by Sam Harris
First published 2014
Sam Harris examines spirituality without religious doctrine in this exploration of meditation as a rational practice. The neuroscientist and bestselling author addresses Americans who reject organized religion yet sense wisdom in figures like Jesus, Buddha, Lao Tzu, and Rumi. Harris contends that reality contains dimensions beyond what science and secular thinking typically acknowledge. He demonstrates how our attention to present moments shapes life quality. The book combines personal memoir with scientific investigation of spiritual experiences. Harris bridges contemplative traditions with modern neuroscience and psychology, arguing that meditation deserves serious consideration as an empirical subject. He targets the twenty percent of Americans who follow no formal religion but remain open to spiritual insights. The author maintains his reputation as a skeptic while advocating for practices traditionally associated with mysticism. This work stands alone in wedding ancient wisdom with contemporary scientific understanding.
Genres: science, philosophy, psychology, neuroscience, religion, non-fiction, 21st-century, academic
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: skeptic, spiritual-journey
256 pages · Hardcover · Simon & Schuster