Mr Spock's Little Book of Mindfulness

What with The Wisdom of Picard from Simon and Schuster, HeroCollector have also gone for something quirky in Mr Spock's Little Book of Mindfulness.

But don't go all out thinking this is some sort of in depth self-help manual because it's taken with a light-hearted approach right across from the words to the free-style illustrations which provide a very individual look to this new publication.

Running to just over 100 pages (116) and nine chapters, Glenn Dakin - recently involved with the brilliant Quibbles with Tribbles - has returned with a book to help us all be that little bit more Vulcan in our lives. 

Offering up advice and direction from the universe's most famed pointy-earred hobgoblin (just quoting McCoy peeps!), Spock's experiences in life are right at your finger tips should it come to Self-Acceptance, Truth (Vulcans always tell the truth nor do they bluff...honest), Family, Love, Change and more. But don't be taking this all too seriously because there is without question a very tongue-in-cheek approach to the writing and certainly the Quentin Blake-esque illustrations placing Spock in some less than logical and emotion-free positions. Every one has real life to it and doesn't fail to raise a smile - the enjoyment is turning the page to see what he'll be up to next. 

The research from Dakin is once more excellent with the author diving into not just The Original Series but probing into the furthest corners of The Voyage Home and The Undiscovered Country and past that into the realms of Discovery to uncover just the right words of wisdom and guidance from Spock. Nothing in here from the Kelvin Timeline which does make you wonder if anything from that path made any sense...!!!

Anyway, I digress slightly because not only does Dakin relate these quotes and sections to our everyday lives (Vulcans don't have social media...) but flips it all around to demonstrate that sometimes the logic isn't always perfect or works out as planned (the needs of the many...or the one) and cleverly weaves in a bit of a deep dive into Vulcan philosophy and their own background as a race including The Animated Series because hell, 

This is one of those books that seems to give in different ways each time I come back to it. I'd err on the side of reading a bit a day rather than piling through and taking in each section at a time as you will end up thinking back to particular episodes, instances and phrases - but don't worry if anything eludes you as Glenn Dakin has also included a handy quote reference section at the end which will align you to the right episode or movie for further details. 

Mr Spock's Little Book of Mindfulness is one of those volumes that sticks in your mind and not
just for the title. It can be a little whimsical in its narrative at times but the whole is such an engaging read with real love for the franchise permeating every page and word because Dakin manages to balance the line of keeping it tonally light while both honouring the legacy and poking that little bit of fun at the franchise with the twists and turns woven into Spock's story - for continuity fans you'll have a whale of a time I have no doubt. 

Being a Brit too means that, for me, the humour in here works that much more successfully than a good chunk of the jokes did in Lower Decks and for that, I can guarantee I'll be diving into this Little Book for many occasions in the future and hope to see more of Glenn Dakin's work be it the written word or cartoon very soon!

Mr Spock's Little Book of Mindfulness is available now from HeroCollector HERE priced £11.99

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