Synopses & Reviews
A funny, wise, and relatable exploration of how to stand firm amid the ups and downs of existence, from a renowned teacher and writer hailed as "the future of Buddhism"
In today's culture of intense polarization and constant change, how do we find the confidence to navigate life's challenges? Is now really the time for meditation, for looking inward? What do we
do with mindfulness? Ethan Nichtern, described by Vogue.com as "a supercool, deeply kind brainiac," and one of the leading meditation teachers of our time, tackles these questions head-on in
Confidence. This provocative book takes contemporary considerations of power, identity, ethics, and confidence to new heights, offering readers an essential guide to self-discovery.
Nichtern examines the Buddhist concept of the Eight Worldly Winds, the four paired opposites of praise and blame, pleasure and pain, fame and insignificance, and success and failure. By delving into these dichotomies, readers gain invaluable insights into their relationships with others (including teachers, friends, leaders, the disgraced, and the adored) and themselves. With four transformative meditation exercises, this book empowers readers to cultivate and access their innate confidence and wisdom.
Review
"Real confidence, true confidence, comes not from a false front or a fleeting achievement; it goes way deeper than that. And Ethan Nichtern, a deft and experienced teacher, will take you there. I wish I'd had this book when I was much younger. It would've prevented me from all manner of suffering and embarrassment."
Dan Harris, author of 10% Happier
Review
"Confidence. We post it, we lack it, we want it, we seek it, we hoard it, we lord it, we try to buy it and, I hope, offer it to others. It's a simple word with complex origins and imprints and expectations, and we all need help with it. I'm so glad that Ethan Nichtern is offering this practical access point to confidence!"
Jamie Lee Curtis
Review
"Ethan Nichtern guides readers to a resilient inner balance while dealing with the challenges of life, and each page sings with his kind and soulful voice. With skill and grace, he brings together Buddhist wisdom, clear seeing of injustice, heart-touching examples, and practical suggestions in this timely and very useful book. It's a pleasure to read, and the benefits will ripple through your life and onward, outward to the world."
Rick Hanson, PhD, author of Buddha's Brain: The Practical Neuroscience of Happiness, Love, and Wisdom
About the Author
Ethan Nichtern is a renowned contemporary Buddhist teacher and the author of The Dharma of "The Princess Bride" and the widely acclaimed The Road Home. Ethan teaches meditation and Buddhist psychology classes and retreats online via Dharma Moon and around the US. He lives in Brooklyn with his daughter.
EthanNichtern.com