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Published by Rodale
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In his thrilling exploration of the "deep backcountry of human
kindness," Marc Ian Barasch takes us with him on a healing journey of
the heart. How can compassion, a trait hardwired into our nervous
system and just waiting to be awakened, transform our lives and the
world at large? From up-to-the-minute research to timeless spiritual
truths, throughout the spectrum of the best (and worst) of human
behavior, Barasch weaves a stirring, unforgettable
account of his search to find within himself and others the essence of
the
compassionate life. His provocative questions have tremendous implications: Can we
discover our greatest human potential by studying the exceptionally
empathic? Can
we increase our own "compassion quotient" with practice? How can we
open
our hearts to those who have wronged us? And what if the great driving
force
of our evolution were actually "survival of the kindest"? Drawing from influences as disparate as Buddhist monks and skeptical
neuroscientists, Barasch creates a riveting, persuasive argument that a
simple shift in consciousness can have a lasting impact on our psyches,
our relationships, our health
-- and the very fate of the Earth. pub date: 2005-03-01 | hardcover | 9781579547110 |