The library
A survey of what human beings have tried, across centuries and cultures, in pursuit of peace of mind — and an honest account of what the evidence actually suggests. Each technique is a short, self-contained read. Begin anywhere.
The entries are grouped as they are in the book, from the oldest contemplative practices to the quiet art of doing nothing at all. Every one carries a plain verdict: evidence for it mixed picture questionable open question
Ancient & contemplative practices
Meditation, breath and prayer — the oldest deliberate attempts to quiet the mind.
Nature & place
Walking, water and gardens — calm found by changing where you are.
Creative & absorptive states
Making, reading and music — the peace of being wholly taken up by something.
Body & physical practice
Yoga, exertion and sleep — what the body does for the mind.
Substances & pharmacology
From alcohol to SSRIs — the chemistry of calm, and its costs.
Psychological approaches
CBT, ACT and journalling — changing the thinking that generates unease.
More questionable territory
Crystals, decluttering and digital detox — where enthusiasm outruns evidence.
Therapeutic techniques
Grounding, parts work and the STOP method — tools drawn from the clinic.
Apps & digital tools
Mindfulness apps, wearables and ambient sound — calm by screen.
Artificial intelligence
Companions, guided tools and thinking partners — the newest and least charted territory.
Relationships & connection
People, touch and animals — possibly the best-evidenced calm of all.
Ritual & routine
Daily structure and small ceremonies — order as an antidote to uncertainty.
Humour & play
Laughter and unselfconscious play — the lightness the wellness industry forgets.
Diet & the body’s chemistry
The gut-brain axis — what you eat, and how it reaches the mind.
Voluntary discomfort
Cold and fasting — the counterintuitive calm on the far side of hardship.
Mortality & acceptance
Contemplating death and letting go — the deepest source of unease, honestly met.
Doing nothing
Niksen — no technique, no method, just the window and the light.
Part of Seeking Calm: From the Stoics to the Spa — a working survey, freely given, becoming a book. More about the project →