This was not as strange as the first book but a lot more meta.  The first book had a lot about physical things that simply could not happen.  This book focused on the mind and how we can view thoughts as though they are simply thoughts and not necessarily us.  I like the theme, but the exact way they define it leaves no definition of self.  That is somewhat the point of the definition, but I don’t agree with it.  I can tell that this concept was used by Scientologists to define the concept of Thetan, but there are many significant differences.

The overarching practice of being mindful, and always aware of what you are doing and why.  Using this you can teach yourself to think objectively more often instead of emotionally, realize that your actions should not follow from anger, confusion, sloth, or ‘desire.’  Desire as they put it is something that I would more describe as coveting.  The idea of desire being a bad influence isn’t something I fully agree with, even though that is more or less what they mean.  The subset of desire, which I would call coveting, is what I would consider a bad influence.  I believe that there are many desires that can be good influences.  When I was reading the section on good and bad influences I got images in my head of hands representing the good and bad, while being the same shape.  Coveting is a hand reaching out trying to grab something, while charity and good desire is a hand reaching out to give.  Both these hands are the same shape, only one is palm down, the other palm up.  Similarly the idea of confusion and clarity are two hands making circles between the thumb and middle finger.  The confusion has the hands linked, and the clarity has them separate.  Anger and Empathy are hands illuminated from the top by a red light and the hands are flat.  The angry hands were palm down showing bright red knuckles, the empathic hands were palm up and looked like they were cupping blood.  The slovenly vs. productive hands were in the shape of holding a rod.  The one was holding a tool, the other was holding something else.

I think the last book will be far too meta for me to enjoy, but I still look forward to listening to it.

Audible Link