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Jeffrey Rubin, for many years, has been articulating a vision of a genuine pluralism incorporating Asian spiritual practices and Western psychotherapy. His first book was at the forefront of the large body of work over the last 20 years relating Buddhist psychology and psychoanalysis. Although it was apparent that he has a deep commitment and understanding of both approaches, his book was noteworthy for his willingness to be sharply critical of both traditions in an effort to move us past orthodox idealizations to insights that might really expand our possibilities for living. His current book represents an extension of his essential project for the general reader. It is of interest to psychoanalytic readers because Rubin is so deeply grounded in psychoanalysis and confident that what is important about psychoanalysis is not contained in rigid notions of theory or technique but rather a climate, to use Auden's phrase, of human opinion regarding individual lives. Rubin is trying to be of help to the general reader and to advance a model of clinical work based on psychoanalysis but willing to be directive, engaged and expansive in recruiting sources of healing. Rubin wisely locates his lineage in his introduction by citing Ralph Waldo Emerson and William James. I believe American psychoanalysis has suffered, and some have even argued, suicided, by neglecting the wisdom of those two New England sages. They were both strong advocates of tolerance and pluralism. Both saw no reason to exclude the political or spiritual from the psychological. Indeed, for Rubin, that exclusion is a powerful contributor to alienation and self-estrangement. Rubin is explicit that he has embraced James' conclusion that in the end, healthy mindedness is to be preferred over a sick soul. It would not be surprising if some psychoanalytic readers found Rubin's tone too skewed to the light. Rubin's voice can be contrasted, for purposes of illustration with Michael Eigen, another psychoanalyst symp