Waking Up: A Guide to Spirituality Without Religion | Dr. Sam Harris

Neuroscientist and bestselling author Sam Harris offers a guide to meditation as a rational practice grounded in scientific understanding, addressing the growing number of Americans seeking spirituality beyond traditional religious frameworks.

Waking Up speaks to those who maintain skepticism toward organized religion yet recognize that history's great contemplatives—Jesus, Buddha, Lao Tzu, Rumi, and others—likely possessed genuine insights rather than mere delusion or deception. Harris argues that the experiences of these spiritual figures contain important truths about reality that extend beyond what conventional science and secular culture typically acknowledge.

Part personal journey and part scientific exploration, the book uniquely bridges contemplative wisdom with modern research into consciousness and spirituality. Harris's distinctive background as scientist, philosopher, and noted skeptic positions him to navigate this intersection in ways that honor both rigorous inquiry and the profound experiences reported by contemplatives throughout history.

The work demonstrates that spiritual practice, particularly meditation, can be approached rationally and empirically while still accessing the transformative insights that have drawn seekers across cultures and centuries. This synthesis offers a path for those seeking deeper understanding without abandoning intellectual honesty or scientific rigor.