This is a valuable introduction to some of the fundamental principles of Buddhism, particularly their relevance to managing anxiety. The concise chapters provide insights into understanding anxiety and practical techniques for dealing with it.

What struck me while reading this was the overlap between some of the thoughts and practices proposed and the methods employed in cognitive psychology. I intend to reread this book multiple times to fully grasp the processes and their practical applications.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC!

Buddhist Practices for Calming Anxiety and Regulating Your Nervous System was an insightful and approachable read. I really appreciated how Tim Desmond explains the nervous system and breaks down what anxiety actually looks like in both the body and the mind.

At the heart of the book is the idea that anxiety comes from two forces: the energy of fear and the object we believe we need to fear. Rather than fighting those feelings, Desmond introduces mindfulness and Buddhist practices that encourage us to meet them with awareness.

I loved how the book combines early Buddhist psychology, the teachings of Thich Nhat Hanh, and accessible explanations of how fear operates in the nervous system. The short, practice-focused chapters make it easy to take the concepts beyond the page and actually apply them.

A thoughtful read for anyone interested in mindfulness, understanding anxiety, and learning practical ways to approach fear with more awareness and compassion.