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Teach Yourself to Meditate in Ten Simple Lessons: Discover Relaxation and Clarity of Mind in Just Minutes a Day

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Don't let the title fool you. Eric Harrison's book is not a spare `how to' manual, nor is it dumbed down to simplify the process. His lessons are woven between his personal style of writing. He explains the reason for doing meditating and provides the human and biological reason meditation works.
The lessons are simple to follow, and are the building blocks for further advancement. Once you understand what you are trying to do, it becomes easier to do it.
Harrison shows the reader how to focus, how to breath, and how to `watch with detachment', and he explain in detail so as to understand how these states occur naturally if we allow them to. As the reader progresses, he can work on aspects such as scanning, mantra, and visualizations. Harrison illustrates each practice and explains the biology and benefits derived.
As I read the book, I noticed how Harrison's `forgiving' view of meditation helped me to place realistic expectations on myself when I sat in the evening to practice. The goal is to clear the mind and relax the body, but sometimes this is difficult after a troublesome day. One sitting may take me into theta, but the next night I find I can barely make it out of beta. His view is that something beneficial will always come from focus and clearing the mind, even if one session is not as `successful' as the last. It far better to let the body relax, the mind focus and not be worried about achieving an ideal.

So, does it work? I've not worked through all the lessons yet, but I have noticed changes. I'm sleeping better and handling anxiety more reasonably. I look forward to the 15 minutes I spend in sitting - the only time I allow myself when I refuse to fret about the day's mishaps(there's enough time to be anxious at work). My migraines are less to bother me and I haven't been in pain with my neck. By meditating consciously and thoroughly, I've come to realize I really haven't been relaxing. So, yes, I have attained the basics of meditation.
This book is not the one and only book to read on the subject and you may want visual manual to follow, as well(this book is text only) What the book *does* provide(which makes it an invaluable resource) is the basic skills in a simple, but thorough, format. After you learn the basics, then you can pick up a number of books and pull out other points to work on.
Apart from this, Harrison is an excellent writer, and even those who have been mediating for some time will still find insight into their practice. Those who are new to meditating will achieve the building blocks of mediation. This is an invaluable manual for all levels.
Now I'm looking forward to reading his other book, "How Meditation Heals". It's on order as I speak.

This is an excellent book. Very straight forward and to the point. After years of trying to meditate this is the book that I finally learned from. Since then I've developed my own system for teaching others (see my CD on amazon.com, keywords: Meditation Awareness Felder CD) Teach Yourself to Meditate in 10 Simple Lessons is the only book I recommend to my meditation students. Every one of my students who have purchased it agrees that it is the best, most understandable book they have read on the subject. Eric Harrison presents meditation in very easy to understand scientific terms for the layperson. Yet he gives a broad view of traditional techniques and styles. I obviously highly recommend it for any one who is serious about learning to meditate or improving their meditation skills. Thanks Eric, where ever you are.

This extraordinary book takes you by the hand and guides you through the process of not only developing a deeper understanding of Meditation, but also shows you, in an evolving succession of concepts, examples and exercises, the ways in which we often lose sight of it. In these pages you will learn not just the principles behind Meditation, but simple, practical ways to apply those principles and increase your enjoyment of every day.
By distilling years of personal research and experience in meditation into this brief, easy-to-understand guide to awareness, Eric Harrison has created a work that can bring about rapid and profound changes in how you see the world and how you live your life.
This Book makes nice addition to Echart Tolle's "Power of Now". Honestly, this combination of books moved and empowered me in a way that no other book(s) have ever been able to do.

I've been meditating since I was in middle school. I've read at least 50 books on the subject. Eric Harrison's are by far the best. If your looking for a clear, versatile, and nondogmatic instruction, buy this book!! Presently, he has two other books available at amazon.com. I highly recommend them as well.

I have only read about 20 pages available through Amazon's search-in-the-book feature. For the first time, I understand meditation and the benefits. Perhaps the Power of Now and Eat Pray Love made me open to this author's explanation. Though, I think this author is best of them all and the explanation can stand on its own. Really, after reading only 20 pages, and not even one of the recommended meditations, I get it.