“The Little Book of Mindfulness,” edited by Tiddy Rowan

“The Little Book of Mindfulness,” edited by Tiddy Rowan, provides exactly what its title offers. It’s a pocket-sized, 183-page collection of breathing exercises, inspirational quotes, research findings, and daily reminders to help the reader focus, slow down, and de-stress anywhere and anytime.

I love this book for its gentleness and accessibility. I found it to be perfect for beginners interested in mindfulness, or for anyone who is curious to learn more about what mindfulness is or how to easily incorporate it into his or her life.

One thing this book is not is an in-depth study into mindfulness. For those who are seasoned practitioners of meditation or looking for new practices and insight, you may find the information in the book “old news,” or even a bit repetitive.     

That being said, it’s the book’s simplicity that helps it really shine as a useful tool. As Rowan states on page 7: “Opening this book at any page will hopefully give you a recipe to remind you of the importance of staying (or more likely returning to) the here and now.” 

There’s no unnecessary complexity or inaccessible jargon. Each page tells you the same thing (in a different way): how to relax, slow down racing thoughts, and breathe. One could keep this book on the bookshelf, in the car, in their bag — or as I do, on my work desk — pick it up, flip to any page, and have access to a breathing exercise or a rumination that can help him or her immediately be more present in that moment.

Tiddy Rowan has done an excellent job presenting mindfulness in a way that is easy-to-understand, absorb and implement. Her organization of the content is done in a straightforward, systematic style, and I appreciate that she includes a helpful list of resources and citations at the end. 

“The Little Book of Mindfulness” is perfect for anyone who struggles with stress or anxiety, or is interested to learn more about mindfulness practice. Those who are seasoned mindfulness veterans looking for a deeper dive into the subject may want to look elsewhere.