If this book is a satire, then it is pure genius and I should rate it 5++ stars. But sadly I guess it is otherwise and I give three stars for the pure honest confessions of a perpetual "seeker" who is lost in guru hopping and battling addictions. Minus 10 stars for the ad nauseum Advaita philosophy that feels as if she is repeating from elightened teachers but not from true experience (shame on you editors). No Joan you are not enlightened and its because you don't want to be. Your self torture makes you feel alive and without it you are afraid that you will be quite disappointed and bored with being awake. The paradox is that I'm quite sure this news would not come as any surprise to you.

I am recommending this book to all my perpetual seeker friends.

This is the most helpful spiritual book I've ever read. I can't think of any book which shows so clearly that awakening is available now, and it's not an abstract, distant goal.

Joan writes very openly and candidly about her spiritual journey, including her anger, doubts and addictions, and the gradual process of giving up the spiritual search and accepting what is. She doesn't write about amazing experiences of awakening after which everything is changed forever, but instead she writes about awakening in a way which makes it seem very accessible and not far away. Joan's personal experiences are interwoven with clear, lucid writing about awareness, meditation, advaita, etc., plus exquisite descriptions of nature. Every page is a joy to read and re-read. This book is highly recommended for anyone who is really interested in awakening.