Twelve Steps to a Compassionate Life

After the bestselling The Case for God, Karen Armstrong makes the case for compassion - an urgent appeal to establish empathy and altruism at the centre of our private and public lives.

Drawing on a wide range of material - ranging from the spiritual character of the world religions to the findings of contemporary neuroscience - this title argues that compassion is hardwired into our brains, yet is constantly pushed back by our more primitive instincts for selfishness and survival.

Welcome to a life guided by compassion. This book presents twelve practical steps for how we can bring compassion to the forefront of our lives - creating a happier, better world.

Practising these steps will not change our lives overnight and turn us into saints or sages: the attempt to become a more compassionate human being is a lifelong project. Yet Karen Armstrong argues that compassion is inseparable from humanity, and by transcending the limitations of selfishness on a daily basis we will not only make a difference in the world but also lead happier, more fulfilled, lives.

Taking as her starting point the teachings of the great world religions,this book argues that compassion is hardwired into our brains, yet is constantly pushed back by our more primitive instincts for selfishness and survival. Yet in today's world, compassion in no longer a luxury but, in the words of Martin Luther King, 'an absolute necessity for our survival'.

‘A profound and lucid mixture of philosophy, theology and self-help… A perfect detox for the soul’ The Times

‘Challenging, persuasive self-help book that seeks to distil the very best of religion’ Independent