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The Mindful Body

Thinking Our Way to Lasting Health

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About this listen

Bestselling author, and 'mother of mindfulness' Ellen J. Langer makes her long-awaited return sharing her groundbreaking research in The Mindful Body.

Have you ever wondered if you could improve your health by harnessing the power of your mind?

When it comes to our health, too many of us feel trapped by a medical diagnosis, believing that it can only mean a static or worsening condition. Whether it is stiff knees, frayed nerves or failing eyesight, your mind can lead you to believe things will only get worse. But with practical steps and scientific research you can take control of your mindset, by using your thoughts and perspective to help improve your wellbeing.

In The Mindful Body, award-winning social psychologist Ellen J. Langer draws on her lifetime of expertise and trailblazing research by revealing the capacity that mindfulness has to transform our lives. Opening the door to her pioneering Harvard lab, Langer uncovers the secret of how the mind and the body are in fact a single system, and if we embrace the idea of mind-body unity, new possibilities for controlling our health become available to us.

Featuring autobiographical anecdotes, iconoclastic philosophy and cutting-edge research, The Mindful Body will help you navigate a path to improved health and wellbeing and in turn boost your cognitive capabilities so that you can take back control of your body for a brighter future.

©2023 Ellen Langer (P)2023 Hachette Audio UK Aging & Longevity Medicine & Health Care Industry Personal Development Spirituality Health Meditation Medicine

Critic reviews

'For decades, Ellen Langer's work has taught us the incredible power of the mind to affect our lives. In this fascinating new book, she highlights the startling role that our mind plays in fostering or undermining what is perhaps our most important asset - our health. You will be amazed. I highly recommend this book!' Carol Dweck, PhD, author of Mindset

'The Mindful Body is a remarkable work of science and scholarship, with profound implications for human flourishing. Ellen Langer's pioneering research shows that our thoughts can perceptions can rejuvenate our physical health, replenish our intellectual energy and restore our broader sense of life's possibilities. This book offers the ultimate key to unlocking your full potential.' Daniel H. Pink, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Power of Regret, Drive and When

'The Mindful Body presents a revolutionary and much-needed prescription for reimagining and then creating optimum health. A compelling combination of personal experience, research, and hard science.' Jill Bolte-Taylor, PhD, author of Whole Brain Living and My Stroke of Insight
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Most relevant
For the first few chapters I was about to give up as it was ALL about Ellen Langer - I think this is an American trait as other books by Americans are just packed full of “ME” with the supposed subject being an afterthought. There was a brief section in the middle which held my attention but then I was forced to whizz through chapters. as she reverted to a list of HER experiments and HER students as if to ram home her importance. This is a shame as the title and her credentials made it a promising prospect.

An awful lot about herself and her “achievements” and rather confusing in parts.

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Professor Langer is a joy to listen to on podcasts, so I downloaded this audio book despite it not being narrated by the professor.

Content wise, there are lots of thought provoking ideas, but Audible please improve the narration and accuracy, for example:

Chapter 8 on the device is chapter 6 in the narration and at least some of the content is repeated. I’m reluctant to spend more money error checking the hard copy and kindle versions to see if this is deliberate by the author or a production error. Furthermore this is not the only Audible book with these errors (nor ebooks or hard copies for that matter).

Credit to the Cosmic Leader (Huberman/Langer podcast) if I was mindlessly listening I probably would not have noticed this. The question is, should I have bothered with the review or let it be? ;0)

Access to a brilliant mind ruined by poor narration and errors.

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This book was eye opening in relation to the abilities that we have to change (our lives, minds and bodies), and the impact of believing and being positive. The author mentions many studies which are very interesting and illustrate her point. However, the number of participants in these studies and other possible explanations is not mentioned, which often makes it sound poorly grounded in scientific evidence. In any case, the author's view is understood, and besides a more in depth scientific analysis - which maybe we can only get by reading all the studies and reviews- the reader would also benefit from some guidelines into how to be mindful.

We can do more than we think

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I would of preferred if Ellen Langwr read the book, she has a fantastic way of getting her words across

fantastic book. changed my mindset instantly. going to read.it again!

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Did I say “game changing”? I meant LIFE changing - and as a big time sceptic of much in the world I’ve never said that about a book before.

I’ll be recommending this book to all those I care about.

Thank you Professor Langer. What a true gift to many in this world this book will be.

Game Changing

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