Stress and Your Body

By: Robert Sapolsky, The Great Courses

Narrated by: Robert Sapolsky

Length: 12 hrs and 19 mins

Publisher's summary

Feeling stressed?

You're not alone. Stress is an inherent aspect of life that can have tremendous negative effects on your mental and physical health. This makes coping with stress a critical part of how well we live.

Once you understand the inner workings of your stress response system, you'll possess powerful knowledge that will help you understand and better deal with this common aspect of your busy life. Now, from one of the world's foremost researchers on stress and neurobiology, comes a fascinating series of 24 lectures that guide you through the psychological and psychosocial stress that is a central part of everyday life in Western society.

You'll learn how the stress-response system is actually a natural survival system-giving, for example, a zebra the best chance to escape from a pursuing lion - that can change from a safety mechanism into a real problem for our physical and mental well-being. You'll see it coming into play against situations it wasn't designed to combat, such as traffic, troublesome thoughts and memories, and concerns over the economy, environment, and international events. And you'll gain valuable insights into how and why stress can affect every part of your body-including your cardiovascular, digestive, and immune systems - and learn about its relationship to important disorders and behaviors, like depression, anxiety, and even addiction.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your Library section along with the audio.

©2010 The Teaching Company, LLC (P)2010 The Great Courses

Same content as Why Zebras Don't Get Ulcers

Very disappointed that 90% of the content in these lectures comes straight from his book Why Zebras Don't Get Ulcers. I was expecting to hear the same subjects discussed however as the book was written 20 years before these lectures I has hoping for new updated research and content. Unfortunately it is mostly just a regurgitation of the book, including the same jokes and anecdotes.
I would recommend either these lectures or his book but not both.

Not a bad primer for understanding stress

I had just finished Robert Sapolsky's "Why Zebras Don't Get Ulcers" when I started this. Honestly, after the zebra book, I would have skipped this one had I not already purchased it. However, this one turned out to be quite a bit better. There is a lot more attention given to the brain and brain processes in response to stress, and there is more meat and less fluff in this one. I will, however, reiterate what I said about the zebra book. DON'T READ THIS IF YOU'RE STRESSED!. Once again, the author, himself, cautions, after he's read most of the book, that if you aren't stressed by that point, you haven't been listening. And once again, there isn't that much about stress relief.

The author was a decent narrator, but not stellar. I listened to it at 2x or 3x. The material was interesting and logical in its presentation, but I thought it went on about certain points for too long.

Overall, this is a good primer about what happens when you get stressed, and there some material here for dealing with it. I could recommend this for someone with a scientific interest in stress or psychology, but there are better books about stress relief and coping methods.

Informative and enteraining, but not very helpful.

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

I would certainly recommend this book to anybody interested in, or dealing with, stress, anxiety or depression. The course is very informative, and Dr. Sapolsky is an excellent communicator and educator. My only complaint is that, after listening to the first 22 lectures I was hopeful that the last 2 would provide more help and advice on how to deal with, or manage, stress. Dr. Sapolsky provides us with an excellent review of the current understanding about the impact of stress on the body. But, sadly, it there seem to be few known, reliable, ways of coping with stress. Exercise might help, meditation might help, but I found the course a little light on other potential strategies.

Would you be willing to try another book from The Great Courses and Robert Sapolsky ? Why or why not?

This is my 3rd Great Course, and my 1st from Robert Sapolsky. I am very grateful that Audible gives us well-priced access to these exceptional learning resources.

Useful, insightful, and amusing.

The first 2/3rds of this were depressing, down to earth, and contained examples and information from studies to back up the point....but there were moments of humor now and then to lighten the tone also. This takes a good look at stress and how stress impacts many things, as well as many types of things which generate stress. Using many points of information, a pattern begins to emerge, which allows the listener to know what types of things will cause what types of mental responses, and what types of physical responses follow. To really enjoy this and make use of it, it may be helpful to pause after this book and just let it all soak in. I liked this quite a lot. Thank you!

It was so good I will have to listen to it again!

Would you consider the audio edition of Stress and Your Body to be better than the print version?

Don't know, but I personally prefer audio books... So I would guess yes.

What did you like best about this story?

The way in which science was explained in stories.

What about Professor Robert Sapolsky’s performance did you like?

Amazing reader, loved his tone and funny jokes. Really couldn't image this being read by anyone else.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The information on stress and PFC function and stress and socio-economic status. Very moving.

Any additional comments?

I am a neuroscientist looking at the influence of psycho social stress on various systems in the body. I admit that this book was nerd heaven for me, but could see how the layman may find the information overwhelming.

Understanding an Integral Part of Being Human

Would you listen to Stress and Your Body again? Why?

Not only is stress a persistent feature of our lives, but learning about the systems of our bodies it affects also means we learn more about who we are and why we do what we do.

What other book might you compare Stress and Your Body to and why?

The other lecture series the teaching company has done with Sapolsky, all of them excellent and entertaining.

What about Professor Robert Sapolsky’s performance did you like?

An eclectic and witty character gives a unique and memorable performance. You wouldn't expect to find humor in a lecture series on stress, but regular comic relief on Sapolsky's part enlivens the experience.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

His emphasis on the perils and consequences of coping strategies that make the problem worse, despite best intentions. Victim blaming, and assuming control where none is to be found can have profound psychological consequences... and those facts hit hard hard if you recall a memory where you've done this, like I did.

Any additional comments?

Read his memior, and find his talks on youtube, for more of this really interesting guy.

got stressed out just listening

What would have made Stress and Your Body better?

I am very interested in the content of the course and no offense to the narrator but the constant fluctuations in his voice stressed you out just listening to the book. I have listened to other books from the Great Courses and loved them.

Would you be willing to try another book from The Great Courses? Why or why not?

yes, most definitely

Would you be willing to try another one of Professor Robert Sapolsky’s performances?

No

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

very annoyed.

I really like these lectures, learn something new

A very good listen. Makes me not feel guilty about not wanting to do yoga, or the eliptical...still need to find that excercise I want to do.

Witty and informative.

I am taking a stress management course in college and this goes along with the course so well! I loved the lecturer was able to bring humor into a topic which can seem dull to many. Overall I would suggest this stop anyone wanting a perspective on what stress does to individuals and an introduction to awareness needed for stress management.

Sapolsky Rocks

I love Robert Sapolsky. His down to Earth style and knowledge of his subject make for a truly accessible entry into a very complex field of study. I highly recommend this book for anyone interested in neuroscience and human health.