Altered Traits
by Daniel Goleman and Richard J. Davidson
Two pioneers review the meditation research honestly: most studies are weak, the hype is overblown, and yet the best evidence shows real, lasting changes in attention, stress reactivity and compassion, especially with sustained practice. It is the book to read if you want to know what meditation actually does.
Read it if…
you want an honest, scientific assessment of meditation's effects.
Skip it if…
you want inspiration or instruction; it is a review.
Three things you will actually use
- Dose matters; traits change with sustained practice.
- Beware studies with small samples and no controls.
- Attention and compassion are the best-supported gains.
Do this first
Read the chapter on what the evidence shows for beginners, and set expectations accordingly.
Our verdict
Honest and clarifying.
Compare with other Focus books
Learning How to Learn
Barbara Oakley, Terrence Sejnowski and Alistair McConville · Focus
Simple, accurate, useful.
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