Seeking Peace: Chronicles of the Worst Buddhist in the World

In Seeking Peace, bestselling author Mary Pipher turns her attention inward, and with her characteristic honesty, humility, and humanity, explores the lessons of her own life: as a daughter, a mother, a wife, a therapist, and a seeker. She spent her childhood in small towns in the Midwest, the bookworm daughter of a doctor mother and a restless, jack-of-all-trades father. Her parents were often absent, and she was the caretaker for her siblings. She built an identity around being a good sister and the family nurturer. As a grown woman, Pipher found joy and fulfillment as a mother, wife, and therapist, doing what she most enjoyed: learning about the world and helping others. But after the astonishing success of Reviving Ophelia, she found herself overwhelmed by the new demands on her time and attention. In 2002, Pipher experienced a meltdown. Her life on the road and in the public eye had taken its toll on her emotional, mental, and physical well-being. She felt fragile, isolated, and empty. Trying to find a quieter, more peaceful life that would carry her toward greater self-acceptance and joy, she began the hard work of slowing down, crafting a new identity, and discovering the inner tranquility she’d yearned for all her life. In this candid and moving telling of her own remarkable story, Pipher reveals truths about our very human search for happiness and love.

Mary Pipher, Ph.D. is a psychologist and the author of eight books, including the New York Times bestsellers Reviving Ophelia, The Shelter of Each Other, and Another Country, as well as Writing to Change the World. Her work has been translated into more than twenty-five languages, and she has lectured to groups and conferences around the world. She lives in Lincoln, Nebraska, with her husband, Jim, near their children and grandchildren.