Does exactly what it says on the tin!

Very clear and accessible book for someone wanting to start their mindfulness journey. Can't wait to read the rest in the series.

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Very interesting

Very interesting read. Talks in language that you can relate to and apply to your own life. Very soothing and reassuring.

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Very inspiring :)

A well read, well written inspiring audio, definitely worth listening to if you are starting out on the path of mindfulness.

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Thoughts are just stories

I had this book before getting the audio version. It’s a really good straightforward study into Mindfulness, meditation, and a great help for living and understanding how our thoughts can course us stress and unhappiness. Listening to the audio version of the book ‘over and over’ and following the exercises makes my life much calmer.
Only thing that seems a little strange to me is having a female reading the male Authors written words exactly. You’ll have understand when you listen to it.

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A great beginners guide to mindfulness

This would be a great book for those starting off on the journey of discovering peace and calm through mindfulness. If you find your brain is doing more talking in a non-stop constant drone, and that the messages you receive seems to be quite negative and your brain within is going in more directions than a London main railway train line, then you’ll probably find a lot of useful ideas in this book. As William Blake once said, “whether we make a heaven or hell of earth, ‘tis the mind that makes it so”. There are some really interesting ideas about the purpose of what mindfulness could achieve. For example, a thought is nothing more than an opinion, an opinion nothing more than a belief, and a belief we hold is nothing more than a story. We tell ourselves stories all the time about who we are and how we are, they could include “I’m no good” or “I really like myself” but which story are we plugged into and listening to. The most important thing to think about is that they are nothing more than stories, not necessarily true and perhaps sometimes we need to tell ourselves a new story that’s much more positive or realistic and without being so hurtful to ourselves so we can have a better quality of life and well-being. Mindfulness helps us to let go of the thoughts that can be negative in many ways and have new thoughts or less stressful thoughts (or even fewer thoughts - just observe, notice and let go) to promote a calmer, less negative life style. This book also include some nice exercises to help practice mindfulness.

I also like the way the book looks at how we deal with emotions. We can’t control them so we need to learn to accept them, just by observing them, noting them and even giving them a name and labelling them (which can really reduce its impact and effect (eg you look, that’s an angry thought). This can often reduce the strength of an emotion.
If we had a boss who constantly yelled at us, even when he’d asked us to do something, we might become upset. However, we seem to allow our own mind to yell at us as often even when we’ve done something that appears to have been set in motion by the mind. We create cycles which can be very harming and need to learn new ways of making sure all of my mind doesn’t shout at me, and when it does appear to come to just observe the thought or your opinion and then let it go and dissolve. And keep remembering that your thoughts are nothing more than that story you tell yourself, that doesn’t mean to say change the story but you can. Short book but could improve or change your life.

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A life changer

So easy to follow and makes such sense. My mindfulness journey starts here and now.

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Very Good.

Clear, simple and concise. I definitely feel more peaceful as I am learning to quieten my thoughts.

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simple and effective

This book is straight forward and practical.
It's like someone telling you a few home truths, it snapped me out of the rut I was stuck in and made me realise where I was going wrong.
No spiritual airy fairness, just good advice and very manageable exercises.

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Tells it straight, with humour.

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

Happily would have, time permitting. This is a no-nonsense, clear and accessible teaching of Mindfulness. I haven't seen one as well written. Also it uses good humour - I was laughing along as well as nodding my head lots as this applies to me - it applies to the human condition. If anyone wants to de-stress and find some peace as well as greater control and efficiency of mind, you'll find it by reading this book. The narrator was good too. Recommended.

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15 people found this helpful

Not what I was expecting

What did you like best about Mindfulness Plain and Simple? What did you like least?

This is purely a book about mindfulness; have to admit I haven't listened to it all. Unfortunately with audio books you don't have an index to see what the contents are to be able to dip in and out of it. So it makes this type of book very difficult . I've heard so many mindfulness talks/audios etc that I wanted a simple intro and then practice. For some reason I am unable to download the actual practical bits, Oli has tried to help, so it's obviously my iPad or something.

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1 person found this helpful