With thanks to Net Galley and Quarto Publishing Group - Rock Point for letting me review this ARC copy!

Let me begin with one small critique: I'm not a fan of the current trend in self help books to begin all titles with cursing. It isn't that I'm a prude, but, as I tell my students, constantly relying on these words diminishes their shock value. Furthermore, language is so rich that they should really be in your reserve arsenal for the really bad, the ugly, and the unexpected (I've banged my elbow against the car door #$%!). That being said, I understand that this trend is a marketing ploy. Coupled with the cutesy cover art, it can make the reader feel like he or she is getting away with something (or maybe sticking it to someone - eff you, other meditation books!)

With that out of the way, let me say that Liza Kindred won me over in the very first sentences of Eff This! Meditation. Her tone is the accepting tone of a best friend and she emphasizes that readers should take what's useful to them and apply it - and ditch the rest without feeling guilty. In a genre that too often scolds its readers (if your life didn't radically improve after reading this, you're doing it wrong, for example) she has a refreshing and honest voice. I'm fond of the quote "if you're not angry about something, you just aren't paying attention" and her introduction reminds us that those of living in the Western World are dealing with a lot: politics, advertising, unhealthy food, media pressure... So, if you're feeling less than stellar, it probably isn't you. The good news? Eff This! Meditation contains practices ranging from just one minute (do these in the elevator on the way to that meeting you're dreading) to over an hour (do these when you finally get a weekend to yourself and want to reset).


Each exercise is laid out in an easy to understand format and most include helpful tips that function as examples. Above all, each exercise and section reminds readers that this is a practice that builds on yourself. We've all heard that meditation can rewire the mind, but you don't have to rewire in one day, or one session, or even one read through of this book. I highly recommend this as a gift to a stressed out coworker, a book club that wants to try something interactive - or to yourself if you're feeling burnt out on, well, all the things. When you've finished it, think about picking up Sharon Salzberg's Real Happiness. It has a similar tone and would make a great companion read.