Our Favorite Books in 2016
By Garrison InstituteFrom urban planning to animal rights to end-of-life care, Garrison Institute teachers and friends published books on a wide variety of topics in 2016. Below are some of our favorites.
Becoming Wise: An Inquiry into the Mystery and Art of Living by Krista Tippett
In her popular podcast, On Being, journalist Krista Tippett shares conversations with scientists, theologians, poets, activists, and others. In Becoming Wise, she weaves the insights from these interviews into chapters that explore different aspects of what it means to be human.
- Read an excerpt from the book
- Listen to a conversation between Tippett and Andrew Zolli about the book
Mind: A Journey to the Heart of Being Human by Daniel J. Siegel, MD
We are deeply familiar with many aspects of our minds—thoughts, emotions, and memories—but what is the essence of the mind? In Mind, neuropsychiatrist Dr. Daniel J. Siegel explores the mysteries of the human mind, and, along the way, he offers a definition of the mind that includes our experiences of the self, others, and the world around us.
The Well-Tempered City: What Modern Science, Ancient Civilizations, and Human Nature Teach Us About the Future of Urban Life by Jonathan F. P. Rose
In a time of increasing volatility and uncertainty, what role do cities have in addressing our current environmental, economic, and social challenges? In The Well-Tempered City, developer and urban planner Jonathan F. P. Rose shows readers how cities are well-equipped to help us balance our own well-being with efficiency and equality in ways that also support healthy and thriving cities.
- Read and edited excerpt from the book
- Listen to a conversation between Rose and Andrew Revkin about the book
A Plea for the Animals: The Moral, Philosophical, and Evolutionary Imperative to Treat All Beings with Compassion by Matthieu Ricard
Non-human animals want to avoid suffering just as much as humans do. So why do we kill billions of them for consumption every year? In A Plea for the Animals, Buddhist monk Matthieu Ricard shows how our addiction to meat perpetuates world hunger, increases the world’s environmental problems, and is harmful to human health. Using reason and common sense he argues that compassion towards non-human animals is a moral obligation for all of us.
Awake at the Bedside: Contemplative Teachings on Palliative and End-of-Life Care co-edited by Koshin Paley Ellison and Matt Weingast
Through a wide range of voices—contemporary poets, spiritual teachers, doctors, and other caregivers—Awake at the Bedside demonstrates how contemplative and compassionate caregiving at the end of life can be so important and meaningful to both those giving and receiving care.
- Listen to a conversation between Ellison, Sensei Robert Chodo Campbell, Rabbi David Ingber, and Rabbi Amichai Lau-Lavie about the book
- Read a conversation with Ellison, Campbell, and Katy Butler about a contemplative approach to healthcare
Radical Dharma: Talking Race, Love, and Liberation by Rev. angel Kyodo williams
How do racism and privilege prevent our collective awakening? How can each one of us affect the shortcomings not only of our own minds but also of our communities? In Radical Dharma, Zen teacher angel Kyodo williams tackles challenging questions about the relationship between personal and social transformation.
- Read an interview with williams about the book
- Listen to a conversation between williams and Sharon Salzberg and bridging spirituality and activism
The Road Home: A Contemporary Exploration of the Buddhist Path by Ethan Nichtern
In The Road Home, meditation teacher Ethan Nichtern creates a road map for those trying to follow the Buddhist path in the modern world. By staying true or our individual quests for self-awareness, he says, we will form the right relationships and communities to find our place of belonging.