Twelve Steps to a Compassionate Life - Karen Armstrong

I bought this when I went to hear her speak on the subject of 'God as imperative' (i.e. religion having meaning as a call to action rather than a set of beliefs) recently. The book is presented as a sort of accompanying workbook for her Charter for Compassion, for people who want to strengthen their ability to implement the "Golden Rule" (always treat others as you would wish to be treated yourself), and deliberately uses the familiar AA 12-step format because "we are addicted to our egotism".

The 12 steps she suggests are:

1. Learn about compassion
2. Look at your own world
3. Compassion for yourself
4. Empathy
5. Mindfulness
6. Action
7. How little we know
8. How should we speak to one another?
9. Concern for everybody
10. Knowledge
11. Recognition
12. Love your enemies

I have to admit that I found the book itself a little lightweight - there is some interesting material on the concept of compassion through history & in different faiths, but also a lot of repetition, and the passages based on neuroscience - emphasizing the capacity of the "new-brain" to overcome the "old-brain" impulses of the Four Fs (feeding, fighting, fleeing and f***ing) - seemed somewhat superficial. However, this assessment is probably missing the point - the book is presented as a challenge or signpost, & its value lies more in what the reader does with it - to judge it fairly it would (will?) be necessary to follow her instruction: "do not leave a step until the recommended practices have become part of your daily routine".