Dan Harris and co-authors open by directly addressing common meditation skepticism, acknowledging this skepticism as genuinely understandable given misleading popular portrayals often presenting meditation in overly mystical or unrealistic terms.

Why acknowledging this understandable skepticism matters:

• Many potential meditation practitioners hold reasonable skepticism given common popular portrayals emphasizing overly mystical or unrealistic elements not reflecting meditation's actual accessible, practical nature
• Harris's own background as a skeptical journalist before his personal meditation practice adoption provides credible grounding for addressing this skepticism directly and respectfully
• This opening establishes the book's distinctive skeptic-friendly approach, motivating its subsequent detailed accessible practical guidance

This opening establishes the book's distinctive skeptic-friendly approach, directly acknowledging understandable meditation skepticism given common misleading popular portrayals.