Blend of philosophy and brain science

It's a pleasure to read Siddhartha's Brain, which comes from a science journalist with long experience of explaining ideas to readers of The Guardian and other publications. James Kingsland even includes guided meditation exercises throughout a book that explores mindfulness and its benefits.

"For contemplatives with a tendency to intellectualize - which would probably include people who read books about the science of enlightenment - mindfulness of breathing is strongly recommended," he suggests at one point. Others might focus on compassion, or on the putrefaction of the body if easily distracted by sensual desire.

Kingsland draws from the life of Siddhartha Gautama, founder of Buddhist philosophy and practice, and from research and personal exploration to show what lies behind the book's striking first sentence: "'We are all mentally ill', said the smiling monk in the wide-brimmed hat, as if this explained everything."