This book on Vipassana meditation is simple, clear and convenient, like an old friend; she just is what she is. Steven Levine examines meditation and social responsibility in a way that is neither abstract nor empty. This is practical material for everyday life. Some books on meditation are intended for the beginner who has never really thought about meditation; others are written for those advanced in practice. "Gradual Awakening" will be most useful for those who are on the middle stages of the Middle Path, i.e. for those readers who realized the need for travel and set sail.