Full Catastrophe Living

"Secular" Buddhism for greater wellness

As a previous reviewer pointed out, Kabat Zinn's guided body scan and yoga routines are not part of this download, but the present audiobook is still very valuable. The routines are similar to those in other Kabat Zinn programs avaiable on Audible and elsewhere. Any body scan/yoga nidra meditation and MINDFUL gentle yoga routine could be substituted.

If you've read other of Kabat Zinn's books, there is not too much new here, but it was his first and is worth the download. I read the much longer text version about ten years ago, and it helped changed my approach to life (and I don't make that claim for more than a couple of books!) I'm at a point where I need to tune in again to the wisdom contained in Kabat Zinn's writings, so I was elated to find this abridgement of "Full Catatrophe" to use as a starting point. Instead of meditations themselves, it is the why and how of adopting a program. His approach derives from his long time Buddhist background but is research based, with years of clinical success. His voice itself is a stress reduction experience!

If you are not sure you want to try his approach - check out some of his full lenth sessions on U-Tube given to Google employees. If you had to listen/read only one author on the Mind Body connection, I'd recommend Jon Kabat Zinn over any other medical, complementary medical or new age guru. He's the real thing, with a long track record of leading diverse people to greater wellnesss in mind, body, and spirit. If you're not sold on this title, check out his other Audible audiobooks.

71 of 73 people found this review helpful

Nice Introduction, but the Heart of it is Missing

This book explains the need for and benefits of mindfulness and outlines the sorts of activities Kabat-Zinn recommends to cultivate mindfulness clearly and compassionately. I was disappointed, however, to discover that it does not include the specific meditations or yoga practices he recommends; it describes them, but does not walk you through them in detail. If you want to listen to recordings that tell you what to concentrate on when doing a body scan or what yoga moves to do, you must buy additional tapes or CDs. I assumed that an audiobook read by the author recommending yoga and meditation practices would include the instructions needed to carry out those practices, but I was wrong.

103 of 108 people found this review helpful

Doesn't come with the meditation audio!

Buy the book instead - don't waste your money on an incomplete product. The entire book talks about this powerful 8-week mindfulness program designed by Kabat-Zinn, and the wonderful clinic where people come to practice. The attendees are given audio recordings, which they use to meditate 45-60 minutes/day for 6 days a week for 8 weeks. In fact, Kabat-Zinn says in this very audiobook recording - 'refer to such and such meditation on CDs 2 and 4'.

Buyer beware - this audiobook purchase does NOT come with the all-important guided meditation audio. Clearly, it's supposed to. The entire book is designed around the 8-week program. But somehow, the production of the audiobook failed to include the heart and soul of this whole thing. Very disappointing. I wish I had known! I would have just bought the book.

50 of 52 people found this review helpful

Slowing Down Time Itself

Sometimes we gotta listen to something like that: soothing, motivational, relaxing, healthy. Better, we gotta listen to it on a regular basis. The book focus on concentrating in the moment, instead of thinking about the past or wondering about the future. We have to listen to our body, learn how to breathe, being fully there.
Jon Kabat-Zinn has a penetrating voice that convinced me to practice mindfulness.
Great book!

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17 of 18 people found this review helpful

Not the actual book

This content is completely different from the actual book with the same cover.

It would be nice if a) Audible made that patently obvious when purchasing the book b) they actually had an audio version of the updated version of the book.

14 of 15 people found this review helpful

A New World

What did you love best about Full Catastrophe Living?

The authors reading voice is pleasant to listen to. He speaks slowly and clearly and in a relaxed calm manner which makes for effective and enjoyable listening.

What did you like best about this story?

There are short real life examples and practical exercises and suggestions for living in the moment on a regular basis. There are suggestions for meditating which are deceptively simple, as with all things it is the regular practice that will prove helpful.

Which scene was your favorite?

Jon Kabat-Zinn has used this program with people who are chronically sick and in need of a quiet place to go in their heads to find peace. His insight and knowledge into this process using meditation is invaulauble and a guiding light for anyone seeking peace, self knowledge and compassionate insight into themselves and others.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No. This is a long audio book and the end contains specific exercises. I listened to it in 1.5 hour sessions over the course of a few weeks.

Any additional comments?

If you have experienced the insight and calm that regular meditation practice can bring and the benefits to those who live with you, this book will motivate you further in your practice. If you are interested in meditation, this is a great place to learn and start. The author is not out to promote any specific religious teaching or spiritual practice, it is all about seeking a peace and silence in ones mind and from there an ability to find calm especially when life throws a curve ball.During my listening of this audio book I found myself transported to 'A new world' several mornings in a row. I realized this was living in the moment, appreciating the sounds of the birds, the colours of leaves and bark on trees. I was alive! The book has alerted me to how much of my life I am not really living, I am in the past, the future or a fantasy world, and am therefore missing my own life. How many of us are guilty of this? If you want to experience being truly awake and alive, this book can shine a light on one pathway there.

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

Critical Information for Everyone

I appreciated the content, tone and flow. I only wish I had read this earlier in my life, BUT, it is never too late.

5 of 6 people found this review helpful

Enough to wet your appetite

What did you love best about Full Catastrophe Living?

This is a good primer on the concept of mindfulness as a stress reduction tool. Is brief and concise enough to give you a basic understanding of what it is all about. You won't come away an expert or perhaps even at best, only a dabbler but it does a good enough job to make you want to learn more.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Woo-Free Mindfulness Education

What did you love best about Full Catastrophe Living?

It is an excellent primer for mindfulness training. Dr. Cabot-Zinn presents the work in a straightforward way that is thoughtful, compassionate, and, most importantly for this reader, woo-free. In other words, Cabot-Zinn does not engage in inducing or inculcating unvalidatible principles into the work, such as references to gods, mystical forces, etc. Those elements are present in many other books on Audible, despite some of them being presented as training manuals for professionals.

This is the book to get if you are interested in understanding/developing mindfulness either for yourself or as an adjunct to treatment for psychotherapy clients. It appears to proceed from the unspoken tenant that mindfulness development can and should be based in scientifically-based principles and not from culturally-based, illogical, and oppressive principles rooted in fad, fashion, and feel-good fantasy.

8 of 10 people found this review helpful

very helpful - an excellent book

What did you love best about Full Catastrophe Living?

the fact that it is an audio book makes it better because you can practice while you listen.

Any additional comments?

If you have any form of emotional or stress related problem or have a family member who is going through such troubles, this is a must. If you just want to teach your self to keep your calm under most circumstances in this crazy world, it is also very helpful.

5 of 6 people found this review helpful