Synopses & Reviews
Miguel Farias is a lecturer at the Department of Experimental Psychology at the University of Oxford. Much of his research and publications explore the impact of spiritual beliefs and practices on people's minds and health. He has worked with leading scientists and psychologists, including Baroness Susan Greenfield, Prof. Justin Barrett and Prof. Gordon Claridge. His work on how religious belief may alleviate pain was reported by
The Guardian, The Daily Telegraph, and in documentaries by the BBC and National Geographic.
Catherine Wikholm is studying for a doctorate in Clinical Psychology and has been employed by the prison service as a facilitator for the Thinking Skills Program, an accredited offending behavior program which aims to reduce re-offending through the development of cognitive skills. She is an Oxford graduate with a BA in Philosophy and Theology and an MSc in Forensic Psychology. Miguel and Catherine have worked together in a study that looked at the psychological effects of yoga and meditation in prisoners, including sex offenders, lifers and women. The author lives in Oxford, UK.
Synopsis
Millions of people meditate daily but can meditative practices really make us 'better' people?
In The Buddha Pill, pioneering psychologists Dr Miguel Farias and Catherine Wikholm put meditation and mindfulness under the microscope. Separating fact from fiction, they reveal what scientific research - including their groundbreaking study on yoga and meditation with prisoners - tells us about the benefits and limitations of these techniques for improving our lives. As well as illuminating the potential, the authors argue that these practices may have unexpected consequences, and that peace and happiness may not always be the end result.
Offering a compelling examination of research on transcendental meditation to recent brain-imaging studies on the effects of mindfulness and yoga, and with fascinating contributions from spiritual teachers and therapists, Farias and Wikholm weave together a unique story about the science and the delusions of personal change.
About the Author
GB