Looking at Mindfulness: Twenty-five Paintings to Change the Way You Live

My library is wonderful yet books are limited for many reasons. I do not need to increase my personal library yet appreciate the opportunity to purchase used books that I truly would like to read and then pass along. I am a docent at a museum and will enjoy the book and then passing it to other like minded art appreciators

What an extraordinary accomplishment. This book is a revelation; a gorgeous guided meditation into sensory integration, stillness, and presence.The prose is clear and fluid but, read with care, it registers as poetry. The artworks are chosen with animated insight. Beautiful production values (clear color reprints and details of artworks, overall graphic design, paper stock, etc.) offer pleasure in hand and aid in the cultivation and awareness toward which the author guides us. The translation is so beautiful, lucid, tonally intimate that I originally thought it was composed in English. Overall, I felt as if I were across the table from a wise and tender companion. M. André's patients are fortunate indeed.I have read hundreds of books related both to spirituality and to art. This one has changed my day to day experience in a way that happens only rarely. This book deserves a wider audience.

I deeply enjoy this book. It brings together the best of eastern practice and thought with western beauty, wisdom, and humanity. Christophe Andre blends science, direct experience, literature, and heart through the use of some of the most striking artistic images in our history. Not only does it teach me to look at art with more scrutiny, but all things in life, including all of myself. It has made my life better and will continue to do so.

Just received this book and am disappointed. It was rated as in "very good" condition with no indication it was an ex-library book. I would not have purchased it knowing it was ex-library, not to mention the pages separating from the spine in several spots. This book is in "good" condition at best and there is a difference.

If there were 10 stars I would give it to this absolutely superb book. The author(a french Psychiatrist) explains mindfulness in depth through lovely paintings. He tells us to not just see but look at things in life in order to understand, appreciate silence and not just sound, listen and not just hear etc etc etc. Its so absorbing that I did not want to put it down.I read the whole book in 2-3 days but reread it slowly soaking it in. Its a book I highly recommend for those of us who are leading lives of robots and want a taste of something deeper which might lead to joy, calm and peace.

Beautifully presented. The paintings are a selection of classic and modern art with an in depth analysis of each work. After each commentary the reader is asked to relate their own reactions and feeling to each work of art. Then the author makes the reader aware of the connection of our own surroundings and life experiences to what is visually happening in the painting.At the conclusion of each chapter a "lesson" is offered. Actually it is a short synopsis of the chapter and the key points to remember. The book is written in a way that makes it easy to understand and it is actually very straightforward.

Wow. What a special treasure this is. I’ve read a lot of mindfulness books but this is one of the best ever.

I continue to be mesmerized by the beauty of the words--and oh yes, the art chosen--that totally calm my spirit. I'm a 90 mph DOer and to move me to a wonderfully calm BEing is such a gift! I'm having longer glimpses of how easy it is to love when I'm not racing and judging and comparing. Thank You!! Christophe for this gift of showing us how to use our senses to see our own inner world.

What a beautiful book. There are many book on mindfulness but none quite like this. Especially wonderful for the art lover. Using images of great paintings and picking up on particular parts of them he uses them to symbolize various issues of life and meditation. It addresses mindfulness at many layers. I can look at art pictures in even greater depth, and i can think about important issues in different ways from the traditional mindful literature.. This is another way to reflect. The whole content feels sumptuous to me. Each chapter looks at one painting. I have to read it slowly to make the the pleasure last and last, though I shall re read it as soon as i get to the end!I recommend it or give it to friends.

This book adds something of great beauty, insight and prose to the ever-growing field of mindfulness publications. It is unique in its style and approach and I have found that there is something to reflect on and work with in each and every line. There is also a gentleness to what he says and conveys as well as a sense that it is all held very lightly and not grasped at or pushed forcibly at the reader.The fact that it uses paintings to convey themes and insights just adds to the masterpiece that this book is - it is Prof Mark Williams (well known in the mindfulness field) who rightly uses the term masterpiece.

This is a wonderful book. It combines two of my favourite (and interconnected topics): art and mindfulness.I recommend you buy or borrow this book and savour it. Apply its lessons to your life. There is so much detail and avenues for exploration that we gloss over.If you yearn for a richer yet simpler life, this book is a great guide. It is poetic and beautiful. Namaste.

It is like a meditation reading. You cannot and do not want to read a lot at once, just one chapter, slowly, taking time to immerse yourself in the words and in the space between. There is a sort of quietness and gentleness between words which makes you humble and grateful this author took time to share a stance with you.I would recommend as a slow paced reading, in those gracious moments when you feel like feeding the soul. Not with words of wisdom necessarily, but with a luminous self awareness in beauty of life.

I first saw this in a library and was quite taken by the ease I could read and absorb the content. Using Art examples to relate to Mindfulness I find very relaxing and is heightening my appreciation of the artist.. Wonderful.