Often we feel as victims of others and circumstances outside of our control. We feel wounded, and, motivated by anger, we adopt defensive attitudes. We see each other as enemies and, in turn, end up becoming enemies ourselves. But what if we could learn to put aside those feelings, the hurt, and the defensiveness? Inspired by Buddhist philosophy, this book teaches us to identify the four classes of enemies that we face on a daily basis. Most importantly, it describes how to transform our relationships using set principles including freeing ourselves from thoughts such as “us versus them;” developing compassion, patience, and love; accepting what is beyond our control; and other fundamental concepts.  

Robert Thurman is a professor at the University of Columbia. He is the author of Inner Revolution and the translator of El libro tibetano de los muertos. Sharon Salzbergb teaches meditation and is a cofounder of the Insight Meditation Society. She is the author of Faith, Loving-Kindness, Real Happiness, and Real Happiness at Work.