The Little Book of Being

Practices and Guidance for Uncovering Your Natural Awareness

By: Diana Winston

Narrated by: Norah Tocci

Do you recall, as a child, being enthralled by a drifting cloud, the babbling of a stream, the wandering of a ladybug? If so, then you've already had a taste of natural awareness.

Known and revered in many contemplative traditions, natural awareness transcends even these wondrous childhood moments. It has been described as a profound "awareness of awareness" - an effortless and panoramic state of fully being at our deepest levels.

Created for those new to meditation and long-time meditators alike, The Little Book of Being shows us how to discover this free-flowing and expansive side of mindfulness - no formal sitting practice required.

This concise and friendly guide takes us through 73 "mini-chapters" that explain natural awareness and help us experience it via simple and enjoyable explorations to bring welcome moments of peace, connection, and spaciousness to our often distracted and stressful lives.

©2019 Diana Winston (P)2019 Tantor

Critic reviews

"In a clear and encouraging voice, Diana Winston points out how the shift from noting what is happening to the more spacious awareness that it is happening relaxes the mind and body into a state of okay-ness, bringing natural compassion and deep well-being." (Sylvia Boorstein, PhD, author of Happiness Is an Inside Job)

Robot reader ruins this book

I read this book and loved it and really like Diana's meditations on Sam Harris's waking up app, but this robot/AI reading of this text is absolutely terrible and completely ruins this good book. What a shame the author can't invest the time to read her own book + really put out a quality product.

Natural awareness with unnatural narration

The content is great but the experience could have been better with a less robotic narration.

Great book, narration does not do it justice

The book itself was a wonderful introduction to the author's way of thinking about meditation practices. The narration was highly distracting and provided an unwelcome opportunity to practice patience. The narrator paused and emphasised at awkward places, betraying an almost complete lack of awareness of the subject material.

Buy the book. Skip the audio book unless they get a new narrator.

Great book, terrible narration. Worth it!

Like many reviews state this is a significantly awful narration to a book filled with excellent, practical information. I got a lot out of it, despite the narrator's cheesy tone and poor ability to deliver the content. This book would greatly benefit from an update with a new narrator, preferably the author. If you can get past that, I highly recommend it.

Good introduction to meditation

A good and easy to follow introduction into everyday mindfulness that is more functional and less esoteric than other mindfulness books I’ve read or listened to