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The Awakened Brain

The Psychology of Spirituality and Our Search for Meaning

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The Awakened Brain

By: Lisa Miller
Narrated by: Brittany Pressley
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About this listen

Brought to you by Penguin.

A ground-breaking exploration of the neuroscience of spirituality and a bold new paradigm for health, healing and resilience

Whether it's an uplifting walk in nature, meditation or prayer, there are many ways to experience heightened awareness and escape the relentless demands of modern life. The range of opportunities of this kind suggest that it isn't dependent on faith or religion, but that it's about a different mode of living; an innate spirituality.

Lisa Miller has spent decades researching the effects of spirituality on the brain. In this book she draws on her clinical experience and award-winning research to show how an active spiritual life can transform our physical and psychological wellbeing. Bringing scientific rigour to the most intangible aspect of our lives, Miller offers insights into the neurological basis for the increased resilience that comes with nurturing spirituality and highlights its measurable positive effects: decreasing the likelihood of depression and substance abuse, and shifting the course of recovery in many other clinical settings.

Woven throughout is Miller's personal story of how, while confronting her own challenges, her professional pragmatism gave way to a greater appreciation of insights that are important to so many people and yet so often dismissed as unscientific. Brimming with inspiration and compassion, this landmark book will revolutionize your understanding of spirituality, mental health and how we find meaning and purpose in life.

© Lisa Miller 2021 (P) Penguin Audio 2021

Biological Sciences Neuroscience & Neuropsychology Psychology Psychology & Mental Health Science Spirituality Health Mental Health Human Brain

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Critic reviews

Erudite, compelling . . . Miller's iconoclasm challenges orthodoxies and common practice . . . what makes this a credible and original investigation is Miller's solid and verifiable clinical and epidemiological data (Yasmin Alibhai-Brown)
Lisa Miller is the leading psychologist of her generation on the benefits of religion and spirituality. She asks, 'What makes life worth living?' and finds evidence-based answers (Martin Seligman)
A new revolution of health and well being. She shows through scientific research, clinical insight, and personal experience that we can always choose between two modes of conscious awareness, each with profoundly different outcomes for our health and daily experience (Deepak Chopra)
A captivating look at what happens to our brains when we're connected to something greater than ourselves - and what it does for our lives (Adam Grant)
Ushers in a new science of healing. This work is urgent; a vision for human potential that is sorely needed in our time . . . I simply could not put it down (Liz Murray)
Truly transformative . . . Lisa Miller's life's work and story weave a tapestry of science, psychology and spirituality which unfolds a world of mystery and meaning . . . reveals a unity to the universe that can be accessed by both heart and mind for our mental and physical well-being (The Rt Revd James Jones KBE)
Potent, profound, and accessible . . . a compelling examination of the correlations between spirituality and mental health
Unequivocally shows that spirituality heals. Her pioneering research has vast implications not only for medical science, but also for the growing field of consciousness research (Larry Dossey)
A revisionist account of mind and matter . . . Miller argues that spiritual awareness is to be found across religious differences and should be considered a birthright (Mark Vernon)
All stars
Most relevant
A really lovely book I like the personal biography elementintertwined with the latest research on brain/consciouness. Narrating voice was a bit annoying but I put up with it

Brilliant book!! absolutely loved it 😁

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This book will change so many lives, I hope it will even become mandatory reading for psychology students. Amazing!

Must read!

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Well read, well researched, great narrative and life transforming! I will listen to this again - simply joyous!

Absolutely excellent

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Dr Miller's body of work has given me so much peace. As someone with a medical background who uses Holistic therapies to support my patients, I've always "known" about the power of spirituality. On the ward, it was always the patients with a strong faith/ spirituality who seemed to do better in the midst of loss/ sickness.
As a Reiki Teacher often struggling to explain the exact science behind healing, this book has given me the scientific tools to back up what I've learnt around healing / energy healing & spirituality.
Its content is a good balance balance between scientific studies / outcomes & the spiritual awaking Lisa has been through.
If you are seeking a hard core literature review this is book may not be the best way to learn about Dr Miller's work (just read her studies & articles).
However if you are keen to learn how Dr Miller came to the studies, how her own up bringing, observation & experiences including struggles with fertility led to this ground breaking studies, you will be delighted by this reading.
There is plenty of science to back up the anecdotal events Lisa recalls making this an insightful read without being boring for those who struggle with too much scientific facts.

The scientific proof we all needed

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This is an exposition of the author's research for the general reader. The science is eclipsed by the narrative, which is heartwarming and uplifting. However, I would have preferred a more detailed presentation of the science behind the story.

Good story

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