It's been quite some time since I read this book, so I wanted to send along an appreciation way after the fact. It was a great read, and much appreciated. Thank you!

Nice ideas with how the author talks about racism being an illness -which defiantly has its truth to it!- but its a very repetitive book and i found myself losing interest or starting to think about other things while reading when the author yet again talked about something I just read about.
Good ideas but not the best book from start to finish, more one that the reader should dip in and out off.

As someone who has tried transcendental meditation during my mother’s diagnosis with cancer, this book really brought that back to me. I think a little bit of bias in the fact that I disliked doing that meditation kind of came in here – but the entire premise of racism being a heart condition that could be cured was really interesting to me.

I enjoyed the short history points, as I’m Australian I don’t really learn about American history as much so it was interesting to read.

The writing itself was a little repetitive, and I felt some parts could have been combined into one section rather than two sections and a summary.

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3.5/5

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This was an ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC in return for my honest review.

This book give the reader an overview of racism and its deep effects. This was a useful introduction before going into how, with mindfulness we can treat people in kinder ways.

I think this book is highly relevant and a must read for how we need to treat everyone we meet in life.

Reading Mindful of Race is a life-changing experience leading to positive transformation.

Ruth King’s Mindful of Race will take you to a deeper level of understanding racism and oppression. It does not stop there, however; if you are open she leads you to a new place and a new mindful life. Yet, it is absolutely not easy to read her book Mindful of Race because you have to be prepared for a deep and critical self-awareness journey. Sometimes it is not pleasant to critically look at your own prejudices and taught assumptions that need re-considering for a new way of thinking, feeling and behaving.

I believe there is a way to read Mindful of Race. Reading time with this book must be planned because it needs to be read in a meditative and open frame of mind. It is a book that you cannot just pick up where you left off the last time.

I suggest reading the book once slowly and then go back to it with the purpose of using the tools and guidelines she provides as a means of transformation. Ruth knows her tools and guidelines are not always easy to work through and implement so she gently provides solutions. To quote Ruth King: “Over time, this practice becomes a habit of healing replacing habits of harm.” She gets us to “check our inner experience.” She understands the difficult conversations we will have when we enter into a life which is “Mindful of Race.”

Thank you for writing this book Ruth King. My heart is soaring with new mindful ways of being.

BonnieK

Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review.

Mindful of Race Understanding and Transforming Habits of Harm (Paperback)
by Ruth King
I had hoped that reading this book i would come to a broader understanding of Race and changing my own habits, but this book is biased, not a negative thing, but it looks at Race from the African American view point, although it shows some White view points it seems to lump things together making me cringe as it details how we can never understand other Races or people from diverse groups, which is a sad concept. I think she has a great beginning to this premise, but fell a little roughed up by her descriptions. I hope that readers explore what concepts she brings up, but learn to not take it as personal as I did. It is well written, and shows a very strong look at the minority view of Race relations.

It’s stated in the book that “when we are unconscious of how we affect each other, we are likely to cause more harm.” As a white Christian male, I want to continue to work to be compassionate toward others and their situations in every way possible, and King’s book is a fantastic stepping stone to ensure progress. From detailed meditation instructions to some statements of truth wherein she doesn’t mince words, I have to admit that this wasn’t the easiest read in the world for me, but some of the contents of this book were read at least twice so that I could really tune in and absorb what she was trying to either convey or have me understand.

There’s an acknowledgeable amount of suggestions for what white people need to do to improve the state of racial inequality in the meat of the book and, trust me, she executes the message as well as I could imagine anyone could. There’s a grace to her writing and wisdom in the way she presents that’s not one heralding comeuppance; she’s a gifted teacher, and it shows.

The book, among other things, also outlines ways to get involved with others in order to institute dialogue (with or without people of color) and, if you wish to cleanse yourself of any negativity due to racial conflict, how to begin on the journey to healing.

I started this book wanting to learn and to better myself; I think that Ruth King has helped me to do both, and I’ll be recommending this book often.

Seeing that racism is a curable heart condition, one can have hope for many of the atrocities occurring because of it.

I will definitely recommend this to everyone empowering themselves with what is occurring to people and how to overcome the individual and collective ignorances of many. To nit know is bad but to know and not do is a shame. We have to know what to do. And this book assists greatly with that!

I cannot say enough good things about this book! I find myself outraged and appalled by current events affecting people of color and I'm not exactly sure what to do with those feelings. This book helps me put things into perspective and focus on being mindful of the things going on around me. Ms King really tells it like it is. I found myself wanting to share so many passages with others on social media. I am going to recommend this book to our church book group. We pick a book and study it, then put the context into action. This book will be perfect for that. If you are struggling with how to deal with race issues and find yourself needing a meditation ritual then I would recommend this book.

A much-needed book. King doesn't jump into mindfulness discussions but first sets the stage by offering a succinct history of race in the U.S. and a realistic discussion of a few key differences between how people of color and white people experience identity (especially individual v. collective identity). She offers useful mindfulness strategies that can assist us in addressing and healing from racism. I look forward to assigning this book to my students!

Author Ruth King says what needs to be said. If we continue to give the very word race the power and the fear that it's had thus far, then we choose to let it pull at the American tapestry. This country was not born in a vacuum.

Unless we mention certain explorers, then we have to know that we were born of different races and we have grown in that direction. In fact, one of psychic Sylvia Browne's predictions was that one day, we would all have skin a lovely mocha color because of the mixing of races. What then organization's of hate?

King states that racism is a curable heart condition.

It's true.

King notes the importance of being mindful of the hurt that we put onto one another. So needless. So. On. Time.