The Craving Mind

Publisher's Summary

We are all vulnerable to addiction. Whether it's a compulsion to constantly check social media, binge eating, smoking, excessive drinking, or any other behaviors, we may find ourselves uncontrollably repeating. Why are bad habits so hard to overcome? Is there a key to conquering the cravings we know are unhealthy for us?

This book provides groundbreaking answers to the most important questions about addiction. Dr. Judson Brewer, a psychiatrist and neuroscientist who has studied the science of addictions for 20 years, reveals how we can tap into the very processes that encourage addictive behaviors in order to step out of them. He describes the mechanisms of habit and addiction formation, then explains how the practice of mindfulness can interrupt these habits.

Weaving together patient stories, his own experience with mindfulness practice, and current scientific findings from his own lab and others, Dr. Brewer offers a path for moving beyond our cravings, reducing stress, and ultimately living a fuller life.

©2017 Judson Brewer (P)2017 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Hard to listen to

This would have been better if the author had read it himself! Good content hard to listen to.

16 of 16 people found this review helpful

Excellent content, narrator hindered my enjoyment

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

No. I feel the narrator did not capture the proper tone of the author. I would recommend the written book instead. The narrator was too unnatural in his tone and delivery.

15 of 15 people found this review helpful

Narrarator ruins the book.

What would have made The Craving Mind better?

Bummed out that I used a credit, I can't listen to this man's monotone speaking. It's weird.

7 of 7 people found this review helpful

Hear the reason why mindfulness works

Would you listen to The Craving Mind again? Why?

Yes its an interesting listen and I don't think anyone can get all the points it brings up with just one time through

4 of 4 people found this review helpful

Uncanny valley narration

I am pretty certain this was read by a robot. Don't know if it's a good book or not because I can't get past the unsettling voice.

19 of 23 people found this review helpful

Everyone needs to read this book!

We all have vices. Chances are most of us weren’t taught great coping skills. This book has helped me tremendously understand my addiction better and how I need to approach treating it differently. Even if you don’t have an addiction, mindfulness is so important for helping you cope with stress or anxiety or boredom or really any emotion.

The most impactful part of the book for me was when he said to the smoker “What do you do when you crave a cigarette on a plane and can’t have one” and the smoker said he just has to get through it and the craving passes. Such a common sense answer but powerful as we can do that every time we have a craving.

Rarely do you hear about mindfulness from doctors or experts on TV who talk about addiction. It’s always medication or therapy. While these methods can be useful, those of us who’ve had addiction know they aren’t curative and sometimes create added problems or are expensive. Mindfulness is free! Just loved this book so much. Many aha moments!

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Wonderful Book

I really enjoyed this book and how Judson lays out the current scientific understanding of Mindfulness. It is fascinating to see how science and what was once the esoteric realm are steadily merging as we gain deeper understanding of who and what we are and what potential may lie just beneath the surface.

I highly recommend this book!

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Understanding is Half the Battle

Brewer's thoroughly researched and thoughtfully presented ideas, on how and why we get caught in craving loops, will help just about anyone suffering from the ill-effects of a mind that craves, or, knows someone who is.

Long winded

The author spends way to much time talking about himself and his personal anecdotes. It takes him a very long time to say things and because of that this book actually contains little useful text for its length. The book less about habits/addiction/readers than about the author.

Too much science brain information and not enough information on how u can break ur bad habits.

Too much brain medical science and not enough information on how u can break ur bad habits.

A life changing book

This is a wise and enjoyable meeting of ancient wisdom and cutting edge science. An outstanding insight into the practical ways of how mindfulness works and how this practice can be applied in everyday life. The author is a world leading expert in the clinical research mindfulness, neuroscience and is also an addiction psychiatrist - you get a lot of knowledge in one book. Highly recommend!

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Terrible narrator

Would you try another book written by Judson Brewer and Jon Kabat-Zinn - foreward or narrated by P. J. Ochlan?

Nope

What didn’t you like about P. J. Ochlan’s performance?

Everything! The narrator sounded like a computer. I could only manage a few minutes before having to turn it off.

You didn’t love this book--but did it have any redeeming qualities?

No idea since I couldn't listen to it!

5 of 6 people found this review helpful

Disappointing

If you are interested in neuroscience this is a thought provoking book(this is why it gets a 3* from me and not lower). The title is very misleading as it gives the impression that the book will give instruction on how to break bad habits. This is not the case. The title would be more accurate if it was called ‘Judson Brewer’s Experiences of Mindfulness and Meditation’. If you are very interested in Judson Brewer and his own work and his own accomplishments, etc., then this is the book for you. If you are looking for a mindfulness guidebook, you will be very disappointed.

Interesting research / style too reductive

Not much focus on positives of mindfulness / just negatives of thinking. If you are new to mindfulness or meditation I would recommend something else as his points can easily be misinterpreted by a novice.

The style is reductionist in that everything is presented through the lens of reward based learning. The book can feel biased and unbalanced.