A Mind at Home with Itself

How Asking Four Questions Can Free Your Mind, Open Your Heart, and Turn Your World Around

By: Byron Katie, Stephen Mitchell

Narrated by: Byron Katie, Stephen Mitchell, Pete Simonelli, Madeleine Maby

Length: 9 hrs and 10 mins

Publisher's Summary

Internationally acclaimed best-selling author Byron Katie's most anticipated work since Loving What Is. 

In A Mind at Home with Itself, Byron Katie illuminates one of the most profound ancient Buddhist texts, The Diamond Sutra (newly translated by distinguished scholar Stephen Mitchell), to reveal the nature of the mind and to liberate us from painful thoughts, using her revolutionary system of self-inquiry called "The Work". Byron Katie doesn't merely describe the awakened mind; she empowers us to see it and feel it in action. At once startlingly fresh and powerfully enlightening, A Mind at Home with Itself offers us a transformative new perspective on life and death and is certain to become a classic. 

In the midst of a normal American life, Byron Katie became increasingly depressed and, over a 10-year period, sank further into despair and suicidal thoughts. Then, one morning in 1986, she woke up in a state of absolute joy, filled with the realization of how her own suffering had ended. The freedom of that realization has never left her. Its direct result, The Work, has helped millions of people all over the world to question their stressful thoughts and set themselves free from suffering. 

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

©2017 Byron Kathleen Mitchell and Stephen Mitche (P)2017 HarperCollins Publishers

Byron Katie is better than a drug

What did you love best about A Mind at Home with Itself?

She doesn’t talk down to you. You get to experience firsthand, through others, what it is like to transform your life. To go from pain to joy.

What about the narrators’s performance did you like?

You can hear the love in her voice.

What insight do you think you’ll apply from A Mind at Home with Itself?

Her message is all you have to know to have a happy life. It can be summarized by the title from an earlier book. Loving What Is. If you can do that, you are guaranteed happiness.

Any additional comments?

No matter what is going on or what kind of trauma I am experiencing, I just listen to her books over and over and Katie brings me right back to center and a place of peace and joy. I have seen her and believe her to be the most loving human I have met. If you have not done the work, it can even sound harsh, but it is only when you are unwilling to take responsibility for your own life and happiness. When you do, you can be filled with joy.

Wow

This book has helped me turn from someone who was convinced that my mind was trying to destroy me, to the point I tried to strangle myself. There seemed to be a small soft voice inside telling me that I had a reason to live. So my attempt was half-assed. Through the Work I have quieted the noise and can now hear my authentic self, who only wants growth, progress, joy and love. I can easily recognize the primitive voices that are stuck in stressful survival mode, who just want instant gratification, pleasure, and pain avoidance. I now look at those voices as if they are a toddler. My wife and I both are so grateful that Byron Katie has come into my life 😌🙏

I feel at peace with life

I noticed my ego and my attachment to thoughts slowly start to dissolve while reading this book, and other Byron katie works. Absolutely lifechanging.

For everyone everywhere

It’s great listening to Bryon Katie while doing my work or other chores.
Most of the time what she is saying is so compelling that I have to stop and listen, or I go back and listen again.

Amazingly insightful and authentic. The Work works. It’s wonderful. I highly recommend this book to everyone I know.

Good info but a bit "out there"

I thought there were a lot of really strong points to this book. I also thought that the process of the work is really, really solid. I think it is an excellent way to change your perspective on life, circumstances, situations, and relationships. that said, maybe it is because I am not there yet on my own personal journey of discovery, some of the concepts thoughts that she talks about in the seem a bit out there. so, while there was a lot of really great info and insight, if you are a bit more of a skeptic like me, you will have to wade through some of her more free flowing concepts and ideas. overall, though, I feel like the index and the sections on the work in action are the most powerful of the book for anyone who is interested in applying more self-reflection to their life situations.

Too much Steven

While I’m sure he’s a fabulous guy. I want to learn more from Katie. Steven seems to be using her unbiased and pure platform to push this sutra and Buddhism on me. I just wanted more of Katie. Love you Katie

Bizarre

I have enjoyed Byron Katie's other books and teachings but am definitely returning this one. I have gritted through about half and can't go on. Threadless...very esoteric...just couldn't engage at all. Actually found it uncomfortable to listen to because of how bizarre it was, and I usually can find something useful to take away from most all books in this genre.

what the hell just happened?!

been doing the work for years and this was such a fundamentally fresh approach, glimmers of insight, humor, joy. thank you everyone who made this book possible. one word - extraordinary!

Feels forced, disappointment

loving what is was pure gold The Abridged audiobook version. this book with Steven reading the diamond Sutra than her interpreting it feels so forced. almost seems like just an opportunity to make money. Katie admits she never read any of the spiritual teachers and here she is giving her viewpoint on what something to Buddha talks about it just does not make any sense to me. I wish I could return it but I'm beyond my limits on return and I'm just not going to finish this book I've tried chapter after chapter. very disappointed I loved her work and loving what is she seems genuine but this book seems like a phony.

fantastic book, rereading it right away

Loved that it was read by the authors.
If you like Byron Katie's Work, you'll love this book. It builds on the previous books and is a wonderful crowning jewel of BK's writings.

A bit deeper than I expected

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

No; it is without doubt an amazing story, but at times I felt as though I had fallen down the rabbit hole. The answers to some of the interview questions were just too deep for me to learn from or even comprehend.

Would you be willing to try another book from Byron Katie and Stephen Mitchell ? Why or why not?

Not yet; there are too many other books out there that have more appeal in this subject. This book seems more like advanced Buddhism, and I'm just not ready !!!

Could you see A Mind at Home with Itself being made into a movie or a TV series? Who would the stars be?

Maybe, but it would need to be heavily adapted.

Any additional comments?

As the saying goes, it's not you it's me !! I think this book is excellent when pitched at the correct audience. However, I'm more of an Idiot's Guide to Happiness sort of person, and this book was just too deep for me.

The Best Katie’s book yet!

I love Byron Katie’s work. This book is the best and deepest in my opinion. Couldn’t put it down.

I love the way she narrates her books, too. She feels every word of it. The Work really works. It got me out of a very dark place. I now follow Katie’s advice and end every thought/belief with a question mark.

Wry grateful for this book.

Fabulous

Every turnaround fascinates - how we project ourselves - believe it and then reverse it - enlightening ( and enlightened ) lady -wonderful read

This is the book I would take to a desert island.

Utterly beautiful in every way. Each time I listen I hear more. Katie's voice is lovely to listen to.

Get this now

Recommend more highly than I can say to anyone who wants peace in their life.

worth listening to

Katie is always great to listen to, there is a lot of similar work on Loving What Is, which I personally think is better than this, this is more focused on spiritually which is okay but not as powerful

Simply Brilliant!! Love it!!

What did you like most about A Mind at Home with Itself?

A Mind at rest with Itself is the best book, I have listened to in a long time.
It is narrated by Byron Katie most of the time and she speaks from Clarity and takes you on her Awakening in detail. It take you to a whole deeper understanding of the Work.
I am finding it an absolute gem to deepen my own enquiry to undo more conditioning and rest as Awareness.

Can't recommend this book enough!!

What was one of the most memorable moments of A Mind at Home with Itself?

When Katie explains how to use the Work to undo more stories and remain Free

Which character – as performed by the narrators – was your favourite?

All of them are great!

If you made a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Born to be Free.

Any additional comments?

Love it!!

very eye opening to the way the mind works

Interesting theory, lost me a bit on a couple of occasions on account of the content being a 'bit out there' but chose to continue and glad I did. Have already felt the benefit

Life changing

Very practical teaching. My intent is to put the method to practice so I can benefit from it fully.

Intresting Listening, will have to revisit.....

I've heard a lot regarding Byron Katie over the years but have not had the time to look into her work. Here are 9 and a bit hours of content... what first struck me is how similar her approach is to Elkhart Tolle and I expert her breakdown produced a very similar experience. I like her description of enlightenment, in that it doesn't exist. I've experienced what I could call a very clean experience of a clear mind and heightened sensory perception. I could read people with ease and understand my thoughts before I committed to them... but like the sun it came and went but it's the closest I can relate to how Katie describes her experience. It's not bad but feels like it could be more than halved in length to deliver a more direct and impactful experience to the reader/ listener. It's dense in every sense of the word and I feel it may make more sense after a number of listens. Fans and those familiar with her content may love this... but personally if you're looking for something similar to what the title promises I would seek something more direct and easily actionable.