By: Mary-Lou Stephens (Pan Macmillan)
Ever wondered what it’s like to meditate for up to 10 hours a day, for 10 days – in silence? In her book, ‘Sex, Drugs and Meditation’, Mary-Lou Stephens gives readers an insight, as she takes us through each day of a 10-day Vipassana meditation course, where the nature of the mind is revealed as it jumps between thoughts of the past, present experience (often influenced by the past) and future hopes.
Stephens reflects on her life as the youngest of six children, her time at drama school and in several bands, and her days in therapy and AA. There are the inevitable highs (a dream job as a radio personality) and lows (addictions to food, alcohol and drugs, and failed love affairs), but the momentum of the book never slackens. Can she outsmart her bully boss and keep her dream job? You have to read on to find out.
Stephens knows how to write a story, and she does so with honesty and good humour. In the same tradition as ‘Eat, Pray, Love’, it’s a journey of self-discovery. The reader does not need to relate personally to every experience to enjoy the book, but simply appreciate the journey itself – the attempt to understand the past, make wiser choices in the present and, as a result, embrace a more joyous future.
