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  • The Compassionate Mind

  • By: Paul Gilbert
  • Narrated by: Rupert Farley
  • Length: 22 hrs and 34 mins
  • 4.4 out of 5 stars (421 ratings)
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The Compassionate Mind

By: Paul Gilbert
Narrated by: Rupert Farley
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Summary

Throughout history people have sought to cope with a life that is often stressful and hard. We have actually known for some time that developing compassion for oneself and others can help us face up to and win through the hardship and find a sense of inner peace. However in modern societies we rarely focus on this key process that underpins successful coping and happiness and can be quick to dismiss the impact of modern living on our minds and well-being. Instead we concentrate on 'doing, achieving' and having'. Now, bestselling author and leading authority on depression, Professor Paul Gilbert explains how new research shows how we can all learn to develop compassion for ourselves and others and derive the benefits of this age-old wisdom.

In this ground-breaking new book he explores how our minds have developed to be highly sensitive and quick to react to perceived threats and how this fast-acting threat-response system can be a source of anxiety, depression and aggression. He describes how studies have also shown that developing kindness and compassion for self and others can help in calming down the threat system: as a mother's care and love can soothe a baby's distress, so we can learn how to soothe ourselves. Not only does compassion help to soothe distressing emotions, it actually increases feelings of contentment and well-being. Here, Professor Gilbert outlines the latest findings about the value of compassion and how it works, and takes readers through basic mind training exercises to enhance the capacity for, and use of, compassion.

New audio available from 01 August 2018.

©2013 Paul Gilbert (P)2013 Audible Ltd

Critic reviews

"As somebody who suffers from severe depression, I know the depressive's harshest critic is themselves. It is never helpful to be told to pull ourselves together by others but saying it to ourselves leads us in only one direction - into a spiralling descent into despair. This wise and perceptive book teaches us self-compassion and the consolations of kindness. I recommend it all the time." (Sally Brampton, author of Shoot the Damn Dog: A Memoir of Depression and the Aunt Sally column in The Sunday Times)

"The increasing drive to find a competitive edge in all aspects of our lives may create efficiencies but they are cold, heartless and unpleasant to live with. Gilbert shows how and why this occurs, and explains why our capacity for compassion is the antidote." (Oliver James, author of Affluenza and the Selfish Capitalist)

"A timely book for a time when competitiveness, materialism and narcissism have failed us. This book provides timeless wisdom that you can use every day. It will make a wonderful gift for someone you care for - especially, if you give it to yourself." (Robert L Leahy, author of The Worry Cure and President Of The International Association For Cognitive Psychotherapy)

"Fascinating...thoughtful and well written...this book is a resource to be owned and used with enjoyment." (Nursing Standard)

"A challenging and useful addition to anyone's self-help shelf, as well as a refreshingly rigorous look behind why our brains work the way they do. In fact, this is a self-help book for people who don't like self-help books." (ONEinFOUR magazine)

"Important and enjoyable." (The Psychologist)

"A landmark book" (The Scientific and Medical Network)

"Interesting and helpful." (Mental Health Practice)

What listeners say about The Compassionate Mind

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Thought provoking and influential!

This book explains well the evidence base underpinning this approach. For people who like that sort of this, it is comprehensive. The author touches on many themes of emotional and psychological difficulty faced by people so I think most people would find an aspect of the book relevant to their situation. For me, this book has helped me to be more aware of myself, my emotions, and step back from them. Rather than get annoyed or frustrated with others for "making" me feel certain ways, I'm being much more understanding of my feelings and where they are coming from in me, knowing my own vulnerabilities. This is making relationships a lot easier for me and particularly important when working in a system that is very pressured at the moment! I am finding ways to use this approach with clients I work with too. I know I will keep dipping into certain chapters and exercises to consolidate my learning. I bought the paper copy to help me with this. I'm interested in what the author makes of Trumps successful candidacy, is it a reversal to more archetypal thinking? The narrator was engaging too. I found the audible version helpful in covering a lot of material in a relatively shorter time than it would have taken reading the book eg I could play it while driving around. Thank you.

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31 people found this helpful

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Incredibly important read.

Even though the editor could pay a little bit more attention to ensure that repetitions and mistakes made whilst recording the book are cut out, it was time well spent. The book equips with tools that serve as a brilliant introduction to meditation and mindfulness. I listened to it and read the book on my kindle simultaneously. I recommend!

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29 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars

very interesting and well written

Very thorough and well written book. Long though! the excellent narrator made it much more digestible, and in fact was much easier to take in than the print version.

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24 people found this helpful

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A response to some negative reviews

Having read this on release in 2009 and recently come back to it I feel compelled to review it to respond to some negative reviews. This is a professor of psychology who has dedicated his life to the research of compassion and is recognised as a world leader in this field.

Contrary to one review it’s neither pop Buddhism nor pseudo science. Gilbert blends a readable account of what is a complex subject to allow people an entry point.

If you want an introduction to compassion buy this if you want the actual science pay for the journal articles in his edited compendium.


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17 people found this helpful

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Good first half. Poor editing

Loved the first half which was really insightful. It was a bit drawn out and repetitive at times though. At about 11 hours it gets into the practical side of the book and that’s where the limits of audible show most. There were hours of example exercises explained and to be honest I’ll probably never go back to them and can remember few. Many sounded very similar that they all sort of merged.
Last part of the book was going on about how a compassionate society would be which is not something I can influence in reality and this got boring...as did his obvious love for Buddha and dislike of any other religion. I got a bit sick of that.

The narration was putting me to sleep at times and the editing was messed up in well over a dozen places with parts repeated straight after they’ve been read. At one point a piece was repeated three times. This was all mostly in the second half which was all a bit dullsville. I got sick of hearing ‘mind brain’ as when reading it you’d not read both choices each time.

Good for the first few hours but the exercises need the book really which I’ll probably get second hand. Went on too long and was repetitive and off message too much.

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16 people found this helpful

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Pop-Buddhism for a post-literate society

I bought this audiobook because it claimed to deal with the science behind compassion. To be fair, in its 200 pages, part one of the book does contain some science. But this is overwhelmed by a mishmash of pop-Buddhism, fashionable petit-socialism, and, worst of all, the author's self-indulgent personal anecdotes. I ploughed through this stuff but managed about 25% of the book before my amygdala began to seriously overheat.

The one thing I did learn is that this book seems to represent the 21st century Western zeitgeist: a vision not unlike that of the Eloi portrayed in HG Wells' "The Time Machine".

Time I re-read Nietzsche.

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15 people found this helpful

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You’ve got to read this

Wordy but brilliant theory. Really brings home the true meaning of compassion-and it’s not all airy fairy, it’s hard. This will challenge you to tap into brain systems within yourself, you will find some benefit from the exercises contained. Don’t be too hard on yourself, it’s counterproductive.

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Good but over long

Enjoyable and pulls together a number of strands from mindfulness, and neuroscience although already sounding a bit out of date. Quite sad that the hopeful postscript about Obama the new President didn't really change in the way Gilbert hoped....... More judicious editing would have helped too. Way too long and repetitive in places.

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compassion will heal the world

i loved this book i feel it expanded my mind and gave me a greater understanding of myself and the society i live in i feel inspired to go out and absorb as much as i can and train my mind to compassion. highly recommend x

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Rambling

Is there anything you would change about this book?

I would provide the man with a good editor

Has The Compassionate Mind put you off other books in this genre?

It has made me think more carefully about what I might buy , and also caused me to wish that you could download samples of audible books

Would you be willing to try another one of Rupert Farley’s performances?

No.

Was The Compassionate Mind worth the listening time?

Not really

Any additional comments?

Good information, but you swim through treacle to get to it.

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8 people found this helpful