Mindfulness and Meditation: Handling Life with a Calm and Focused Mind

Gr 8 Up–Considering the range of challenges that today’s teens face, equipping them with pertinent coping skills is crucial for their future success and well-being. In her latest book, Stewart, a practitioner of mindfulness and meditation for a number of years, provides a road map for teens to follow in order to achieve balance in their lives and a proper mind-set for obtaining happiness. Beginning with a short overview of mindfulness and its Buddhist foundation, the book provides insight into how to obtain clarity. The author makes it clear that mindfulness is not a quick fix, a religion, or a replacement for medical treatment. There are numerous simple exercises and techniques from which teens can choose. Readers are advised not to set goals when meditating, for goals are about the future. The intention within this book is to concentrate on the present to achieve equilibrium. The chapter entitled “Anybody Listening? Mindfulness and Social Media” is timely and offers an excellent social media self-assessment. Supplementing this text are excellent features including source notes, a glossary, a bibliography, an index, a website list, visually appealing illustrations, and mindfulness/meditation apps.