Jonathan Kaplan is a clinical psychologist and founder of UrbanMindfulness.org. Currently, he maintains a private practice in New York City. In this helpful and salutary paperback, the author shows how the practice of mindfulness can change lives in cities across the country. What does he mean by mindfulness?

• "Noticing your thoughts, feelings, and actions without judgment or criticism
• "Observing what's happening around you
• "Being fully aware of your senses moment to moment
• "Living in the here and now without resorting to old patterns and automatic reactions
• "Exercising acceptance of your own experience, whether good, bad, or neutral"

There are 50 chapters on urban experiences divided into the following categories: At Home, At Play, At Work, Out and About, and Anytime, Anywhere. Here are some practices and exercises we found very appealing:

• "Express your appreciation or gratitude for the people who remove the trash. Perhaps extend a blessing to the sanitation workers as they come down the block."

• "Overcome apartment envy."

• "Create a day of silence for yourself without leaving the city."

• "Regularly visit blogs that reflect what's happening in your neighborhood."

• "Now that you've examined your [paper] stapler in a sensory way, take a couple of moments to appreciate how it connects you to others in the world."

• "Nurture a spot of nature close to home or work."

• "Explore ways to appreciate things that move slowly or take time. Buy a cactus and watch it grow."