Learning to Breathe: My Yearlong Quest to Bring Calm to My Life

"I'd become just another unhappy person on the planet...leading a life of quiet desperation."

Priscilla Warner and her yearlong quest to bring calm to her life is handbook of heavy hitters in the "peace" genre. Warner wishes to find her "inner monk" and consults Sylvia Boorstein, Pema Chodrom, the Dalai Lama, and Sharon Salzberg among others to learn how to quell her anxiety. This is a great reference for exploring different techniques for anyone interested in meditation or various types of therapy. Warner is straight forward and bare, dealing with her own issues as well as her mother's Alzheimer's. If you want something more in depth, skip straight to those she consults as she lists a great bibliography. But for times when you need a show more hint, a push or a pick me up, this is a gem. "My mother has Alzheimer's, my dog is dying, and I am happy, I thought to myself. Life is wonderful." May we all find the wonderful. show less

The subtitle, My Yearlong Quest to Bring Calm to My Life, is an effective summary. The author tires of her lifelong panic attacks and vows to spend a year trying different therapies, with a core of meditation practice.

I found this book compelling at the same time as I found the tone irritating. One of the blurbists had it down with the description "tasty chick-lit snack." The light-hearted tone both makes the subject matter tolerable—she is talking about trauma, panic, anxiety and loss—but also sometimes strikes a false note. I got tired of hearing how great every therapy and massage session was.

I really enjoyed joining Priscilla on her quest. I learned a lot about various therapies and meditaion methods and a bit about myself. Obviously, not everyone can spend the time or money to experience all these different systems and wonder people, but in a way I felt that I was right there with her. I think I have a better handle on my own anxiety issues after reading this book.