Radical Acceptance

The belief that something is wrong with oneself is the deep suffering Tara Brach sets out to ease, combining the principles of psychotherapy with Buddhist teaching. She traces how that belief shows up in harsh self-judgment, strained relationships, addiction, perfectionism, loneliness and overwork. Her guidance comes from two decades of working with Buddhist students and therapy clients, and she illustrates it with personal stories, case histories, fresh readings of Buddhist tales and guided meditations. The practice she describes pairs clear seeing with compassion. Brach stresses that radical acceptance is neither self-indulgence nor passivity, presenting it instead as a basis for real change, including the healing of fear and shame and the building of honest, loving relationships.

Tim Ferriss said it was what finally helped him tame anger, one of his most persistent emotions, and called it the antidote to being successful but miserable.