reviews

Unexpected Awakening, by Laurie Jacobson

Laurie Jacobson’s Unexpected Awakening is an absorbing and deeply moving memoir that captures the transformative power of finding one’s voice…

October 9, 2025

“Loving Kindness,” by Deborah Underwood

Deborah Underwood kindly sent me a copy of "Loving Kindness" in late 2021. As a fan of books on lovingkindness…

February 13, 2023

“Goodnight Love: A Bedtime Meditation Story”

A little while ago I received an email from Sumi Loundon Kim, telling me about a new bedtime book for…

February 11, 2023

My latest book: “A Year of Buddha’s Wisdom”

Over the summer I wrote a book. The idea was presented to me by the publisher, who had decided that…

December 24, 2021

“Grammar for a Full Life,” by Lawrence Weinstein

Perhaps because of unhappy memories from school, many of us tend to think of grammar books as dry-as-dust bore-a-thons obsessing…

November 20, 2020

“Aging with Wisdom: Reflections, Stories and Teachings” by Olivia Ames Hoblitzelle

The book’s title describes a daunting challenge. For our aging to have the blessing of bringing us wisdom – who…

March 17, 2019

“It Came From Beyond Zen,” by Brad Warner

"It Came From Beyond Zen" is Brad Warner's follow-up to "Don't Be a Jerk." Both books are commentaries and paraphrases…

January 5, 2018

“Make Peace With Your Mind” by Mark Coleman

Mark Coleman is a senior meditation teacher at Spirit Rock Meditation Center in California, as well as an executive coach…

March 28, 2017

Join me on Insight Timer!

Most of the time when I meditate, I use the Insight Timer app on my iPhone. (It's also available on…

September 23, 2016

Watch SIT, a short documentary

SIT - Short Documentary Film from Yoko Okumura on Vimeo. Chris Ruiz, one of the producers of SIT, a short…

September 3, 2016