Emotional Alchemy

How the Mind Can Heal the Heart

By: Tara Bennett-Goleman, Dalai Lama - introduction

Narrated by: Anna Fields

Alchemists sought to transform lead into gold. In the same way, says Tara Bennett-Goleman, we all have the natural ability to turn our moments of confusion and emotional pain into insightful clarity.

Emotional Alchemy maps the mind and shows how, according to recent advances in cognitive therapy, most of what troubles us falls into ten basic emotional patterns, including fear of abandonment, social exclusion (the feeling we don't belong), and vulnerability (the feeling that some catastrophe will occur). Through this program we can free ourselves and others, and the freedom to be more creative and alive.

This remarkable program also teaches the practice of mindfulness, an awareness that lets us see things as they truly are without distortion, or judgement, giving the most insightful explanation of how mindfulness can change not only our lives, but the very structure of our brains. Here is a beautifully rendered work full of Buddhist wisdom and stories of how people have used mindfulness to conquer their self-defeating habits. The result is a whole new way of approaching our relationships, work, and internal lives.

©2001 Tara Bennett-Goleman; (P)2001 Books on Tape Inc., Published by Audio Renaissance, a Division of Holtzbrinck Publishers LLC

Critic reviews

"[Tara Bennett-Goleman’s] distinct power flows from her sincerity. She is not given to neat formulations, yet her stories have the persuasiveness of experience, of transformation drop by drop... Many readers will trust the path that she forges here." – Publishers Weekly

"Bennett-Goleman's melding of insights from cognitive psychology with ancient Buddhist knowledge of human emotions is masterful." – Spirituality and Practice

The Best Yet

This book utterly speaks what’s true to me. As a practitioner of mindfulness and a psychotherapist, I found it as enlightening and inspiring as I found it entertaining.

Excellent... well narrated

Highly rated as it was easily listened to, regarding content and narrative.
Enjoyed this!
I will definitely download other books by this author.

Powerfully enlightening

Any additional comments?

Terrific perspective on the effectiveness of using mindfulness meditation when dealing with schemas as they relate to thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. The book addresses individuals using the methods on their own to improve themselves, or in counseling by combining the techniques with psychotherapy, or use within relationships with a partner or friend. It also offers it as a way to understand the thinking, emotions and behaviors of others through understanding their schemas. The voice of the narrator was pleasant to listen to, and I enjoyed the book from beginning to end.

Must Read

Highly recommend this audiobook to become more mindful of emotions. Great exploration into the formation of schemas and how to overcome them

Abridged version was excellent.

Downloaded the 3 hour abridged version in Oct 2001 and found it helpful and interesting. The book gave an excellent account of how to recognize and deal with the powers of instinct. To recognize, as author puts it "schema behavior" is the essential first step in dealing with the behavior. I still think of the book often when confronting my own reactions and the reactions of others. Based upon the reviews posted above though, I guess there wasn't much to gain from listening to the 11 extra hours in the unabridged version.