101 Essays That Will Change the Way You Think

Wiest introduces the term “metanoia” in her final essay. Metanoia is “a change of mind, heart, self, or way of life” (438). This term is important in this book because it describes the phenomenon that Wiest hopes is happening to the reader. Its inclusion of this term at the end is symbolic of the completed journey she hopes her reader will have achieved. Although the term itself is withheld until the end, the concept pervades the book. Metanoia represents what Wiest sees as the purpose of the book—to change people’s minds. Without first changing one’s mind, she argues throughout the book, nothing else can change. When she introduces metanoia as a concept, she goes on to explain some of the uncomfortable feelings that arise when a person changes. Clearly, change and improvement is what the reader wants, but she makes clear that metanoia is not always a pleasurable experience, reemphasizing the idea that uncomfortable feelings are vital for growth.

Mindfulness is deliberate awareness of the present moment. Wiest returns frequently to this term as a worthy goal for those searching for happiness. She believes that awareness is the path to peace and that mindfulness is the practice of awareness. Essays that focus on mindfulness include “The Inherent Zen of Creativity,” “The Importance of Stillness: Why It’s Imperative to Make Time to Do Nothing,” “Be Where Your Feet Are: Mantras That Will Remind You That Your Life Is Happening in This Moment,” and “The Art of Mindlessness.” In “The Art of Mindlessness,” she states the importance of mindfulness, saying it is not simply a means of being happy, but “the final frontier” (415). To Wiest, mindfulness is a vital and even inevitable arrival for all people.

Monoculture is defined in the first essay as a “governing pattern or system of beliefs that people unconsciously accept as ‘truth’” (13). In the first essay, Wiest asks the reader to consider which of their beliefs might be defined by the monoculture rather than their own reflection, beliefs, or critical thinking. She regularly asks her readers to reevaluate what aspects of themselves are defined by the monoculture rather than who they are. By defining monoculture in the first essay, Wiest establishes both the validity and force of societal standards and the importance of viewing it as an outside force rather than oneself. She refers to monoculture again in “How We Lost Our Minds to Other People’s Gods” when she reemphasizes the importance of resisting the pull to act, believe, and plan based on what one thinks society will view as correct.

Negative visualization is the practice of imagining the worst possible outcome and then preparing for it. It was practiced by Stoics, philosophers of Ancient Greece and Rome who attempted to pursue meaningful lives through virtue and the acceptance of life’s difficulties, including mortality. Wiest cites negative visualization as an example of the importance of considering, feeling, and living what one views as negative (as opposed to chasing happiness). This practice encapsulates her message that pain is necessary in order to feel happiness. Without pain, there is no opposite of pain. Negative visualization can help remind a person of the pain they are not currently experiencing, resulting in a greater appreciation for the present moment.