I purchased this book at the start of 2019 along with Radical Forgiveness by Colin Tipping. I was clearly in a self-help mood, getting back in touch with my own spirituality, and looking for some clarity regarding life. I finally got around to starting it in the summer of 2020 and finished it before the year ended. Keep reading for my honest review.
Book Title: Radical Acceptance – Embracing Your Life with the Heart of a Buddha
Author: Tara Brach, PH. D.
Pages: 330 (Paperback)
Unlike Tipping’s Radical Forgiveness – I found Brach’s Radical Acceptance to be a tougher read. The opening chapters didn’t draw me in, and I struggled to push on. It wasn’t until Page 57 when Brach mentioned Siddhartha that I perked up as a reader. Although I didn’t fancy Brach’s writing style or the general layout of the book – I did enjoy a handful of her personal stories. In all honesty, my favorite thing about the book were all of the quotes by her favorite poets, authors, and thinkers sprinkled throughout the pages.
Each chapter is followed by a Guided Meditation such as “Meeting Fear” and “Awakening Lovingkindness.” I skimmed over these meditations while reading the book but do look forward to utilizing them down the road when needed.
Overall, Radical Acceptance taught me some new and interesting things about Buddhism, but Brach, herself, did not captivate me with her storytelling or advice. Her voice was not engaging, and the chapters were all a bit boring to be frank. Brach is probably incredibly insightful, but for me personally, this particular book did not successfully communicate her message. At the end of the day, reading Brach’s book became more of an annoying burden than a pleasure. If you have the patience, give Radical Acceptance a whirl, but if you do not, this book may be a struggle to finish.
Happy Reading!
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