Mindfulness

The Eight-Week Meditation Programme for a Frantic World

By: Prof Mark Williams, Dr Danny Penman

Narrated by: Prof Mark Williams

Length: 2 hrs and 32 mins

Publisher's Summary

“Want a happier, more contented life? I highly recommend the down-to-earth methods you’ll find in Mindfulness. Professor Mark Williams and Dr Danny Penman have teamed up to give us scientifically grounded techniques we can apply in the midst of our everyday challenges and catastrophes.” Daniel Goleman, bestselling author of Emotional Intelligence

Life can be relentless, frantic and exhausting - but it doesn’t have to be this way.

This is an introduction to Mindfulness, which reveals a set of simple yet powerful practices that you can incorporate into daily life to help break the cycle of anxiety, stress, unhappiness and exhaustion. Mindfulness is based on mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT), which is recommended by the UK’s National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence and is as effective as drugs for preventing depression. But, more importantly, it also works for the rest of us who aren’t depressed but are struggling to keep up with the constant demands of the modern world.

By investing just a few minutes each day, you can learn the simple mindfulness meditations at the heart of MBCT. This audio edition is an introduction to the technique which will give you the tools to put you back in control and able to enjoy life again.

This audiobook contains 37 chapters. Chapters 1-28 explain what mindfulness is and how it works, while the 8 guided meditations are placed at the end (Chapters 29-37) for ease of repeated practice.

©2011 Professor Mark Williams and Dr Danny Penman (P)2011 Hachette Digital

Putting it simple

A down-to-earth guide into mindfulness meditation. Clear, concise and easy to follow. Very well narrated.

Doesn’t match the book.

Very frustratingly doesn’t audio doesn’t match book, it’s all over the place making it hard to follow alongside in the book! I like to read an listen but this was just a waste of time. Disappointed. Review has nothing to do with the content of the book which I am sure is very good.

Great book, but needs bookmarks

Really enjoyed this book, but going to emulate the point of the previous reviewer, it does not have bookmarks - specifically it is actually 2 books, 0-1h17 is the theory section that introduces the meditations, from 1h18 onwards are the meditations referred to in the text,

Bookmarking a must!

I really enjoyed the quiet, calm tones of the author and the the theory section which was put together well and actually quite interesting. I really got a lot out of doing the meditations and they are well narrated and sufficiently explained to allow the listener to get a lot out of them. My only real gripe with the book is it's formatting. It is really hard to go from the theory to the meditation without either spending ages putting in bookmarks (which don't seem to then sync across my devices and I have to do it again!) or just going to and from with the player controls in the vague hope you hit on the right one.

mindfulness

Everyday I travel 70 miles back and forth to work passing the same scenery, cars, faces along with the burdens of thinking a whirlwind of present and catastrophic thoughts. This audio book has made a vast difference in enabling myself to slow down and realise how to break through from my self tangled visitations and become more at peace. Now enjoy my travels to work thanks to this great audio book.

Not the full book

So disappointed, i have read the book so thought I would buy this audiobook so that i could listen on the move, the book has 12 chapters and the meditation is on a separate cd, this book has only 6 chapters and 2 of them are the meditation exercises. It should say its not the full book. Feeling cheated!

hard to go with the flow

I learned a lot from this book, and enjoyed Mark William's relaxed and kindly-sounding voice. However I do not think the audio format very appropriate as it precludes alternating between the first section (theory) to the second section (practical meditation techniques) as the author presumably intended. In the end I had to spend some time writing down "bookmarks" for the recommended exercises. I got the book on subscription but if I'd paid separately, I would have been annoyed - meditation calming techniques notwithstanding!

VERY EASY ON THE EAR

I really enjoyed listening to Mark Williams's narration. I found his tone absolutely perfect conveying sympathy and understanding for those who find meditation difficult because they can't concentrate!.
I listened to the whole book before going back to do the exercises and have to agree with the other reviewer in that the format is a little frustrating but that is a minor point for me. I am looking forward to being able to be "live in the moment"

So Fantastic, I want to open a meditation centre

What made the experience of listening to Mindfulness the most enjoyable?

The voice of Mark Williams was perfect for this subject and the content had me hooked from the first sentence. The fact that all the exercises/meditations are then easily broken into chapters make it so easy to follow and start a life to greater mindfulness.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Mindfulness?

Doing the raisin test, absolutely amazing! I've got all my friends to do it.

What does Mark Williams bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?

The warmth and tone of his voice is perfect and really helps with the meditation exercises.

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

It made me cry.

Any additional comments?

Mindfulness is such a powerful tool it's something we should all be taught at an early age. Cultures that we see as more primitive than our Western culture have been using these techniques every day and for years, we should follow their lead and be more mindful every day for our own health & well being and for the good of the greater communities as well.

Just what the Doctor ordered

I found this book very helpful and well written . Having just completed a Mindfulness course , this book cemented my previous training . Whether you are new to mindfulness or have some experience this book will help. Mark Williams voice is a pleasure to listen to during the meditation exercises. The exercises have helped me to stay focused and in the moment which helps create an inner peace in a stressful world .Highly recommend this book if you want to learn Mindfulness meditation .

Life changing

Would you consider the audio edition of Mindfulness to be better than the print version?

I loved reading the book but it's really good to just relax and have the chapters read to you. Easy to listen to, easy to follow and it works.

Any additional comments?

If you've never tried anything like this before then this is a really good starting point and it's easier to do than you think. It's worth the effort for sure.

Gentle, very easy listening

Mark Williams has a very nice voice, easy to listen to. He narrates in a nice, down to earth way, and you find yourself being drawn along. The book itself has some serious messages and practices, but they sound friendly and do-able when Mr Williams describes them. I actually began to feel better after the first hour of listening, it's very comforting and reassuring. The practices are very simpIe and easy to incorporate into your everyday thinking. I can certainly recommend this for those of us who have had a bit of an emotional battering . . .