An out standing book!

What made the experience of listening to Sane New World the most enjoyable?

Ruby Wax has an excellent narrative voice & the content is easy to follow, interesting & done with humour.

What other book might you compare Sane New World to, and why?

Steve Pinker

Have you listened to any of Ruby Wax’s other performances? How does this one compare?

I haven't, but if you think Ruby Wax was just an annoying celebrity going on about depression, this book will change your mind, she is extremely intelligent, insightful & down to earth.

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

No, I've listened to this book at least 5 times, because I found it incredibly interesting.

Any additional comments?

If you have an interest in how the mind works & why we feel the way we do, you wont be disappointed.

18 people found this helpful

Mindfulness over Matters

What an absorbing read and even so one I will have to return to time and time again. Be warned it is meaty! Ruby Wax has clearly immersed herself thoroughly in all matters neurological and is a practitioner of mindfulness. With a wealth of experience behind her, she is well placed to comprehensively deal with this particular subject. The book starts with an overview of the busy-ness and pressures of modern life, an in depth view into the functionality of the brain and finally she tackles mindfulness.
I loved the style of the book which reflects the intelligence and wit of the woman who wrote it, Wax's passion for the subject is genuine and based on extensive research and study in the field. She has gained an admirer in me.

11 people found this helpful

The best audiobook to date

Would you listen to Sane New World again? Why?

I would listen to this again and again, not just because it's insightful and funny, but because the content is so well written and expressed. The chapters are broken down into short concise elements that will either have you laughing or contemplating on hours to come. If you are at all interested in science, have a sense of humour or are just curious about the human mind (and how it can go wrong!), this is for you.

What did you like best about this story?

The way you can relate to Ruby's past either judgementally or empathically. She has many short stories which help depict the struggle many people face with anxiety or depression with a human face. It helps to be able to laugh through the problems as they come and realise that anyone can use the techniques and theory described here.

Which scene did you most enjoy?

The scene with Richard E grant and the shark cage - the point when you take stock of things and realise your time in spotlight may have dimmed. The way she is openly descriptive of shamelessly wanting to hang on to celebrity at any cost. To be open an honest like this from someone who I had some fairly fixed opinions on before downloading the audiobook was fantastic. Ruby may have single-handily made me avoid owning a Vauxhall in the 1990's (remember that Corsa advert !), but she has a warmth and honesty about her life story that is impossible to put down.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Expressing her view towards her family and attention towards her children looking back. This was the most moving part of the book for me

Any additional comments?

The last 15 minutes of the book made me pull over, zip back and listen to it again with a deep sense contentment. Most people who are looking for a few answers have probably downloaded other CBT or self-help books in an effort to find some answers.
For me, this book has been the first piece of material that has helped me find some peace. Thank you Ruby.

27 people found this helpful

excellent entertainment and very informative

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

I would recommend this audiobook, it was a pleasure to listen to a subject that I love but told in a very amusing and easy to understand way

What was one of the most memorable moments of Sane New World?

the sudden burst of funny expressions of Ruby so natural and so genuine

Have you listened to any of Ruby Wax’s other performances? How does this one compare?

This is the best performance from Ruby as it was a mixture of serious and funny stuff, very well complemented

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

I listened to the book while decorating and I wasn't in a hurry to finish the work as the book helped me to forget the hard tasks ahead.

Any additional comments?

Many people would not read the book because they have the wrong image about Ruby but this book will change that.

6 people found this helpful

Great user manual for the human brain

This is the first audiobook I have listened to twice back-to-back, going back to listen to parts repeatedly. It is engaging, hugely informative with great exercises to help you towards mindfulness. It is not fluffy or new-agey, but very funny, sometimes moving and comforting in showing one is not alone in the sometimes tricky affairs of the brain. Above all, it has good instructions of stuff to actually do, not just comforting words or positive speak, although it has that too. Whether you were into Ruby Wax or not, if you want to still that nagging voice in your head then this is a great start. I wish I could thank the author personally for her work, it is a really helpful book and I would imagine that it could be a stepping stone to further investigation and a chance at happiness for many people. Thankyou Ms Wax.

10 people found this helpful

Funny and highly iInformative

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

Yes. It speaks of the brain and how it works making it easier to understand why we do what we do with the added twist of a wicked sense of humour.

What did you like best about this story?

This is a self help book that informs and amuses.

What about Ruby Wax’s performance did you like?

She is relaxing to listen to.

4 people found this helpful

Not too bad

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

The last part of the book is the most interesting and useful.

In the beginning, there were parts were Wax slips into casual sexist and racist narratives in an attempt to construct half-baked jokes. This sapped the positive message out of book. I felt that there was no need to throw in a joke every six sentences, and wished she would just cut to the chase: how do we do mindfulness?

Although it's intended to provide mindfulness approaches, the book reads more like an autobiography of Wax's depression, and I often found myself struggling to relate to her very-specific descriptions of what depression is.

Nonetheless, I don't regret reading this book and I'm glad I gave it a chance. It's good to see Wax back in the business.

6 people found this helpful

I smiled

I was recommended this as I was not a particularly good place. Just listening to it made me feel better. I tried some of the exercises and I have to say I'm feeling better. Cheers ruby!

2 people found this helpful

Sound advice

Really enjoyed this. Have since bought the book and given it to a number of people. I love Ruby's bravery in sharing her story with us.

2 people found this helpful

Thanks ruby

Thanks ruby for a book I can understand and makes me feel better about myself and everyone else. A great listen, just got to put the wisdom into practice now .

2 people found this helpful