Compassionate Mind: A New Approach to Life's Challenges Book

Start with:
Happiness: Essential Mindfulness Practices by Thich Nhat Hanh
Twelve Steps to a More Compassionate Life by Karen Armstrong
The Empathic Civilization by Jeremy Rifkin
The How of Happiness: A Scientific Approach to Getting the Life You Want by Sonja Lyubomirsky

This book offers a cognitive behavioral therapist's perspective on compassion and exercises to rewire the brain "neurons that fire together wire together" for a happier, kinder, gentler, warmer (less angry and anxious), approach to life. The authorial interjections can be goofy.

Quotes:
"From the very first hours of our lives right through to the last moments, kindness, gentleness, warmth and compassion are the things that can sustain us and help us bear the setbacks, tragedies and suffering that life will rain down on us."

"We are a species that has evolved to thrive on kindness and compassion. The challenge is to recognize the importance of kindness and affection and place them at the center of our relationship with ourselves, with others, and the world."

"We can stimulate patterns in our brains that are self-nourishing, supportive, encouraging and soothing so that in whatever we do to help ourselves, we create in our heads and experience (brain patterns) of warmth, kindness and support as our primary starting position. If we do this, we may find that things will be slightly better for us."

"It's helpful to remind ourselves that many millions of humans are combining all over the world to promote the ethical and compassionate dimensions of life."