At the outset, the author states, “This book is an invitation to slow down and see more”; Sacco provides instructions for cultivating a visual meditation practice by “beholding images.” She pairs lyrics from the song with photographs of nature and children outdoors: An image of an intricate spiderweb is set alongside the words

“Slow yourself down,” and the phrase “Focus inside” is accompanied by an image of a lit candle melting in the dark. Several essays on increasing awareness and calm comprise the final section. In the “Perception and Connection” essay, Sacco distinguishes between two types of wonder—one focuses on asking questions, while the other is quieter and arises from simply being present. The latter form of wonder is “a sacred place to be and an antecedent to wisdom and consciousness,” per the author. She also posits that each person possesses a “unique rhythm, a pattern, a deeper pulse or song that’s imprinted,” which is often drowned out by constant activity and mental noise. An essay on “Play and Curiosity” emphasizes the importance of meeting the present moment with gentleness and curiosity. To “Rediscover Your Inner Compass,” Sacco recommends experimentation and the acceptance of mistakes, qualities modeled by children but often suppressed by a goal-oriented, externally driven culture. Her “Simple Practices” include suggestions like doing a body scan, witnessing thoughts like passing clouds, and sending a message of loving kindness. The book concludes with an invitation to share wonder with the author via email.

This eclectic work offers multiple opportunities to reflect and relax. The pace is slow and intentional, which echoes the book’s title and theme of taking time for wonder. Sacco’s song lyrics are memorable in lines like “Take time for wonder / You’ll know the way / It’s close to your heart / And it’s in every day.” (Sheet music is also included for those who wish to play the song on instruments at home.) The author’s background as a mindfulness educator is evident in the book’s practical sections, which will open minds to new ways of experiencing the world. The exercises are unique and help focus attention on the present moment, such as one that recommends observing an object with a magnifying glass. “Describe its qualities in detail rather than categorizing or labeling it,” the author instructs. “This can bring you closer to its form and essence. You may develop more familiarity with it, even a friendliness.” Other exercises engage different senses, including touch, smell, and sound. Quotations included in the text, like Marcel Proust’s “The real voyage of discovery consists, not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes,” add depth to the lessons. Sacco’s tone is welcoming and conveys trust in the reader’s own wisdom in lines like “It’s as if the world starts to present itself to us with sheer delight. Yet it has always been there, waiting for us to be ready.” A calming book about coming back to the present moment.