The Buddha maybe? Or Lao Tzu? The list is no doubt pretty short!

@p-nullifidian I was thinking Alfred E. Newman.

@Alienbeing “What, me worry” is an excellent philosophy!

What is your opinion of the book Chatter by Ethan Kross? I just started reading it. I look forward to watching these videos soon. I prefer mindfulness focusing (I'm not really meditating IMHO) over the 4-7-8 method to fall asleep. I look forward to your thoughts!

@JGal I have not read that one! I often use minfulness to go to sleep too, and also really dislike 4-7-8 stuff, though it may be helpful to some.

With the prevalence of mindfulness in society at presence, there are many books which are magnificent. Actually, there have been many books over the last 50 years, with titles like "how to stop having negative thoughts." Other more recent books might be something like "the subtle art of not giving a fuck". They are all along the same lines.

I particularly appreciate the three that I mentioned because they each bring a special perspective, and it's a long held perspective by them that is very focused. None are geared toward the masses, and they allow you to think your way through the concepts, without being prescriptive, or claiming that just one area of life can be benefitted (like negative thoughts). These writers take it to all of life, and every thought you have, and your very existence as a being.

A breakdown:

Kurzweil's book "how to create a mind" is actually about, if we want to create sentient AI, we should start discussing/trying to piece together how our own sentience/brain works. It's like a user manual for anyone with a brain, but it does imply some HUGE things about the nature of consciousness and our experiences, that cannot be unseen after you read it, and that makes mindfulness practice make complete sense, by having some solid sections about "thought experiments" about consciousness, backed by scientific research. He talks basic neuroscience from one neuron, up to billions, then jumps into the consciousness section, which will blow a few circuits in your mind. His book is like the difference in driving an automatic, but then learning how to drive a stick, and understand how the engine+transmission works. It just clarifies so much and changes how you drive.

Kabat Zinn's books and lectures are all just calls to meditate. Whether he is guiding meditation on youtube, or giving a lecture, hez's talking about "why meditate" with the same vibe as Bob Ross/Fred Rogers. To listen to, or read his works, is a meditation in itself. He guides by example.

Harris is also talking about "why meditate," but from a philosophical and neuropsychological background. He's more technical, like Kurzweil, but his technicalities are specific to "why meditate".

These people just lay it all out, and cover all of the angles, with no wasted time on telling you how to do it. There is no shred of pop-psychology or bs in any of them.

I've found the myriad of other books can be very helpful, but when you find a few that truly fence-in a concept, the other books fall short in their scopes. Listen to the two vids, and be mindful of your attention. You'll see what I mean.

@APaleBlueDot thanks for the expanded summaries. I look forward to listening to both videos!!