For many of us life has stopped making sense. Super-efficient routines that once served us well now stress us out and a ‘toughing it out’ mindset is only compounding the problem.
In Better in Every Sense, neuroscientist Norman Farb and clinical psychologist Zindel Segal reveal how the new science of sensation provides the key to doing things differently. By tuning into new and everyday sensations – from the feeling of our feet on a crowded street to the sound of birdsong in the park – we can engage our sensory network and boost our resilience, well-being, health and creativity.
Grounded in decades of scientific research and filled with simple exercises and practical mental techniques for mastering the art of ‘sense foraging’, Better in Every Sense explores the power of sensory experience to liberate us from our negative thinking patterns and help us successfully handle all of life’s challenges.
A brilliant, user-friendly, and easy-to-implement framework explaining why intentionally tuning in to our senses and learning how to trust them and expand their repertoire in outside-the-box ways-what the authors call ‘sense foraging’-is profoundly liberative and healing, revolutionary, and yet totally commonsensical. – Jon Kabat-Zinn
When you are feeling stressed or stuck, how do you relate to your life? In Better in Every Sense the authors take us through the science of tools to get out of the ‘house of habit’ and offer ways to re-engage with your life. A wonderful new book by Norman Farb and Zindel Segal. Fascinating, thought-provoking, and so useful in these trying times. – Sharon Salzberg, author of Lovingkindness and Real Life
These two highly trained and highly skilled professionals have got the chops – and the goods – to help you genuinely upgrade your life! – Dan Harris, author of 10% Happier
Informed by recent psychological findings that offer fresh insights into the way our attention works, how preferences are formed, and predictions are made, a new course has been developed that takes mindfulness practice to another level.
New findings reveal that every waking moment, our understanding of the world is dominated by predicting what actions we need to take next, coloured by what is called ‘feeling tone’ – that is, the moment-by-moment ‘read-out’ of whether any contact with mind or body feels pleasant, unpleasant, or neither. Based on this moment-by-moment ‘read out’, the body elegantly allocates its resources as it gears up for real or imagined action. This can prepare us well for action, but we can become exhausted without realising it.
Mark Williams and colleagues have published an article exploring the effectiveness of the Feeling Tone course from Deeper Mindfulness in the journal Mindfulness.
The new book Deeper Mindfulness gives the whole programme. It explains the recent science and gives you access to a complete set of new meditations to help you explore feeling tone.
This book walks you gently through the beautiful messy process of being human, and teaches you how and why all can be well” – Sir Kenneth Branagh
“This book is a remarkable combination of engaging stories, grounded scholarship, and powerful practices that conveys the power of mindfulness. The writing feels fresh and the meditations are spot on. As a clinician who teaches about trauma and meditation, I can also wholeheartedly recommend this work to anyone struggling with stress. It’s a book I’ve been waiting for, could hardly put down, and know will benefit countless people in the years to come.” – David Treleaven, PhD., author of Trauma-Sensitive Mindfulness: Practices for Safe and Transformative Healing
“Williams and Penman nail it when they describe how we can run from life (and ourselves) but we’ll never escape. Deeper Mindfulness holds true to its name: the authors expertly point out how to identify those critical driving forces in our lives –feelings, and how feelings feel—but importantly have provided a pragmatic path and clear steps that we can take to leverage our minds to live better lives. Based in deep wisdom and written with compassion.” -Judson Brewer MD PhD, New York Times Bestselling Author of Unwinding Anxiety and The Craving Mind.
“Many millions of people have learned mindfulness using apps, books or face-to-face mindfulness-based stress reduction and cognitive therapy courses. The science of mindfulness has come of age, suggesting for whom it is, and isn’t helpful, and how it helps people manage pain, live with chronic conditions, recover from depression, and more broadly enhance mental health. But learning mindfulness and mental health are like cultivating a garden, a mature garden takes lifelong cultivation.
“Deeper Mindfulness provides an 8-session guide for this further cultivation. It exquisitely draws out all the links in the chain that determine how our immediate sensory world becomes our lived experience and the stories we tell ourselves about ourselves, our lives, and the world. Its first genius is to point to the weakest link in the chain, vedana (feeling tone), the moment we label our sensory experience as pleasant or unpleasant. Its second genius is in skilfully guiding readers in how to break this link when it creates reactivity and chaos. In short, an elegant key to unlocking the chains that can enslave us. To the possibility to live with appreciation, kindness and compassion. Mark Williams and Danny Penman write with a voice that is authoritative, imbued with warmth and whispers inspiration. It is accessible and engaging, while drawing extensively on the foundations of Buddhist and contemporary psychology and the very best mindfulness research and practice. It is easy to understand why their first book Mindfulness Finding Peace in a Frantic World is the best-selling book on mindfulness. This is a much-needed extension for all those who wish to go deeper.” – Willem Kuyken, Ritblat Professor of Mindfulness and Psychological Science, University of Oxford
Well known for applying mindfulness to the treatment of depression, pioneering researcher John Teasdale now explores the broader changes that people can experience through contemplative practices. What goes on in our minds when we are mindful? What does it mean to talk of mindfulness as a way of being? From a scientific perspective, how do core elements of contemplative traditions have their beneficial effects? Teasdale describes two types of knowing that human beings have evolved–conceptual and holistic–intuitive–and shows how mindfulness can achieve a healthier balance between them. He masterfully describes the mechanisms by which this shift in consciousness not only can reduce emotional suffering, but also can lead to greater joy and compassion and a transformed sense of self.
Review
“Many are familiar with mindfulness, meditation, and other contemplative practices, particularly in the relief of depression and similar negative affective states. But few understand why mindfulness works, or the actual transformative outcomes possible from this ancient tradition. Teasdale, one of the foremost cognitive scientists in the world, now unravels the mysteries of mindfulness, and in so doing lays out nothing less than a new and different way of living. This book is ‘must’ reading for clinicians, clergy, and all helping professionals who are seeking to maximize human potential.”–David H. Barlow, PhD, ABPP, Professor Emeritus of Psychology and Psychiatry and Founder, Center for Anxiety and Related Disorders, Boston University
“A remarkable book that I will contemplate and revisit many times. Teasdale addresses mindfulness as more than a technique or an end in itself–he reaches beyond applications to mental illness and stress and toward discovering the ways we can be the flourishing, happy, and responsive human beings we have the potential to be. I highly recommend this book to anyone wishing to deepen their understanding of mindfulness and how it can bring about profound inner change.”–Christina Feldman, cofounder and teacher, Bodhi College
“This is a book about wisdom. There is a kindness, a wholeness, that you can sense as you make your way through these pages. Read the book from beginning to end and allow its fabric of knowledge to envelop you. You will not emerge unchanged.”–Steven C. Hayes, PhD, Foundation Professor of Psychology, University of Nevada, Reno
“As a pioneer of mindfulness treatment for recurrent depression, Teasdale has always been one of our deepest, most creative innovators. In this tour de force volume, Teasdale once again offers illuminating insights and understanding. This is a penetrating and expansive work that tackles fundamental human experiences such as joy, compassion, suffering, and meaning. Teasdale presents a compelling discussion of the shortcomings of contemporary psychotherapy and argues that mindfulness can be truly transformative by strengthening the holistic-intuitive way of knowing. This book is essential reading for anyone interested in integrating psychological research and Eastern spiritual traditions. It promises to become required reading for training in mindfulness-based psychotherapy.”–David A. Clark, PhD, Department of Psychology (Emeritus), University of New Brunswick, Canada
About the Author
John Teasdale, PhD, held a Special Scientific Appointment with the United Kingdom Medical Research Council’s Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit in Cambridge, England. He is a Fellow of the British Academy and the Academy of Medical Sciences. Dr. Teasdale collaborated with Mark Williams and Zindel Segal in developing mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) to prevent relapse and recurrence in major depression; together, they coauthored Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Depression, Second Edition (for mental health professionals), as well as the self-help guides The Mindful Way Workbook and (with Jon Kabat-Zinn) The Mindful Way through Depression. He has also published numerous highly cited articles in refereed journals. Since retiring, Dr. Teasdale has taught mindfulness and insight meditation internationally. He continues to explore and seek to understand the wider implications of mindfulness and meditation for enhancing our way of being.
If you are a mindfulness teacher or a therapist and want to learn more about the use of the mindfulness approach for people who remain vulnerable to depression, the approach is described in the Second Edition of this classic work by
Zindel V. Segal, J. Mark G. Williams and John D. Teasdale (2013)
Written in a practical and accessible manner, Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Depression describes the eight week programme in detail, and also tells the story of how the authors came to develop MBCT using clinical transcripts that bring the programme to life.
From Jon Kabat-Zinn’s Foreword:
“.. this new, revised and updated edition is nothing short of transformational. As a professional book and as a treatment manual in particular, it sets a new standard of authenticity, fidelity, and relationality, not only in how it is structured, but even more importantly, in how it is voiced – in other words, in its relationship with the reader as well as the subject…
…In reading this new version, appearing ten years after the first edition, I was struck by two things. One was how much exquisite new material has been added, not just in the form of new chapters, but subtle revisions and restructuring of the text itself, refining, amplifying, and strengthening a numberof key elements that ten years of experience have made clear are critical to the effective delivery of MBCT in clinical settings, as well as to the understanding of the underlying and very clearly described theoretical framework upon which it rests. The other is that, in going back and forth between the first edition and this one to see exactly what was changed and how, I was deeply moved all over again by how thorough, beautifully developed, and well-argued the first edition was — in a tone at the same time invitational, logical, understated, and modest”.
Mark Williams, Melanie Fennell, Thorsten Barnhofer, Rebecca Crane & Sarah Silverton
Grounded in extensive research and clinical experience, this book describes how to adapt mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) for participants who struggle with recurrent suicidal thoughts and impulses. Relevant to all mindfulness teachers, a comprehensive framework is presented for understanding suicidality and its underlying vulnerabilities. The preliminary intake interview and each of the eight group mindfulness sessions of MBCT are discussed in detail, highlighting issues that need to be taken into account with highly vulnerable people. Assessment guidelines are provided and strategies for safely teaching core mindfulness practices are illustrated with extensive case examples. The book also discusses how to develop the required mindfulness teacher skills and competencies.
Purchasers get access to a companion website featuring downloadable audio recordings of the guided mindfulness practices, narrated by Zindel V. Segal, J. Mark G. Williams, and John D. Teasdale.
See also Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Depression, Second Edition, by Zindel V. Segal, J. Mark G. Williams, and John D. Teasdale, the authoritative presentation of MBCT.
This book lays out, concisely, the distinctive features of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, and explains fully and clearly the key theoretical and practical features of the approach.
Why do people commit suicide? Is it a cry for help or a cry of pain? In this thought-provoking book Mark Williams offers new perspectives on suicide and suicidal behaviour.
Suicide presents a real and often tragic puzzle for the family and friends of someone who has committed or attempted suicide. ‘Why did they do it?’ ‘How could they do this?’ ‘Why did they not see there was help available?’
For therapists and clinicians who want to help those who are vulnerable and their families, there are also puzzles that often seem unsolvable. What is it that causes someone to end his or her own life, or to harm themselves: is it down to a person’s temperament, the biology of their genes, or to social conditions? What provides the best clue to a suicidal person’s thoughts and behaviour? Each type of explanation, seen in isolation, has its drawbacks, so we need to see how they may fit together to give a more complete picture.
Cry of Pain examines the evidence from a social, psychological and biological perspective to see if there are common features that might shed light on suicide. Informative and sympathetically written, it is essential reading for therapists and mental health professionals as well as those struggling with suicidal feelings, their families and friends.
“Cry of Pain is a wonderful book that provides a highly readable, original and compassionate account of an issue that we sometimes find it difficult to talk about…. it contains very helpful messages about the causes of suicide and, ultimately, very hopeful messages about its prevention.”
Professor Nav Kapur, Professor of Psychiatry and Population Health, Centre for Suicide Prevention, University of Manchester
The Mindful Way through Depression—which explores how mindfulness can break the cycle of chronic unhappiness—this carefully constructed workbook is written for those who are struggling with depression, anxiety, and other forms
of emotional distress. It shows the reader how to build a mindfulness practice in 8 weeks. Basic mindfulness principles and facts about depression and other common emotional problems are combined with specific mindfulness exercises to try on a daily and weekly basis, plus a wealth of interactive features that encourage and motivate.
Readers will be drawn in immediately by self-assessments, reflection questions and exercises with spaces to jot down notes, worksheets for keeping track of progress, and quotations and questions from others going through the program. Each week’s guided meditations are provided on the accompanying MP3 CD and can also be downloaded by purchasers.
As the most clearly laid out description of the theory and practice of MBCT to date, it is also proving of interest to mental health professionals and students.
Mindfulness-based approaches to medicine, psychology, neuroscience, healthcare, education, business leadership, and other major societal institutions have become increasingly common. New paradigms are emerging from a confluence of two powerful and potentially synergistic epistemologies: one arising from the wisdom traditions of Asia and the other arising from post-enlightenment empirical science.
This book presents the work of internationally renowned experts in the fields of Buddhist scholarship and scientific research, as well as looking at the implementation of mindfulness in healthcare and education settings. Contributors consider the use of mindfulness throughout history and look at the actual meaning of mindfulness whilst identifying the most salient areas for potential synergy and for potential disjunction.
Mindfulness: Diverse Perspectives on its Meanings, Origins and Applications provides a place where wisdom teachings, philosophy, history, science and personal meditation practice meet. It was originally published as a special issue of Contemporary Buddhism.
This book is written for a general readership and introduces mindfulness practice to those who find themselves over-busy, stressed and exhausted.
New for 2021: Free Sample audioclip Celebrating 10 years since publication, the new unabridged audiobook version read by Mark Williams is available from all major audiobook retailers including Audible, Kobo, Apple Books and Google Play.
