Looking at Mindfulness - by Christophe Andre (Paperback)

About the Book

Originally published as: Mâediter, jour apráes jour.

Book Synopsis

A book to help you achieve mindfulness and practice meditation while looking at the world's greatest works of art.

Psychiatrist and leading meditation practitioner Christophe André guides you through the art of mindfulness, beginning with art itself. Looking at Mindfulness collects classic and esoteric paintings, from Rembrandt to Hopper to Magritte, and offers a lucid commentary on the inner workings of each. André describes the dynamic on the canvas, and turns to the viewer's own reactions, exploring the connection between what we see and what we feel. Moving beyond the art on the page, André teaches us what it means to consider our surroundings, our daily interactions and obligations, and their effect on our inner well-being and mental clarity. The paintings are a visual and tangible first step to understanding mindfulness and the benefits of living in the moment. In practicing mindfulness, within ourselves and out in the world, each of us can make immediate, meaningful, and permanent changes in our well-being and the well-being of others.

Beautifully written, wonderfully accessible for any novice or expert, Looking at Mindfulness delivers practical steps and a comprehensive understanding of the practice and meaning of mindfulness and meditation. An authentic and effortless voice, André brings clarity to what it means to live mindfully and how we can make a more conscious effort to do so.

Review Quotes

"A work of art in its own right, and a meditative tour de force."--Jon Kabat-Zinn, author of Wherever You Go, There You Are

"A masterpiece....Christophe André, takes a wholly fresh approach to mindfulness, offering beautiful paintings as the starting points for meditation....Everything about this book is exquisite: its language, its instruction, and its gentle insistence that each of us has to practice cultivating this clarity for ourselves. I whole-heartedly recommend it."--Mark Williams, Emeritus Professor of Clinical Psychology, University of Oxford

"A poetic, compassionate guide to mindfulness, offering a fresh and thoughtful path."--Publisher's Weekly

"In this internationally best-selling book, French psychiatrist André guides the reader through the practice of mindfulness to art itself. Using color photographs of classic and modern works, the author shows readers how to quiet the outer world and intensify their presence in the moment, neither trying to escape it or change it. André responds to each art piece in terms of feelings and sensory perceptions, helping readers to visualize themselves inside the canvas, smelling, hearing, and really seeing the scene. A fascinating book, suitable for those who are interested in art or the discipline of mindfulness."--Library Journal

About the Author

Christophe André is a French psychiatrist and bestselling author who has practiced meditation for many years. He runs meditation groups at the Sainte-Anne Hospital in Paris, helping people to free themselves from suffering and enjoy their lives. After many highly acclaimed books, Looking at Mindfulness is his most original and personal work.