrought, it is common to expend more energy than is needed on our own physical endeavours. (c)
Q:
There are occasions to be as graceful as the birds. Just like them, there are times to make haste, and there are times to simply glide on an indiscernible current. (c)

[Kirsty ❤️ · Rating 3 out of 5]

This works as a bit of a beginners guide to mindfulness really in that it has you noticing all the little things around you but set within the theme of city living. It also gives useful advice about joining in (or not - there's a chapter on not) with local groups, crafting and so on. It doesn't go too deep with any of the subjects which is why I think it would work for a beginner.

For me, as I've practised mindfulness for a while it was too simple although it does serve a as good reminder to stop sometimes and remember when you're in deep with life. I would have liked a bit more on each subject. Beautiful illustrations

Free arc from netgalley

[Rosamund · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very inspired gift from Santa, and it excels in its simplicity. It's broken up into themed chapters, perfectly sized for when you need to read something quick and pithy before going to sleep with a mind buzzing from the demands of your urban existence. There are no meditation exercises or anything in here; it's more like a set of thoughtful reflections and suggestions. It really did make me look at my daily routine and the city's possibilities in a different light... I don't think it's a coincidence that with this as my guide, I'm in the middle of the best January I've had in a very long while.

[Jonathan Leo · Rating 5 out of 5]

i made the mistake of reading the reviews others gave to this midway through the book, and was appalled by the negative comments so readily lavished, which subsequently loomed over my back as i continued to pore through this. was i wrong in thinking this was a fine piece of writing? do i have bad taste? but in the end i concluded that those who came away with nothing from this expected some lengthy, edifying list of mindful practices outside of the text, missing this point entirely: the writing was meant to be savoured and appreciated like a fine tea; this was peaceful in its own right.

[Michael · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really wasn't into this book. I felt that a lot of the information was common knowledge. Perhaps because I am very conscious of mindfulness and taking time to slow down, but I felt it was in vein with a book of success quotes one might give to a college grad, not something that someone would sit down to actually read.

[Ton Nguyen · Rating 3 out of 5]

A short book that is nice to flip through but doesn't contain anything really interesting. Basically mindfulness starts with noticing little things. The writer brings your attention to things about city life that you might not give much thought otherwise. The illustrations at the start of each chapter are also quite good.

[Jesse Chavez · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very quick read that I could come back to frequently when living in NYC. Nothing profound or groundbreaking but was a nice read to get me feeling more at peace and happy when navigating city life which can be gear-grinding.

[Megan Turner · Rating 3 out of 5]

nice book with good illustrations, just a good coffee table book to flick through but nothing mind blowing.

[Amanda Witt · Rating 5 out of 5]

A small book but packed with thoughts and ideas of how to find peace among the busyness of a city.

[Paty · Rating 3 out of 5]

Entretenido

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book perfectly encapsulates everything I love about the city and didn't have words for~

[Sean A · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some interesting facts but mostly just writing

[Marti Mansilla · Rating 3 out of 5]

yyyyy que se yo, aguante la ciudad

[akixxiao · Rating 2 out of 5]

tạm, đọc lúc đi tt nhưng mà cảm giác vẫn hơi sáo rỗng một chút

[Susy Torres · Rating 5 out of 5]

Was a gift from my sister when I moved out to a big city. This was something i loved and enjoyed reading while going through the adaptation of moving from my small town to a big old city.

[Joanna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good reminders here and there, but perhaps I'm a little too jaded from living in a small concrete jungle to really appreciate this

[Maria · Rating 3 out of 5]

Feels like drinking sweetened iced coffee.
I found this book to be very poetic. I related it strongly to what TikTok calls "casual magic". This casual magic is supposedly the ability to find a magical quality in all casual things. Personally, I call it the art of slow living - introducing mindfulness and slowing down to notice that which is not commonly appreciated. There is beauty in all things, and rushing by day to day does not allow us to truly see or acknowledge most of it. This small book provides the reader with a few examples of things which, once we slow down, reveal immense beauty.

[Thomas · Rating 2 out of 5]

Vignetten des Stadtlebens und was es lebenswert macht. Langweilig. Nix Neues unter der Sonne.

[Vera · Rating 3 out of 5]

*** ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review ***

3 ½ stars

Mindful Thoughts for City Dwellers takes us on a journey through our cities.

I really liked how beautifully illustrated this book was as well as its message of mindfulness. Something I could benefit from a lot!

Mindful Thoughts for City Dwellers talks about minimalism, conscious living, Buddhism and generally raises our awareness towards our surroundings.

I personally wished it would go a little bit deeper into some of these topics but overall, it was an enjoyable read.

[yamiyoghurt · Rating 3 out of 5]

A meditative piece to help you appreciate and find beauty in the urban landscape.