5.0 out of 5 stars A Must-Read Guide to Happiness

M.M. · March 22, 2024

(function() { P.when('cr-A', 'ready').execute(function(A) { if(typeof A.toggleExpanderAriaLabel === 'function') { A.toggleExpanderAriaLabel('review_text_read_more', 'Read more of this review', 'Read less of this review'); } }); })(); .review-text-read-more-expander:focus-visible { outline: 2px solid #2162a1; outline-offset: 2px; border-radius: 5px; } As a long-time follower of Scott Snibbe's work and a regular listener to his podcast, "A Skeptic's Path to Enlightenment," I've always admired how he effortlessly blends ancient Buddhist wisdom with modern science. "How to Train a Happy Mind: A Skeptic's Path to Enlightenment" stands as a testament to Snibbe's unique blend of skepticism and spirituality. This book offers an 8-step program that marries the practices of analytical meditation with modern analogies and scientific explanations, making the lofty goal of enlightenment accessible to skeptics and believers alike. Snibbe's work serves as a welcoming bridge between the ancient and the modern, providing readers with practical tools for cultivating happiness and resilience. For anyone seeking a meaningful transformation grounded in both spirituality and science, Snibbe's book is a compelling, essential read, made all the more authentic by his friendly and engaging style. My appreciation for this book and Snibbe deepened after attending his presentation at the Tibet House in New York with Robert Thurman. There, Snibbe's genuine, relaxed demeanor and his ability to convey profound insights with humor and relatability showcased not just the depth of his knowledge but also his ability to connect with his audience on a heartfelt and personal level. I applaud him on his ambitious quest to make the path to enlightenment as "tasty" and "delicious" as enlightenment itself. Do yourself and every skeptic in your life a favor by purchasing many copies of "How to Train a Happy Mind: A Skeptic's Path to Enlightenment."

5.0 out of 5 stars Quietly Powerful – A Book That Stays With You

A.K. · June 18, 2025

I first came across this book at the Rubin Museum of Himalayan Art in New York. I didn’t buy it right away, but it stayed on my mind. A few days later, the book arrived in the mail.The chapter on universalizing touched me deeply. The idea is as simple as it is powerful – and surprisingly transformative when applied. It helps you experience everyday moments not only more consciously but with emotional openness: What if not only I, but many others could share this moment?The book conveys techniques of mindfulness and compassion in a calm, accessible tone – free of dogma or pressure, yet with lasting impact.Highly recommended for anyone seeking greater inner balance and real connection.

5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful introduction to essential Buddhist wisdom

B.V.A. · May 17, 2024

As soon as I hear words like karma and reincarnation, the skeptic in me has always given Buddhist teachings a hard pass. I enjoy moving along the higher elevations of the paths to Enlightment through reading a variety of books, and have blazed a few trails of my own through contemplation that have rewarded me with an overall mindset of a peaceful, loving witness.“How to Train a Happy Mind; A Skeptics Path to Enlightenment” has opened me to a whole new level of understanding the workings of my mind and the nature of consciousness. While much here is already part of my experience, there so many, for me, new interwoven concepts of essential Buddhist thought that I am finally beginning to appreciate the depth and value of this wisdom tradition.Scott’s writing is clear, concise, warm and accessible. Each new concept builds brilliantly on the one before, and I found myself underlining nuggets of universal wisdom on nearly every page. It is a joyous read.I am about to go nomadic and travel the world. This book is coming with me.

4.0 out of 5 stars Doesn't actually include the meditations-see update

C.B. · January 6, 2025

The book recommends listening to the meditations at the end of each chapter for a week or so, to really get the most of the exercises. Which you can do, if you're willing to shill out an extra $100 to subscribe to the author's "community." Feels like a money grab.Update-so apparently what you can do is subscribe for a month free and download the meditations for free. This process was not well explained in the book or even at all explained, and I still think it's dumb. However, I liked the first couple of chapters enough to be mad about it and try to figure it out, so I guess you can argue they were at least promising. I'll update in a few months if I kept to it and feel it improved my life. Right now I am really annoyed with what felt like a bait and switch. I didn't pick up this book because I felt like a paragon of tranquility and wanted to test my patience.Update again, I was enjoying going through the book week by week as suggested listening to the meditations, which yes you can get for free through the site after scrolling through the giant banners suggesting it costs $99 to $299 to "join the community" and get access to the meditations to the smaller banner that it's free or half price if you fill out a form. Again, unlike my original review suggested, you can get the meditations for free, but my review had already been updated to include that information when the author started pestering me over email saying my review was "not truthful." The book gets 4 stars because frankly, yes I am enjoying it, but I'm not giving 5 stars to an author that hounds customers for "not truthful" reviews because I brought up a legitimate frustration with his book/website setup. Is it petty? Possibly, but I didn't write a book claiming I knew the path to enlightenment. I have less confidence in the author's enlightenment considering his behavior. This review was not "not truthful"