Altered Traits Export Paperback – 5 Sept. 2017

For anyone used to reading critical reviews of scientific literature this book is a disappointment. Despite stating their intent in early chapters to survey the science regarding meditation practices there is chapter after chapter of uncritical presentation of qualitative summaries of studies with only brief lip service paid to critical appraisal of the conduct of the studies, or the robustness of the science. The authors are clearly both convinced of the benefits of practice, which is not in itself a bad thing, but they appear to have made very little effort to take a genuinely objective view of the evidence of benefit in this book.The paragraph which prompted me to write this somewhat scathing review was one where they cited, again uncritically, a study showing long term meditators had lower respiratory rates than non-meditators... and that the number translated to “more than 2000 extra breaths a day for the nonmeditators- and more than 800,000 breaths over the course of a year. These extra breaths are physiologically taxing, and can extract a health toll as time goes on.” What?! Really?! Not surprisingly there is no citation offered for this statement... what credulous nonsense!I will read on, but with a heavy heart. There is a need for a digestible critical review of the cumulative science surrounding mental practices, and its relevance or otherwise for health and well-being, but I am afraid this is not it.

This book is a treasure trove of interpretations, scientific findings and stimulus for thought and debate. Compassion features strongly reflecting our cultural admiration of and aspiration towards it. There is no counterbalancing point of view about the possible benefits of the way we actually are (i.e. a mix of good and bad) that, say, an evolutionary perspective could offer.The book dispels the myth that you just need to meditate and eventually magic will happen and everything will be super, but it still dangles phrases that inspire e.g.page 159 ......... a delight in sheer beingpage 172 ..........it gets easier to handle life's upsetspage 286 ..........content in ourselves as we are.Reminds of Stephen Batchelor's --re-enchanting the world.The book leads up to and explores the implication on page 148---We live in a world our minds build rather than actually perceiving the endless detail of what is happening. It discusses consciousness as an integrator.The discussion of the mind wandering Default Mode Network links it with the generation of the self (in its many guises) and clarifies the experience of 'flow'.The three main strands of meditation i.e concentration, insight and loving kindness seem to recruit different aspects of brain activity and possible long term modification.One omission is the description of the size of the statistical relations discussed in most cases. Such information would help the cost benefit to be evaluated.The main message, unfortunately, is that long term change can occur, but the amount of training necessary is beyond the majority of people. However from a personal point of view, having some amateur meditation experience enables an understanding of the insight strand. Books like this help the understanding of the mechanics of mental activity and reveals the various misapprehensions (e.g. the flexible, transient dynamic nature of the self, the integration of the pain sensation with the impulse to fix it because I'm hurting) and modify or at least question the resulting intention of behaviour accordingly. That's got to be good.Daniel Goleman Richard J Davidson have every reason to be proud of their life's work making significant contributions to the subject and helping others to understand it.

A magnificent read . If you are not currently meditating then after reading this book you will definitely take it up . A very honest book with lots of challenges to the research methods and results . Congrats and thank you to all involved

When I type 'Altered Traits' in Amazon, I'm taken to a book called 'The Science of Meditation', but I can find nothing that says that the book is published under 2 different names. I'm reading it anyway, and it is a gently inspiring reminder of the value of regular practice, as well as a useful source of research findings presented in a delightfully accessible way.

This is such an important book. Fascinating in it's own right but also hugely insightful for current meditators. The authors should be congratulated for the quality of their lifelong work. I really hope this book gets revised many times over the coming years as the research continues.

Written by the guys who did the research on meditation, this book discusses what science knows about how meditation is not simply about altered states of consciousness, but has the capacity to alter traits in character. If you are interested in meditation, mindfulness or simply growing up as a human being get this.

Another game changer by Daniel Goleman. Brilliantly researched. The evidence is clear. Now if only I could master self discipline.

I bought this book more out of curiosity than anything else, and it is very informative.