The Wisdom of No Escape: How to Love Yourself and Your World

Pema Chödrön, a Buddhist nun in the Tibetan tradition, presents teachings on how to live with ourselves and the world without trying to escape discomfort. The book draws on the lojong slogans and the Buddhist idea of maitri, or unconditional friendliness toward oneself. She describes how the habit of running from pain, boredom and uncertainty keeps us stuck, and how staying present with these feelings opens the way to compassion. Chapters cover themes such as the three lords of materialism, meditation, the importance of not trying to improve ourselves into something else, and how to meet difficulties with openness.

It is for readers who want a practical, approachable introduction to Buddhist practice without heavy jargon, and for those who have found self-improvement approaches exhausting. Chödrön writes with humour and personal candour, and offers a way of staying with life as it is.

Inward-looking and contemplative; a moderate read.

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