Just One Thing: Developing a Buddha Brain One Simple Practice at a Time [Paperback]

Rick Hanson PhD (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 2011

You've heard the expression, “It’s the little things that count.” It's more than a simple platitude. Research has shown that integrating little daily practices into your life can actually change the way your brain works.

This guide offers simple things you can do routinely, mainly inside your mind, that will support and increase your sense of security and worth, resilience, effectiveness, well-being, insight, and inner peace. For example, they include: taking in the good, protecting your brain, feeling safer, relaxing anxiety about imperfection, not knowing, enjoying your hands, taking refuge, and filling the hole in your heart.  At first glance, you may be tempted to underestimate the power of these seemingly simple practices. But they will gradually change your brain through what’s called experience-dependent neuroplasticity.

Moment to moment, whatever you're aware of—sounds, sensations, thoughts, or your most heartfelt longings—is based on underlying neural activities. This book offers simple brain training practices you can do every day to protect against stress, lift your mood, and find greater emotional resilience.

Just one practice each day can help you to:

• Be good to yourself
• Enjoy life as it is
• Build on your strengths
• Be more effective at home and work
• Make peace with your emotions

With over fifty daily practices you can use anytime, anywhere, Just One Thing is a groundbreaking combination of mindfulness meditation and neuroscience that can help you deepen your sense of well-being and unconditional happiness.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“These are great practices—wise and straightforward, scientific and nourishing. They can transform your life.”
—Jack Kornfield, PhD, author of The Wise Heart and A Path with Heart

“Just One Thing is full of simple, down-to-earth steps you can take to experience greater happiness and love in your life. Based in brain science, but written beautifully from the heart, this book is a gem.”
—Marci Shimoff, author of Happy for No Reason

“Most people want to be happier, healthier, less stressed, and more self-accepting, but it’s often hard to find time to work toward these goals. The brilliance of this book is that it offers powerful, targeted practices that can be done easily throughout the day to help people reach their highest potential.”
—Kristin Neff, PhD, associate professor at the University of Texas at Austin and author of Self-Compassion

“Delightfully clear and practical, this book distills profound insights from ancient wisdom traditions, modern psychology, and cutting-edge neurobiology into simple techniques anyone can use to live a happier, saner, more rewarding life. I felt more awake and alive after reading just a few pages.”
—Ronald D. Siegel, PsyD, assistant clinical professor of psychology at Harvard Medical School and author of The Mindfulness Solution

“If you are looking for bite-sized daily practices that can open your heart and clear your mind, Just One Thing deserves to be at the top of your reading list. Grounded in fascinating science, psychological understanding, and timeless wisdom, this book offers a rich assortment of entirely simple, doable ways you can find more happiness and ease.”
—Tara Brach, PhD, author of Radical Happiness

“Rick Hanson has done the work for us, distilling decades of self-inquiry and key psychological research into fifty-two essential skills for healthy, happy living. This deceptively simple book is a trustworthy guide to living our lives more deeply and fully. Read, practice, and your brain will surely return the favor.”
—Christopher K. Germer, PhD, clinical instructor at Harvard Medical School and author of The Mindful Path to Self-Compassion

“This gem of a book is the perfect follow-up to Rick Hanson’s brilliant Buddha’s Brain. Just One Thing offers dozens of easy-to-learn practices that slowly work their magic on our brains, making it possible for all of us to dwell in the peaceful contentment of a Buddha. Just One Thing is one of those rare books that becomes a lifelong companion—never far out of reach.”
—Toni Bernhard, author of How to Be Sick: A Buddhist-Inspired Guide for the Chronically Ill and their Caregivers

“Is it improper to be begged by someone you don’t know to buy a book? Then call me improper because I am begging you to give yourself the miracle of Rick Hanson’s grounded science and earthy spirituality. Keep this book close by while giving copies to everyone you love.”
—Jennifer Louden, author of The Woman's Comfort Book and The Life Organizer

“What a way to go through life! These simple yet profound practices train the brain, open the heart, and enhance well-being. Rick Hanson provides the map. If you follow it, you’ll surely increase your happiness and awaken your joy!”
—James Baraz, author of Awakening Joy

From the Publisher

Combining meditative principles with fascinating neuroscientific research, Just One Thing presents more than fifty simple practices readers can do each day to wire the brain for increased happiness, positive thinking, and wisdom. Written by Rick Hanson, author of Buddha's Brain, this pocket-sized book helps readers reap the benefits of meditation through simple five to ten-minute practices they can access anytime, anywhere.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 232 pages
• Publisher: New Harbinger Publications; Original edition (October 1, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1608820319
• ISBN-13: 978-1608820313
• Product Dimensions: 5 x 0.6 x 7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (61 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,661 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #30 in Books > Politics & Social Sciences > Philosophy > Eastern > Buddhism
  • #45 in Books > Health, Fitness & Dieting > Mental Health > Happiness

More About the Author

Rick Hanson, Ph.D., is a neuropsychologist and author of Hardwiring Happiness (coming in October 2013), Buddha's Brain: The Practical Neuroscience of Happiness, Love, and Wisdom (with Rick Mendius, M.D.; Foreword by Dan Siegel, M.D. and Preface by Jack Kornfield, Ph.D.), published in 24 languages and Just One Thing: Developing a Buddha Brain One Simple Practice at a Time (in 12 languages). Founder of the Wellspring Institute for Neuroscience and Contemplative Wisdom and Affiliate of the Greater Good Science Center at UC Berkeley, he's been an invited speaker at Oxford, Stanford, and Harvard, and taught in meditation centers worldwide.

An authority on self-directed neuroplasticity, Dr. Hanson's work has been featured on the BBC, NPR, FoxBusiness, Consumer Reports Health, U.S. News and World Report, and O Magazine. He edits the Wise Brain Bulletin, and his weekly e-newsletter - Just One Thing - has over 73,000 subscribers, and also appears on Huffington Post, Psychology Today, and other major websites. He has several audio programs with Sounds True, and his first book was Mother Nurture: A Mother's Guide to Health in Body, Mind, and Intimate Relationships (Penguin, 2002).

A summa cum laude graduate of UCLA, Dr. Hanson is a trustee of Saybrook University. He also served on the board of Spirit Rock Meditation Center for nine years, and was President of the Board of FamilyWorks, a community agency. He began meditating in 1974, trained in several traditions, and leads a weekly meditation gathering in San Rafael, CA. He enjoys rock-climbing and taking a break from emails. He and his wife have two adult children.

For more information, please see his full profile at www.RickHanson.net.

Amazon Author Rankbeta 

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#69 in Books > Self-Help

#96 in Books > Health, Fitness & Dieting

#69 in Books > Self-Help

#96 in Books > Health, Fitness & Dieting

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

92 of 96 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars User-Friendly, Loving, Tool-Kit That Really Delivers First Aid! October 2, 2011

By ellen holmes

Format:Paperback

I've been reading Rick's newsletters for years now, in which he first presented many of the ideas and practices that have been further developed and beautifully set forth in this book. I've read hundreds of self-help and "spiritual" books over decades without ever having felt obliged to write a review of even the really good ones, but this book is truly special. First of all, the author deeply knows whereof he speaks. That is the actual neuroscience of how to rewire one's brain--and therefore one's life experience--to attain much greater happiness, true well-being, peace with one's past, compassion for oneself and empathy for others--and therefore automatically making the world a better place. There's no filler here, only the real stuff that matters. This book is like having a true friend who has walked the walk, and who really cares about you, right by your side. A great gift to give yourself and anyone else!

25 of 26 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Clear, simple gems for changing your brain October 17, 2011

By Marsha Lucas

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

In Just One Thing, neuropsychologist and meditation teacher Rick Hanson presents you with 52 simple practices for changing your brain, and changing the way you live your life. His focus is on cultivating what is positive, but this is not just some "feel good" collection of helpful hints -- there is real substance here, pared down to what is essential for building on your strengths, becoming more resilient, and coming to peace with your emotions. I enjoy referring my patients as well as my friends to Rick's work -- his work is warm, engaging, and well-informed by his training in the brain-behavior relationship.

34 of 38 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars This book is a gem! October 17, 2011

By Judith Matz, author of The Diet Survivor's Handbook

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

Just One Thing is a fantastic resource! I am a psychotherapist and author specializing in eating problems - I help people break the diet/binge cycle and become attuned eaters. The 52 easy-to-read strategies offered in Rick's book - such as take in the good, have compassion for yourself and relax anxiety about imperfection - are the "perfect" practices for my clients who are looking for ways to calm their anxiety without using food.

I will also be keeping this book on my own nightstand! While I already practice meditation daily, the wisdom in these pages are gentle reminders about how to live life more fully and joyfully. I'm a big fan of Buddha's Brain, and Just One Thing is a wonderful complement - thank you, Rick!