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Altered Traits: Science Reveals How Meditation Changes Your Mind, Brain, and Body Audible Audiobook – Unabridged

4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 1,333 ratings

Two New York Times best-selling authors unveil new research showing what meditation can really do for the brain. In the last 20 years, meditation and mindfulness have gone from being kind of cool to becoming an omnipresent Band-Aid for fixing everything from your weight to your relationship to your achievement level. Unveiling here the kind of cutting-edge research that has made them giants in their fields, Daniel Goleman and Richard J Davidson show us the truth about what meditation can really do for us, as well as exactly how to get the most out of it. Sweeping away common misconceptions and neuromythology to open listeners' eyes to the ways data has been distorted to sell mind-training methods, the authors demonstrate that beyond the pleasant states mental exercises can produce, the real payoffs are the lasting personality traits that can result. But short daily doses will not get us to the highest level of lasting positive change - even if we continue for years - without specific additions. More than sheer hours, we need smart practice, including crucial ingredients such as targeted feedback from a master teacher and a more spacious, less attached view of the self, all of which are missing in widespread versions of mind training. The authors also reveal the latest data from Davidson's own lab that point to a new methodology for developing a broader array of mind-training methods with larger implications for how we can derive the greatest benefits from the practice. Exciting, compelling, and grounded in new research, this is one of those rare books that has the power to change us at the deepest level.

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Product details

Listening Length 9 hours and 8 minutes
Author Daniel Goleman, Richard Davidson
Narrator Daniel Goleman
Whispersync for Voice Ready
Audible.com Release Date September 15, 2017
Publisher More Than Sound, LLC
Program Type Audiobook
Version Unabridged
Language English
ASIN B075M1ZY2P
Best Sellers Rank #9,062 in Audible Books & Originals (See Top 100 in Audible Books & Originals)
#17 in Cognitive Neuroscience & Neuropsychology
#21 in Meditation (Audible Books & Originals)
#41 in Spiritual Meditation

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
1,333 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book provides useful information about meditation research and its scientific method. They describe it as a great read for both laypeople and professionals, with an engaging writing style. The book includes entertaining storytelling.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

66 customers mention "Information quality"55 positive11 negative

Customers find the book provides a good overview of meditation research and its findings. They appreciate the scientific method of proving the power of meditation. The book is an excellent companion to any good meditation guide, providing solid evidence for being mindful. Readers describe it as an important book for the field, with practical information and a thorough review of the science.

"...What I learned from this is: (1) there is a scientific foundation underlying the benefits from meditation and (2) some people are either..." Read more

"...The authors – a science journalist and a leading neuroscience researcher who began their research together at Harvard decades ago – first offer us..." Read more

"...Davidson and Goleman do a very good job of explaining the history of meditation research, the findings, the strengths and weaknesses of many of the..." Read more

"Great book. It proves in a lab setting that a religion-based behavior can be quite beneficial in everyday life...." Read more

46 customers mention "Readability"36 positive10 negative

Customers find the book easy to read and engaging. They say it's a great read for both laymen and professionals. The authors are described as outstanding, and the storytelling is entertaining.

"...An enlightening read, especially if you find yourself like me, a skeptic around non-standard non-Westward health practices." Read more

"...research studies galore, making the middle a tougher — but still worthwhile read) and is well structured...." Read more

"Amazing book for anyone who wishes to understand the science of meditation and breaks the esoteric concept that may have been the dominant view..." Read more

"...I must say that, towards the end, the book got a bit repetitive; it could have been a good 50 pages shorter, easily...." Read more

13 customers mention "Writing style"10 positive3 negative

Customers find the book well-written and readable. They appreciate the careful presentation of the research and entertaining storytelling.

"...What follows is a careful and readable presentation of what the research tells us so far...." Read more

"...The writing is clear and compelling..." Read more

"...It is written so that everyday people can understand, yet there are some big words to look up, if you don’t know what they mean...." Read more

"Well written quasi-scientific tome which includes some very entertaining storytelling about both of the authors divergent paths to a common..." Read more

Clearing Misconceptions about Meditation
3 out of 5 stars
Clearing Misconceptions about Meditation
It's basically, multiple meditation studies that most have probably seen, if they researched meditation. The first half of the book made me glad that I've learned how to speed read (laughing), the writer really just put words to paper with no art to his writing to help you understand what's wrong with most these studies. Informative, yes with some take aways such as, if we imagine being a Harvard student, and you want to have a published science experiment and research paper nation wide with half truth evidence. Meditation is your ticket...Jumping into the 7th chapter and beyondit starts to really flourish, I found myself slowing down and absorbing the information better with the improved writing style of the studies. I honestly didn't know what to expect from the book, I was thinking it would be something about altered trances of meditation and the affect on brain by first glance at the title.... but still checked it out at the library for something different, knowing it would clear misconceptions about meditation and give me a realistic view. I will say its a good as a gift, but in my opinion. Its not the type of book I would keep on my bookshelf for rereading.
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on November 20, 2024
    Many people espouse the benefits of meditation but no other that I've seen back it up with science. What I learned from this is: (1) there is a scientific foundation underlying the benefits from meditation and (2) some people are either deliberately or not, lying about the benefits from meditation. I was initially skeptical there could be a scientific basis for the benefits of meditation but the authors have convinced me through their experiments and the experiments of others that it is real. An enlightening read, especially if you find yourself like me, a skeptic around non-standard non-Westward health practices.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on October 30, 2024
    A superb summary of what is possible – and not possible – to achieve with a range of meditation practices.
    The authors – a science journalist and a leading neuroscience researcher who began their research together at Harvard decades ago – first offer us the colorful account of how they came to pursue studies of the impact of meditation on the brain, swimming upstream against all that was known and assumed in the behavioral science world of the 70’s.
    What follows is a careful and readable presentation of what the research tells us so far. The evidence is robust: meditation changes the brain's regions related to focus, stress, kindness, and compassion. While long-term full-time practice naturally demonstrates the most profound and lasting change, even time-limited ongoing practice can have a profound impact.
    The concluding chapter offers hope for a world that, at this moment, is perhaps even more stressful than when it was written nearly a decade ago:
    “We feel that the more these upgrades in the brain, mind, and being are pursued, the more they can change the world for the better. What sets this strategy for human betterment apart from the long history of failed utopian schemes comes down to the science. We have shown the evidence that it is possible to cultivate these positive qualities in the depths of our being, and that any of us can begin this inner journey. Many of us may not be able to put forth the intense effort needed to walk the deep path. But the wider routes show that qualities like equanimity and compassion are learnable skills, ones we can teach our children and improve in ourselves."
    One person found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on September 25, 2017
    I'm a long-time meditator, psychoiogist, and teacher, and have long wanted to meet Richie Davidson so I could ask him this question: "What do you really think we have in the way of reasonably reliable research findings about the effects of meditation on the human brain and behavior?" This book answers that exact question, so I was truly excited about its arrival on the scene.

    Davidson and Goleman do a very good job of explaining the history of meditation research, the findings, the strengths and weaknesses of many of the studies, current trends, and -- in answer to the question I wanted to ask -- what they, as scientists, really think the research has given us, so far, by way of reliable findings. The field is still young and science takes a long time to come to consensus, so the "solid" results are few and far between, but there are trends, and they are intriguing. This book gives me a good set of summaries I can offer my students.

    I must say that, towards the end, the book got a bit repetitive; it could have been a good 50 pages shorter, easily. Looks as if they were trying hard to hit the 300 page mark. But that does not detract from the substance of the book, and, for me, that's the analysis of and summations of the current research findings.
    71 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on October 22, 2023
    Great book. It proves in a lab setting that a religion-based behavior can be quite beneficial in everyday life. That is: Meditation (a known Buddhist practice) is good for anybody independently of one's religious beliefs. It is a difficult activity to do every single day. It demands time and discipline. However the rewards are great. It confirmed what I had read in the book "Mindful Eating" by Jan Chozen Bays. . It can be applied to any area in need of improvement, healthier eating in this case. And it works, I can attest to that. It is very reassuring to know that meditation is worth doing even though it is very exacting. In this case at least, western science backs up a practice that seemed to have been beneficial for centuries in the East but known in the West for only decades.
    12 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • Daniela
    5.0 out of 5 stars Muito bom!
    Reviewed in Brazil on November 12, 2022
    Livro super informativo, com uma visão científica da meditação, explica os estudos sem tentar vender algo mágico, recomendo!
  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars So interesting!!!
    Reviewed in Canada on April 28, 2021
    I found this book extremely well researched It provides a neuroscience foundation to the physical and psychological benefits of meditation. Fascinating and meaningful!!!
  • Longsands
    5.0 out of 5 stars Well-researched
    Reviewed in Spain on December 13, 2022
    Comes as close as possible to proving what seasoned meditators already know: that if you stick with it day in day out, year after year, a spiritual awakening is the result.
  • Paola Perez
    5.0 out of 5 stars Exelente
    Reviewed in Mexico on October 7, 2020
    Súper calidad llegó rapidísimo
  • Simone
    1.0 out of 5 stars Accozzaglia di teorie scientifiche per dire che meditare fa bene
    Reviewed in Italy on June 22, 2019
    Tutti studi scientifici e poca meditazione. Un mare di paroloni per dire che la meditazione fa bene.