It’s an interesting thing when a book induces a sense of confusion and self-doubt. For the past couple of weeks this particular book, “ Minding What matters: Psychotherapy and the Buddha Within,†I have picked up and put down, picked up and put down.
No matter how I approached it I just found the style of writing and content too peculiar to engage my attention or interest. This resulted in me feeling that the book was either completely over my head or was just badly written. As I didnÂ’’t wish to expose my own possible ignorance and lack of intellectual ability or arrogance by doing an ill-informed review, I often felt inclined to return the book pronto to the publishers or Wildmind. However, I persevered.
According to the notes on the book jacket Minding What Matters: Psychotherapy and the Buddha Within belongs in the genre of Personal Growth / Psychology / Spirituality. The author, Robert Langan, appears to be amply qualified in these areas, being a Fellow, Training and Supervising Psychoanalyst at the William Alanson White Institute in NYC, where he directs its Center for Applied Psychoanalysis and maintains a private practice. Coupled to this is his long term membership of the Jewel Heart Sangha and the Insight Meditation Society. However creditable this experience, it does seem to translate into the ability to communicate through the written word.