Books That Made a Difference to Gillian Anderson

 
When Things Fall Apart
When Things Fall Apart
By Pema Chödrön

This came into my life at the end of an important relationship. I was having a hard time letting go of the person, of the memories. Pema offers tools. One is the practice of tonglen: You put your mind toward the suffering that you find in the moment, and you expand your meditation to include all those around the world who might be suffering with the same thing. And you extend compassion to them. So it's not just about me. Somehow it gets you out of yourself, and that's been very helpful.
 
  • Gillian Anderson appears in The X-Files: I Want to Believe, in theaters July 25.

From the July 2008 issue of O, The Oprah Magazine