Author:Alan W Watts
'The perfect guide for a course correction in life' Deepak Chopra
To be forever looking beyond is to remain blind to what is here
In this engaging and enduring work, pioneering Zen scholar Alan Watts examines humanity's place in the natural world and the spirit's connection to the body. Drawing on the precepts of Taoism, Watts offers an alternative vision of our place in the universe that will revolutionise the way you think, feel and live.
The perfect guide for a course correction in life
—— Deepak ChopraThich Nhat Hanh is a holy man, for he is humble and devout. He is a scholar of immense intellectual capacity. His ideas for peace, if applied, would build a monument to ecumenism, to world brotherhood, to humanity.
—— Martin Luther King, Jr.Thich Nhat Hanh does not merely teach peace; Thich Nhat Hanh is peace
—— Elizabeth GilbertThich Nhat Hanh's work, on and off the page, has proven to be the antidote to our modern pain and sorrows ... His books help me be more human, more me than I was before
—— Ocean Vuong, author of On Earth We're Briefly GorgeousThe monk who taught the world mindfulness
—— TimeMindfulness has become a serious movement, now with champions among policy makers as well as Buddhists. Thich Nhat Hanh is one of its guiding spirits
—— The Times Literary SupplementThich Nhat Hanh's words are like water. Simple, pure, transparent, and absolutely indispensable for life
—— Alejandro Iñárritu, director of Birdman and The RevenantA deeply-moving account...a must-read.
—— TatlerA remarkable memoir...an incredibly moving read. I had to put the book down several times to cry...it's a book that will save lives.
—— Sathnam SangheraThe best memoirs take the reader on two journeys: one journey is to a greater understanding of the author; the other is to a greater understanding of yourself and the society around you. A Dutiful Boy is one such book. It is the story of a young boy growing up in a devout Muslim family in east London who knew he was gay but who also knew such an admission was inconceivable in a religious culture where homosexuality was still taboo. This is the story of a family's love, a battle with shame and a long journey to acceptance. It is deeply moving and profoundly important and it made me cry. Mohsin is such an impressive person: the first from his comprehensive school to go to Oxbridge, he is now a highly regarded barrister but DAMMIT the man can write too. If you liked The Boy with the Topknot by Sathnam Sanghera or Educated by Tara Westover, you will also love this book. Thank you Mohsin, for having the courage to tell this story.
—— Elizabeth DayAn incredibly moving memoir
—— Elizabeth Day , Mail on SundayA captivating, eloquent and genuinely inspiring memoir... Beautifully written, dignified and ultimately redemptive, this challenging story abounds with light and love
—— attitudeUtterly compelling, I couldn't put the book down, and at times I laughed out loud. I also cried
—— Ashish Ghadiali , GuardianA Dutiful Boy details in a delicate and highly engrossing fashion the battles he [Zaidi] was forced to wage every step of the way - both with those around him, and deep within himself
—— TalkTalkReading this story about family acceptance, redemption and love, written with such lucidity, had me crying with relief and filling up with hope.
—— Yasmin Alibhai-BrownHeartfelt, emotional and really funny....this book is very candid and it really educated and entertained me
—— Russell ToveyA powerful memoir... Zaidi's writing offers poignant reflections on racism and class... his journey to acceptance shines through in the openness and clarity of his writing.
—— The iSad, painful, warm, revelatory and utterly fascinating. I think we would live in a slightly kinder and better country if everyone read this book.
—— Mark Haddon , New StatesmanThis is a fiercely important book with a big beating heart-Mohsin Zaidi has delivered to us a deeply personal story that is an urgent manual for our times.
—— Tope Folarin, Author of 'A Particular Kind of Black Man'A Dutiful Boy is a must read that will undoubtedly move you
—— Gay Times[A] powerful read
—— Manisha Talagala , DESIblitzDeeply affecting and often funny, A Dutiful Boy is an honest picture of what it is like to grow up day and Muslim in twenty-first-century Britain
—— Sarah Jilani , Times Literary SupplementA beautifully written book, a lovely story, life-affirming.
—— Jeremy VineOne of the most eloquent and inspiring memoirs of recent years... A Dutiful Boy is real-life storytelling at its finest
—— Mr Porter, *Summer Reads of 2021*Mohsin Zaidi...in a compassionate, compelling and humorous way, tells his story of seeking acceptance within the gay community, and within the Muslim community in which he grew up
—— Gilllian Carty , Scottish Legal NewsA powerful portrayal of being able to live authentically despite all the odds
—— Mike Findlay , ScotsmanZaidi's affecting memoir recounts his journey growing up in east London in a devout Muslim household. He has a secret, one he cannot share with anyone - he is gay. When he moves away to study at Oxford he finds, for the first time, the possibility of living his life authentically. The dissonance this causes in him - of finding a way to accept himself while knowing his family will not do the same - is so sensitively depicted. One of the most moving chapters includes him coming home to a witch doctor, who his family has summoned to "cure" him. This is an incredibly important read, full of hope.
—— Jyoti Patel, The GuardianA beautifully written book, a lovely story, life-affirming
—— Jeremy VineZaidi's account is raw, honest and at times quite painful to read. It's so vivid that it feels almost tangible, as though you're living the experiences of the author himself.
—— VogueThis heartfelt and honest book is beautifully written and full of hope
—— The New Arab