Aware

The Science and Practice of Presence - A Complete Guide to the Groundbreaking Wheel of Awareness Meditation Practice

By: Daniel Siegel

Narrated by: Daniel Siegel

Length: 15 hrs and 20 mins

Publisher's summary

New York Times best seller

This groundbreaking new book from New York Times best-selling author Daniel J. Siegel, MD, introduces listeners to his pioneering, science-based meditation practice. 

Aware provides practical instruction for mastering the Wheel of Awareness, a life-changing tool for cultivating more focus, presence, and peace in one's day-to-day life. 

An in-depth look at the science that underlies meditation's effectiveness, this audiobook teaches listeners how to harness the power of the principle "Where attention goes, neural firing flows, and neural connection grows". Siegel reveals how developing a Wheel of Awareness practice to focus attention, open awareness, and cultivate kind intention can literally help you grow a healthier brain and reduce fear, anxiety, and stress in your life.  

Whether you have no experience with a reflective practice or are an experienced practitioner, Aware is a hands-on guide that will enable you to become more focused and present, as well as more energized and emotionally resilient in the face of stress and the everyday challenges life throws your way.

©2018 Dr. Daniel Siegel (P)2018 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

“Daniel Siegel counts among the most aware people I know - and now he's shared with us all a brilliant, practical tool for us all to sharpen our awareness.” (Daniel Goleman, author of Altered Traits and Emotional Intelligence)

“An illuminating new view of the nature of the mind and the practices of awareness that lead us to profound wellbeing. Siegel's Wheel of Awareness is an elegant and groundbreaking synthesis of these practices, an accessible tool for inner integration and healing, as well as for realizing the loving awareness that links us to all beings. This brilliant book is poised to transform countless lives.” (Tara Brach, author of Radical Acceptance and True Refuge) 

"Dan Siegel who gave us a succinct and clear definition of mind now explores the awareness that knows that mind.  Read this book if you want true freedom and spontaneous creativity." (Deepak Chopra, MD)

I've stopped listening after two chapters

I've felt like no information was coming.. two chapters Siegel was describing how wonderful his method is, without explaining anything. Just get to the point man.. I couldn't bear it.

So this sensation, that he is trying to sell me something, convincing me of something, instead of just giving it to me as it is- just made me uncomfortable and agitated, not wanting to keep on listening.

Least favorite of all my audible selections

Struggled to finish this one. He does a poor job of explaining the process right from the beginning.

BORING

SOOOOOO SOOOOOOOOOO BORING … REPEATS SAME CONCEPT OVER AND OVER .. DO NOT BUY THIS

I hate to do this, seriously

But I just can't.

This is my favorite sort of book. Books about 'presence' or awareness should at the very least inspire. This mostly inspired me to want to go take a nap. I simply could not keep my 'awareness' on the book itself at all. It's so dry and textbook-y, instead of making me friends with my conscious awareness I just wanted to go do something else, ANYTHING else. I have probably something near 500 audible titles and I have returned very, very few. But this one is going back, with me having listened to probably two hours of it, an hour of it I listened to twice thinking surely the problem was me, and that I was not paying sufficient attention. But if on two attempts a book cannot draw me in, I'm done. Meditation is simple. and this book seems to want to make it very, very complicated. Of course I could be wrong with that assessment as I can't bring myself to get farther in. I feel rather badly, like I owe the author an apology....but this was just so not for me.

Next time

For the people who gave this book low reviews only shows you have no clue what you choose to read. Next time buy another book.

Disappointing

Dr Siegel has produced some wonderful work with helpful insights. There is some of that here but it is buried in rhetoric. I would estimate a half hour of information in many hours of talk. Mindsight, or the neurobiology of we are better choices.

Never Disappointed

I am forever a fan of Dr. Dan Siegel. I have followed his work for many years and his ideas continue to expand and evolve. I would recommend this book to those who have a basic understanding or interest in neuroscience, psychology and mindfulness practices.

Life Changing

What a fascinating book. I personally love reading about how the brain works and have been doing the Wheel Of Awareness meditation practice since I bought this book and the changes in my life have been huge. I’m a happier person who feels more connected and present in life. Thank you Dr. Dan Siegel for your incredible work.

For Neurobiology Geeks

I loved this book. It's heavy on brain anatomy and explaining why each section of this particular meditation - and those like it by extension - work to create different neutral pathways leading to behavioral change.

That being said, this is in no context a "spiritual" book, although a prospective reader may initially make that conclusion from the cover. Read this if you like to know the reasoning behind scientific findings, particularly if you're interested in the mental & physical benefits of meditation.

Bonus: The author quotes "The Telomere Effect" several times when discussing research about the relationship of longevity and meditation.

A Graduate Course

This is not simply entertainment but a deep dive into awareness in a scientific point of view. Dr. Siegel provides simple practices as tools to bring awareness into daily life. This book explains the integration of body and mind consciousness through a scientific process regulating energy and information flow to create presence.