The Practice of Groundedness

A Transformative Path to Success That Feeds - Not Crushes - Your Soul

By: Brad Stulberg

Narrated by: Will Damron

“This book gets to the heart of the matter.” (Ryan Holiday, New York Times best-selling author of Stillness Is the Key and Ego Is the Enemy)

“This book taps into something that so many of us feel but can’t articulate.” (Arianna Huffington, founder & CEO, Thrive Global)

“Ambitious, far-reaching, and impactful." (David Epstein, New York Times best-selling author of Range and The Sports Gene)

From the best-selling author of Peak Performance comes a powerful antidote to heroic individualism and the ensuing epidemic of burnout.

Achievement often comes at a cost. Angst, restlessness, frayed relationships, exhaustion, and even substance abuse can be the unwanted side effects of an obsession with outward performance. While the high of occasional wins can keep you going for a while, playing into the always on, never enough hustle culture ultimately takes a serious toll.

In The Practice of Groundedness, best-selling author Brad Stulberg shares a healthier, more sustainable model for success. At the heart of this model is groundedness - a practice that values presence over rote productivity, accepts that progress is nonlinear, and prioritizes long-term values and fulfillment over short-term gain. To be grounded is to possess a firm and unwavering foundation, a resolute sense of self from which deep and enduring, not shallow and superficial, success can be found. Groundedness does not eliminate ambition and striving; rather, it situates these qualities and channels them in more meaningful ways.

Interweaving case studies, modern science, and time-honored lessons from ancient wisdom traditions such as Buddhism, Stoicism, and Taoism, Stulberg teaches listeners how to cultivate the habits and practices of a more grounded life. Listeners will learn:

• Why patience is the key to getting where you want to go faster - in work and life - and how to develop it, pushing back against the culture’s misguided obsession with speed and “hacks”
• How to utilize the lens of the wise observer in order to overcome delusion and resistance to clearly see and accept where you are - which is the key to more effectively getting where you want to go
• Why embracing vulnerability is the key to genuine strength and confidence
• The critical importance of “deep community”, or cultivating a sense of belonging and connection to people, places, and causes

Provocative and practical, The Practice of Groundedness is the necessary corrective to the frenetic pace and endemic burnout resulting from contemporary definitions of success. It offers a new - and better - way.

This audiobook includes a downloadble PDF of recommended reading from the book.

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

©2021 Brad Stulberg (P)2021 Penguin Audio

Best Book in Years

I picked up this book hoping it’d be good and wow, it exceeded all my expectations. It is packed with useful and concrete habits for mental health and sustainable excellence. I also really enjoyed learning about the author’s own challenges. The writing is top notch, the narrator is great, and it includes lessons and fascinating but also useful insights from across fields of science and ancient wisdom traditions. It’s great. Truly the best book I’ve listened to or read in a long time.

Thank you Will

Your journey and numerous experiences I have also felt , thought and unfortunately have disabled me in the past. Your book has helped me know and feel that I am not alone and there is a process to getting better. I started my journey with therapy 2022 and this has come at a time where I felt life like was moving at warp speed personally and professionally. Thank you for your insight it has helped me stick with the basics and knowing to care and not to care (TS Elliot). That life will be life, But yet we can remain firm in our commitment to a good life. Cheers mate

Great book!

I needed this and enjoyed listening to every chapter. I’m also going to buy the hard copy for easy reference and share with family members.

A must -

A great book , simple and meaningful that can change your way of living. Highly recommended

Versión en español

Versión en español la necesitamos es grandioso este libro y sería de gran ayuda déjanos saber

Great book!

Great book/ nothing we don’t already know but great to hear it again and help bring things to the forefront. Everyone should read this at least once!

Starts slow, but stay with it.

These are solid principles. I will relisten to this book to absorb more info. Many stories, examples & studies to back up the guidance provided. I was not fully engaged in the beginning, but by the end, I appreciated the pacing & tone of the writing & narration.

modern lifestyle tips

Handful of tips on how to feel more growth as an adult
navigating through a busy and distracting world

Simple concepts to calm the mind.

This book was easily digestible and full of actionable steps throughout. I will be listening to it again in the future for sure.

All of the things you need

I heard about this book through the author's podcast. He was talking about the writing process needing to involve a lot of cutting and editing and I was like I need to read this. No pontificating, just a simple book with lots of practical specific ideas on how to feel better. As a health care provider I generally know all of these things and talk to my patients about them but stink at following through in my own life. This book really hit the spot.

Also, I love the wide ranging references. I never thought I'd hear a white dude quote Audre Lorde and he goes from that to scientific evidence to athletics and more. So much love.