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The Unexpected Joy of the Ordinary
- Narrated by: Catherine Gray
- Length: 9 hrs and 50 mins
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The Unexpected Joy of the Ordinary
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Summary
From the Sunday Times best-selling author.
We're told that happiness is in the extraordinary. It's on a Caribbean sun lounger, in the driving seat of a luxury car, inside an expensive golden locket, watching sunrise from Machu Picchu. We strive, reach, push, shoot for more. 'Enough' is a moving target we never quite reach.
When we do brush our fingertips against the extraordinary a deeply inconvenient psychological phenomenon called the 'hedonic treadmill' means that, after a surge of joy, our happiness level returns to the baseline it was at before the 'extra' event.
So, what's the answer?
The Unexpected Joy of the Ordinary theorises that the solution is rediscovering the joy in the ordinary that we so often now forget to feel. Because we now expect the pleasure of a croissant, a hot shower, a yoga class, someone delivering our shopping to our door, we no longer feel its buzz. The joy of it whips through us like a bullet train, without pause.
Catherine Gray was a grandmaster in the art of eye-rolling the ordinary and skilled in everlasting reaching. Until the black dog of depression forced her to rethink everything.
Along the way, she discovered some surprising realities about the extraordinaries among us: that influencers risk higher rates of anxiety and depression, high rollers are less happy and huge frothy weddings increase the likelihood of divorce.
Learning how to be exalted by the everyday is the most important lesson we can possibly learn. In Catherine Gray's hilarious, insightful, soulful (and very ordinary) next book, you may learn to do just that.
What listeners say about The Unexpected Joy of the Ordinary
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Richard Kennedy
- 11-11-21
Honest and humorous book on how to live happily
This is the first book I have listened to by the author and I found her style engaging. As an over 50 year old I recognised many of the modern life issues she discusses and would agree with her solutions. It is good to see them pulled together in one book. Although it is primarily targeted to the middle aged I think there are important life lessons for younger readers. I have encouraged my teenage daughter to read the last chapter (she doesn’t read much!) as it nicely summarises much of the content.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Kirsty Mead
- 22-03-20
You brought be hope.
I love your mind, I love your words. Thank you so much for writing this and the unexpected joy of being sober. They've brought me joy and hope in some dark times.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Susachacha
- 04-06-20
nodded along, laughing here and there
i have never struggled with alcohol addiction but i might well listen to the sober one as well, just for the hacks to tweak your mindset
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Laura Wicking
- 08-11-23
Excellent & Grounding
Really needed this to remind me to enjoy the simple things in life, thank you
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Anonymous User
- 05-08-20
great book .
really enjoyed it much better narrated than the first book. full of great pearls of wisdom and very relaxing to listen to. very well researched and covers a wide range of issues .
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- Viktorija
- 10-04-20
Love everything about this book!
Absolutely love it! the voice that author is reading. so much information and funny joys!!!
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
- Kindle Customer
- 27-10-20
Beautiful listening and so thought provoking.
listening to Catherine Grays dulcet tones whilst running gave my brain the extra encouragement needed to leave the house. Her simple, non dramatic outlook on the ordinary things in life is enchanting. Like sitting on a mountain top absorbing the view. excellent
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- Sophie Wells
- 17-09-21
Reassuring!
full of simple & reassuring truths. great book well worth a listen. worth it!
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- Julie 73
- 11-04-20
Fabulous!
loved this book . From start to finish, so honest, very funny, well written .
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- KD
- 31-12-19
Expectedly great!
Thank you, Catherine Gray, for another great book. How long do I have to wait for the next one?!
This is the third “Unexpected joy...” I’ve listened to in the last few months and absolutely smashed through. To be honest, it’s what made me keep audible for the last year and get so much JOY! From it!
This is the perfect kind of book for Audible, very personal, and I loved hearing the author reading it as it makes it so personal. I found the performance has improved from the last books two. It’s very calming. I listened to this so quickly as it was so enjoyable
Aside from the performance, the content is really great. I find it so life affirming and lovely.such a great note to start the new year on. Will recommend to all my friends, as with her other two books
The title really gives away the content - it’s all about worshipping the joy of every day life which I just loved!
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