This collection of excerpts recounts the author's journey from a high-pressure career in television news to discovering the benefits of meditation. Initially skeptical of anything "new age," he recounts his struggles with panic attacks and self-medication, leading him to explore various spiritual and self-help figures.

His experiences, including covering religious figures like Ted Haggard and encountering self-proclaimed gurus, eventually guide him to a traditional mindfulness meditation retreat.

Through this, he comes to understand meditation as a practical tool for managing his internal "voice," reducing stress, and improving his life and career, ultimately advocating for a more grounded approach to the practice and embracing it as a way to be "10% happier."