<p>In this important and thought-provoking work, Karen Armstrong—one of the most original thinkers on the role of religion in the modern world—provides an impassioned and practical guide to helping us make the world a more compassionate place.<br> <br>The twelve steps she suggests begin with “Learn About Compassion,” and close with “Love Your Enemies.” In between, she takes up self-love, mindfulness, suffering, sympathetic joy, the limits of our knowledge of others, and “concern for everybody.” She shares concrete methods to help us cultivate and expand our capacity for compassion, and provides a reading list to encourage us to “hear one another's narratives.” Armstrong teaches us that becoming a compassionate human being is a lifelong project and a journey filled with rewards.<br><br>The First Step: Learn About Compassion<br>The Second Step: Look at Your Own World<br>The Third Step: Compassion for Yourself<br>The Fourth Step: Empathy<br>The Fifth Step: Mindfulness<br>The Sixth Step: Action<br>The Seventh Step: How Little We Know<br>The Eighth Step: How Should We Speak to One Another?<br>The Ninth Step: Concern for Everybody<br>The Tenth Step: Knowledge<br>The Eleventh Step: Recognition<br>The Twelfth Step: Love Your Enemies</p>