Quiet Strength - by Margaret Cullen (Hardcover)

Review Quotes

"In Quiet Strength, Margaret Cullen explores the profound meaning and far-reaching benefits of equanimity--an often overlooked quality so essential to our well-being. True to the spirit of equanimity itself, Margaret draws from a wide range of traditions to illuminate its nuances, challenges, and methods of cultivation. With warmth and wisdom, she offers a path to this open-hearted balance of mind--so urgently needed in these polarized and turbulent times. The courage of her inquiry and the depth of her understanding infuse every page of this transformative work. Highly recommended." -- Joseph Goldstein, author of Mindfulness: A Practical Guide to Awakening

"As a neuroscientist, I was particularly intrigued by Margaret's reporting on the science of equanimity. She weaves together perennial wisdom, compelling stories shared with real vulnerability, and practical tools drawn from her decades of meditation practice and teaching. This book not only offers a clear and insightful exploration of equanimity, it provides a way into it. The result is a guide that feels both timeless and urgently relevant. You'll want to read it slowly and to return to it often." -- Amishi Jha, neuroscientist and author of Peak Mind

"Quiet Strength is both the medium and the message of this wise and eminently readable book. From its beginning premise that living life in all of its poignancy is an attainable goal, the reader is gently carried along by contemporary, personal stories, research conclusions, fundamental Buddhist teachings as well as universal expressions of wisdom to the recognition that compassion, held in place by equanimity, is the only redemptive response to universal suffering. I love it!" -- Sylvia Boorstein, PhD, cofounding teacher of Spirit Rock Meditation Center and author of Pay Attention, for Goodness' Sakes

"Quiet Strength arrives at exactly the right moment. Drawing on decades of teaching, research, and deep practice, Margaret Cullen offers a clear, wise, and practical guide to cultivating equanimity--the steadiness we need to meet life's challenges with clarity, compassion, and resilience." -- Jack Kornfield, author of A Path with Heart

"This extraordinary book on equanimity has been written from deep inside decades of teaching, practice, and life as well as the minds and laboratories of thought leaders on the emerging science of equanimity. It is a book all of us need to read in order to actualize equanimity in our own lives and navigate the challenges of our world." -- Roshi Joan Jiko Halifax, abbot of the Upaya Zen Center

"'To be even minded is the greatest virtue, ' said the ancient Greek philosopher Heraclitus, and 2500 years later, Margaret Cullen beautifully updates, expands, and explains this vital virtue and capacity, so sorely needed in our contemporary world." -- Roger Walsh, MD, PhD, professor at University of California and cohost of the podcast Deep Transformation: Self-Society-Spirit

"Margaret Cullen has produced a truly wonderful guide to the many faces of equanimity. It takes us on a journey deep into the heart of this vital skill, informed by both modern research and ancient spirituality and philosophy. She also takes it very personally, and explores equanimity from a very vulnerable, humble, and honest place." -- Kelly Boys, author of The Blind Spot Effect

"From her years of practice and experience of these traditions, Margaret Cullen has skillfully interwoven ancient wisdom with modern science to provide a captivating guide to working with our minds through the lens of equanimity. Here is a gentle, accessible and wise book on how we can use conscious awareness to calm the chaos within and make the world a better place for ourselves and others." -- Paul Gilbert, developer of Compassion Focused Therapy and author of The Compassionate Mind

"Equanimity is a flavor of love that cultivates peace of mind. The perfect mix and the right book for troubled times." -- Frank Ostaseski, author of The Five Invitations: Discovering What Death Can Teach Us About Living Fully

"In this clear and compassionate book, Margaret Cullen explores equanimity as a powerful inner resource for navigating life's challenges. Grounded in science, philosophy and contemplative wisdom, Cullen offers a practical path to emotional balance and clarity. Both accessible and profound, this book is an essential guide for anyone seeking stability, insight, and resilience in uncertain times." -- Kristin Neff, author of Self-Compassion and Fierce Self-Compassion

"As someone who has spent years chasing achievement and wrestling with anxiety, I've come to see equanimity not as passivity, but as power. This book is a clear and deeply practical expression of a core dharma truth: we can't control what happens, but we can learn to relate to it wisely. Quiet Strength is about the kind of balance that doesn't flatten us, but frees us." -- Dan Harris, author of Ten Percent Happier

"As contemplative practice invites an increasing appreciation of the mind's endless gyration, we also gain the gift of equanimity. What is so lovely about Quiet Strength is its rich evocation of the micro moments, attitudes and intentions that place equanimity well within our reach. Combining the wisdom of thought leaders and her own personal experiences, Margaret Cullen shows us how to find a point of balance in these polarizing times." -- Zindel Segal, professor at the University of Toronto Scarborough and co-author of Better in Every Sense