The Craving Mind

From Cigarettes to Smartphones to Love - Why We Get Hooked and How We Can Break Bad Habits

By: Judson Brewer, Jon Kabat-Zinn - foreward

Narrated by: P. J. Ochlan

Length: 8 hrs and 19 mins

Publisher's summary

We are all vulnerable to addiction. Whether it's a compulsion to constantly check social media, binge eating, smoking, excessive drinking, or any other behaviors, we may find ourselves uncontrollably repeating. Why are bad habits so hard to overcome? Is there a key to conquering the cravings we know are unhealthy for us?

This book provides groundbreaking answers to the most important questions about addiction. Dr. Judson Brewer, a psychiatrist and neuroscientist who has studied the science of addictions for 20 years, reveals how we can tap into the very processes that encourage addictive behaviors in order to step out of them. He describes the mechanisms of habit and addiction formation, then explains how the practice of mindfulness can interrupt these habits.

Weaving together patient stories, his own experience with mindfulness practice, and current scientific findings from his own lab and others, Dr. Brewer offers a path for moving beyond our cravings, reducing stress, and ultimately living a fuller life.

©2017 Judson Brewer (P)2017 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

fantastic

really go the heart of deepening of meditation practice. noticing wanting. excitement is not really what makes us happy. practicing noticing our thoughts ends up helping us make healthy changes that reduce suffering. we end up not wanting to repeat unhealthy behaviors because we learn it really doesn't make us happy.

Possibly the wrong narrator?

The narrator uses a staccato speech and an odd tone that interrupts the flow of the reader, constantly. I appreciate the hard work in all things but this might be an error in casting, especially for a “study” type book. It seems the content is rich in anecdotes and the different arguments rooted in well-conducted studies but honestly I will have to buy the book to retain more of the content.

Great insights on all kinds of addiction

I strongly recommend the book - I learned a lot. It’s very well written and organized.

Addict to snacking

“Don’t scratch that it” will be my motto whenever I want to eat junk food from now on. It really snaps me out of it and makes me analyze what I will get out of that tastykake or whatever which causes me to not want it anymore. I’m so happy this book became available to me. I will be applying it to so many other aspects of my life. I already know.

borderline pd and have relationship issues? lego!

it's short enough, not boring, and not one full of useless examples. they're all relevant. there is science behind it, and it seems attainable.

complex

alot of Detailed information. very good but requires total concentration. I think it will need at least one more read to digest it all.

interesting

very enjoyable and very informative learned a lot from this book would recommend to anyone interested in the subject

Just Ehhh - Not Great

I struggled to finish this book. Read it on a faster speed!!! That helps a lot!!

The topic is interesting but the content was just difficult to take in and this is my favorite genre of books. The 2nd half gets better but I don't think the ways to overcome cravings is clear throughout the book.

It kept losing my interest.

great information

very informative, a lot you don't consider issues in society or in your own life. this definitely brought challenges to light!

Painfully robotic narration

The content of this book is excellent, which is what kept me listening. The narration, however, is painfully robotic. There seem to be several tables or diagrams that the narrator robotically reads. I found that to be very frustrating, and in combination with the overall robotic tone of the performance rather exasperating at times.