Seeking Peace: Chronicles of the Worst Buddhist in the World

by Mary Pipher Narrated by Kymberly Dakin

Overview

In Seeking Peace, bestselling author Mary Pipher turns her attention inward, and with her characteristic honesty, humility, and humanity, explores the lessons of her own life: as a daughter, a mother, a wife, a therapist, and a seeker.

She spent her childhood in small towns in the Midwest, the bookworm daughter of a doctor mother and a restless, jack-of-all-trades father. Her parents were often absent, and she was the caretaker for her siblings. She built an identity around being a good sister and the family nurturer. As a grown woman, Pipher found joy and fulfillment as a mother, wife, and therapist, doing what she most enjoyed: learning about the world and helping others. But after the astonishing success of Reviving Ophelia, she found herself overwhelmed by the new demands on her time and attention.

In 2002, Pipher experienced a meltdown. Her life on the road and in the public eye had taken its toll on her emotional, mental, and physical well-being. She felt fragile, isolated, and empty. Trying to find a quieter, more peaceful life that would carry her toward greater self-acceptance and joy, she began the hard work of slowing down, crafting a new identity, and discovering the inner tranquility she'd yearned for all her life. In this candid and moving telling of her own remarkable story, Pipher reveals truths about our very human search for happiness and love.

Editorial Reviews

"There are three kinds of secrets," Mary Pipher writes in this memoir. "Those we keep from everyone, those we keep from certain people, and those we keep from ourselves. Writing this book forced me to deal with all three." From any perspective, Seeking Peace is revelatory. In books such as Reviving Ophelia and The Shelter of Each Other, psychologist Pipher became famous by writing about others. In this sensitive confessional, she describes her unconventional childhood in small-town Nebraska; her deep passion for working with people; and her painful realization that her fame was ruining her life. This touching book tells us much about learning to come to peace with ourselves.

From the Publisher

A generous book conceived and executed by a compassionate…mind.”
—Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“An absorbing chronicle of discovery.”
—Booklist 

“This is an insightful and terribly personal memoir of an active and successful life, and of how [Pipher’s] almost desperate need for inner peace amid the noise of her world has dominated so many of her days.”
—Lincoln Journal Star

FEBRUARY 2009 - AudioFile

From the first sentences it's clear this is a narration by a consummate pro. Kymberly Dakin's vocal quality seems formal at first, but it's utterly calm and so connected to this writing that listeners almost immediately forget anyone else is reading and hear only the essence of Mary Pipher and her story. Pipher is a mature storyteller whose responses to her uneven family experiences and self-critical ways come across as uplifting rather than melodramatic or self-pitying. She unfolds her lifelong efforts to slow down and be kinder to herself with the secure tone of someone who knows the redemptive power of self-acceptance, family, and community. The production’s warm sound and nurturing lessons offer an endless supply of inspiration and comfort. T.W. © AudioFile 2009, Portland, Maine

Product Details

BN ID:	2940172292163
Publisher:	Brilliance Audio
Publication date:	03/19/2009
Edition description:	Unabridged

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