• Transcendence

  • Healing and Transformation Through Transcendental Meditation
  • By: Norman E. Rosenthal
  • Narrated by: Gildart Jackson
  • Length: 8 hrs and 4 mins
  • 4.3 out of 5 stars (351 ratings)

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Transcendence  By  cover art

Transcendence

By: Norman E. Rosenthal
Narrated by: Gildart Jackson
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Publisher's summary

Norman E. Rosenthal, M.D., a 20-year researcher at the National Institute of Mental Health and the celebrated psychiatrist who pioneered the study and treatment of Season Affective Disorder (SAD), brings us the most important work on Transcendental Meditation since the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi's Science of Being and Art of Living - and one of our generation's most significant books on achieving greater physical and mental health and wellness.

Transcendence demystifies the practice and benefits of Transcendental Meditation for a general audience who may have heard about the method but do not necessarily know what it is, how it is learned, or what they stand to gain, physically and emotionally, from achieving transcendence. Dr. Rosenthal clearly and practically explains the basic ideas behind transcendental meditation: It is a nonreligious practice that involves sitting comfortably for 20 minutes twice a day while using a silent mantra, or nonverbal sound, to attain a profound state of aware relaxation.

Alongside exclusive celebrity interviews - in which such figures as Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Martin Scorsese, Russell Brand, Laura Dern, Moby, and David Lynch openly discuss their meditation - Dr. Rosenthal draws upon experience from the lives of his patients and a wealth of clinical research amassed on Transcendental Meditation over the past generation (including 340 peer-reviewed published articles). He provides the fullest and most accessible book ever on the broad range of benefits of this remarkably simple practice - from relief of anxiety, stress, and depression to new hope for those experiencing addiction, attention-deficit disorder, or post-traumatic stress disorder.

©2011 Norman E. Rosenthal, M.D. (P)2011 Tantor

Critic reviews

"Come for the star power; stay for the benefits." ( Library Journal)

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What listeners say about Transcendence

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  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
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    206
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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Inspirational yet "Informercional"

Is there anything you would change about this book?

I would add more specific meditation instruction.

If you’ve listened to books by Norman E. Rosenthal before, how does this one compare?

n/a

What three words best describe Gildart Jackson’s performance?

His tone of voice and style is very inspirational and motivational.

Was Transcendence worth the listening time?

Yes and no.

Any additional comments?

There was plenty of wonderful telling of how important transcendental meditation is. I believe it, I would have liked less selling of meditation centers and more information about the meditation process itself.

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50 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Great info

Great info on how TM works, but unfortunately doesn't explain how to do it. To do it you have to go to expensive one on one classes.

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28 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

Not a book

This book wasn’t for you, but who do you think might enjoy it more?

I thought this book would introduce and possibly even help you come to understand meditation or reasons to meditate. Instead, it almost seemed to be written by Donald Trump (all it did was tell me how great meditation was and how all the stars were doing it).

What could Norman E. Rosenthal have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

Anything. Story, history, eloquent writing.

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15 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

A Great Scientific Discovery and a Great Read

Would you listen to Transcendence again? Why?

Rosenthal takes the mystery out of mysticism with practical explanations supported by extensive research, and at the same time makes science interesting and readable. It is a common supposition that meditation has something to do with religion and is in competition with prayer or other beliefs. But Rosenthal's explanations make it obvious that Transcendental Meditation is not only religion neutral--requiring no belief or spiritual bent--but is in fact mental hygiene, as necessary as brushing one's teeth. The word TRANSCENDENCE means "to go beyond." Anyone who is interested in getting beyond their present state (no matter how good it might be), improving his or her mental and physical health, sense of well-being, expanding creativity and personal development and learning about expanding consciousness to higher states will find this book useful. I have meditated for many years and can vouch for TM's effectiveness but it is often difficult to explain to others why TM is so powerful, so I admire Rosenthal's writing all the more because he explains it so well.He succeeds in explaining the benefits from a scientific and medical perspective that is not only informative but inspiring, even humorous at times. His writing style is down to earth and easy to read, with great anecdotal stories and supportive scientific facts. I'm already sold on TM's benefits, but I'd read this again just for the pleasure of it.

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7 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

REALLY ENJOYED THIS BOOK!!

Would you listen to Transcendence again? Why?

Yes and I have. I am just starting the practice and this book filled in a lot of blanks

What did you like best about this story?

Even though I did go through it completely the first time, the chapters are separated enough that I can just zip to the topic I am interested in and listen again.

What does Gildart Jackson bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Good voice

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Cant say

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6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars
  • M
  • 09-07-13

More scientific information than actual meditation

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

For me, this book gave me more information about the statistical evidence of the benefits meditation than the personal experience of the benefits the writer has gotten since he began meditation.

What do you think your next listen will be?

I don't know

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5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Wonderful supportive explanation and case studies

After watching Oprah's show "America's Most Unusual Town" I was very interested in Transcendental Meditation and wanted more information. This book coupled with the information found at the TM website and the presentation that I attended in a nearby city has completely satisfied my thirst to know more.

I remember Dr. Rosenthal from TV when I was younger. He was like Dr. Oz is to the TV audience of today. He is highly educated and has had the opportunity to discuss this subject with other doctors and many well respected individuals that are using TM with much success.

I found myself bookmarking many areas of the book so I could share the information with friends that were amazed at what they had just heard. The case involving the middle school principal that turned his school around by including "quiet time" twice a day is incredible.

Sometimes when I "listen" to a medical or reference book I find myself wishing I had the hard copy so I could follow along better or "see" what the reader is referring to. This was NOT the case with this book. It flowed perfectly and when Dr. Rosenthal would refer to a graph or study the description given was plenty for me to grasp the meaning.

My only regret is that I don't have the hard copy to lend to my friends. Well, maybe one other regret...I wish I had begun the practice of TM years earlier!

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

excellent

What did you love best about Transcendence?

It was interesting, upbeat, used research to back up claims. That said, you must have an open mind to listen to-it does sound a bit like like the author is trying to convince rather than educate.Having worked in health care for 20 years, his claims actully make sense.

What other book might you compare Transcendence to and why?

None

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

All

Any additional comments?

The reader was excellent.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Doesn’t teach TM, just gives statistics

I’m pretty annoyed as got this book to learn how to meditate and what TM is. All this book talks about pointlessly for so many chapters is how it miraculously fixes everyone in one session and gives those statistics and general stories. Total waste, I still have no idea what it actually is and I meditate regularly. Don’t waste your time.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Very detail account on the TM technique

This book is the prelude to Super Mind. It explains in real terms as well as scientific terms the TM technique, it's benefits and how to properly use it. I'm keeping this book in my mobile to listen over and over to improve my tm experience.

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2 people found this helpful