In 1970, Hugh Prather helped usher in the New Age era when he published "Notes to Myself," a book that encouraged readers to seek spiritual insights to soothe and resolve personal turmoil. Now, after 30 years of counseling people in pain, Prather has written "The Little Book of Letting Go," which distills decades of experience into a few nuggets of New Age wisdom. Though today it's hard to feel like Prather's themes are as revolutionary as they must have seemed in 1970, this book is chock-full of inspirational stories. And the advice it offers about how to approach life's difficulties while keeping one's sanity is as timely as ever.

Take the story about the couple whose 21-year-old daughter develops a brain tumor. While of course they seek medical care, they decide that what they really need to do is focus on her happiness, "letting go" of their fears for her physical future, since it is beyond their control. The girl ultimately recovered. Stories like this one are worth pages of New Age meandering--which, unlike many writers who followed in his footsteps, Prather generally keeps to a minimum. Though its reminders to "let go of the ego mind" may strike some readers as relentlessly upbeat, this is a soothing tome which has much to offer anyone wearied by life's burdens.