Into The Magic Shop

Praise for Into the Magic Shop

“Into the Magic Shop is pure magic! That a child from humble beginnings could become a professor of neurosurgery and the founder of a center that studies compassion and altruism at a major university, as well as an entrepreneur and philanthropist, is extraordinary enough. But it is Doty’s ability to describe his journey so lyrically, and then his willingness to share his methods, that make this book a gem.”

—Abraham Verghese, MD, author of Cutting for Stone

“Once in a generation, someone is able to articulate the compelling mystery within his or her life story in such a way that it captures the imagination of others and inspires them to align with what is deepest and best in themselves and allow it to manifest and flower. There is plenty of magic in this book, but the deepest magic of all is that Jim was openheartedly guided to start practicing that aligning when he was twelve, and trusted it enough to never lose the thread completely, even in the hardest of times. Behold what is emerging now.”

—Jon Kabat-Zinn, PhD, author of Full Catastrophe Living

“True healing is both biological and spiritual. When you experience love and compassion, your body shifts into homeostasis and self-regulation. When you heal yourself, you heal others. The reverse is also true. Your acts of kindness and compassion are the true healing of the world. In this extraordinary book, Dr. James Doty shows you the way.”

—Deepak Chopra, MD, coauthor of Super Brain

“Jim has written a truly extraordinary book. He shares with us the trauma of his childhood filled with pain, despair, and shame through the gifts of spirit that blazed the path for him to fulfillment, love, and wisdom. Indeed, Into the Magic Shop offers each of us this gift. I am in awe of Jim’s skill in conveying it through the magic of this book.”

—Sharon Salzberg, author of Real Happiness

“A compelling narrative that demonstrates the power of compassion to change not only a life but the world. Powerful and moving.”

—Chip Conley, author of Emotional Equations

“Into the Magic Shop is not only a moving testimony that keeps the reader enthralled throughout the book but also a powerful exhortation to live a more compassionate and meaningful life. Beautiful and highly inspiring.”

—Matthieu Ricard, author of Altruism

“When a top neurosurgeon opens his heart to talk about his own difficult childhood that provided recipes for loneliness, fear, rage, and shame, you know you are in for a deeply moving and insightful journey into the suffering and fragility of the human mind. Beautifully written, deeply original, this is an extraordinarily moving and exceptionally practical book into the ‘magic’ tricks for calming and cultivating our minds. Here are lived ways to cope and engage with the realities and struggles of life that we all just find ourselves in. The seeds of compassi on are being planted; we must now cultivate them.”

—Paul Gilbert, PhD, OBE, author of The Compassionate Mind

“Into the Magic Shop is a moving and inspiring story of transformation. It provides us lessons about how to live better and more compassionate lives.”

—Paul Ekman, PhD, author of Emotions Revealed

“Dr. Doty’s powerful book is a testament to how faith and compassion extend beyond religion, race, and nationality and can help an individual overcome adversity and personal limitations. It is an inspiration.”

—Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, spiritual leader and founder of the Art of Living Foundation

“I can think of no comparable book with such a brilliantly created narrative following the remarkable arc of the author’s life: From growing up as a poor, disadvantaged child into a brilliant neurosurgeon and wealthy entrepreneur, Doty’s story moves deftly, from using his scalpel to save the lives of his patients to using his compassionate heart to enrich the lives of others. Profound, deeply moving, and emotionally resonating.”