Member Reviews

As someone who deals with high anxiety, I was really looking forward to reading Don't Worry.
I like the short chapters and the good examples, and it is rather simplistic (which I like). But, there's really nothing ground-breaking, just reminders that everyone has heard before.

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DON'T WORRY by Shunmyo Masuno, a Zen Buddhist monk and author of The Art of Simple Living, offers 48 Lessons on Relieving Anxiety. It's worth taking the time to reflect upon these suggestions such as pare down your belongings, cherish the morning, spend 10 minutes a day in nature, or be a good listener. Readers have likely heard these ideas previously, but Masuno gathers them together and offers a two to four page commentary on each. He weaves in references to Zen Buddhism, like the Seven Gifts of Spiritual Dana, and encourages readers to develop a kind heart, practicing generosity and empathy. I can envision potentially using these short readings (one per week) with an Advisory homeroom as a way of reinforcing social emotional learning concepts.

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I love the concept of this book and while there were some very good insights, I was surprised that it is actually geared specifically for someone working in the corporate world, which made it less relatable for me. If you work in business, I do recommend it!

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I can be a consummate worrier, so I am always interested in different approaches to avoiding the practice. Unfortunately, I did not find "Don't Worry" by Shumyo Masuno to be helpful. Rather, it is a series of platitudes and weak examples strung together in a series of mini-meditations on topics that can be worrisome: money, relationships, competition, comparison to others, etc. Those who have read other books on the topic, secular or from other religious traditions, should temper their expectations of discovering new solutions in these pages. However, as this title is written from the perspective of a Zen Buddhist Monk, it may be more interesting or effective for those specifically attracted by Zen practices.

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