What do you think?
Rate this book
Mindfulness for Busy People: Turning frantic and frazzled into calm and composed: Turning from frantic and frazzled into calm and composed
Be calm, be present, be mindful. Mindfulness for Busy People 2/e will show you how to apply the transformative power of mindfulness to your busy life, helping you to de-stress, find your own unique space of calm, and ready yourself for whatever challenges you face. Helping you to cultivate and practice mindfulness straight away, you’ll discover: · A no-nonsense, light-hearted, and clear introduction to mindfulness and its benefits · Unique and clever ‘I-haven’t-got-time-for-this’ exercises that you can do anywhere, anytime · A fulfilling way to feel less stressed with immediate effect · A new found confidence, resilience and a greater sense of optimism · Improved focus, energy, efficiency and creativity Feel calm, confident and in control – whatever you’re doing, wherever you are. Endorsements MFBP 2e · “Mindfulness has probably become more popular in concept than in practice these days. So many of us could benefit from training our attention and our self-compassion, if we could just find practical ways to integrate mindfulness into our daily lives and busy schedules. These authors provide the practical tools that you need to actually put mindfulness into practice, and to benefit from transforming your mind, without having to pack up to live in the mountains. This book is fun, usable, and helpful.” Dennis Tirch, author of The Compassionate Mind Guide to Overcoming Anxiety · “Mindfulness can be elusive... The "I'm too busy" thoughts show up and get in the way. The trick is to bring brief respites of mindfulness into a multitude of simple tasks we do each day. In this second edition of their wonderful book the authors have added, updated and upgraded ideas for bringing the power of mindfulness into our busy worlds. Get it and reap the benefits of simple mindfulness.” Kevin Polk, Ph.D., Psychologist and ProSocial Matrix Trainer · “The great thing is, we can all be a lot more mindful, even if we’re way too busy to meditate. This little gem of a book gives you a wealth of simple strategies to easily bring mindfulness into everyday life - thereby making it a lot more satisfying and lot less stressful.” Russ Harris, author of The Happiness Trap · “One go-to question in mindfulness is: What did you notice? Going through this wonderful book, I noticed how simple and concrete it made the practice of mindfulness. I noticed thoughts about wishing I had come across this book when I first encountered mindfulness some 18 years ago. Then, I noticed warm feelings toward the compassionate humanity of Mike Sinclair, Josie Seydel and Emily Shaw that shines through each page. The next thing I noticed was loving how this new edition delves on self-compassion and offers more on how mindfulness can help us identify, choose and embody our deepest life values. Finally, I noticed the judgment that this book isn’t just for busy people, but for anyone interested in living more effectively and learning how to befriend the whole of their experience.” Benjamin Schoendorff, co-author of The Science of Compassion and The Essential Guide to the ACT Matrix. · “Fun, engaging and practical - this book is elegantly written by experts to help you learn the skills of mindfulness - and to apply them to this busy, stressful, modern world we live in.” Dr Joe Oliver, Director of Contextual Consulting and co-author of ACTivate Your Life. · “Accessible, actionable, insightful and user-friendly.
240 pages, Paperback
Published December 6, 2017
44 people are currently reading
242 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
April 20, 2014
This really needs two reviews, one for the content on mindfulness, the other on the style of writing.
This is the first book on mindfulness I've read, so I can't compare it to anything else. But I've found the practices have proved useful even in just a few weeks, I've become more aware of my environment, my emotions, and my thoughts.
The writing, on the other hand, is just awful. It comes across like a parody of two middle class parents babbling to a young child. The book is written "for busy people" and half of this babble is justifying why a "busy person" should invest in learning mindfulness. I'd have thought it fairly safe to assume anyone who had bothered to buy and start reading this was already fairly invested, and that half way in they could stop preceding every paragraph of actual content with a sales pitch as to why you should continue to be patience. The greatest irony was when I read the section where ask you to think of signs of your impatience, including perhaps "skimming over sections of this book". Well yes I was, because despite all this fantastical wonderful mindfulness malarkey which is going to make me ohsohappywhenivecometoacceptlifeas it is (note: this is just a tiny sample of the agony-inducing style of prose you will have to endure), I couldn't sit through the drivel.
3 stars because the mindfulness proved useful once I extracted it from the apologies for the "busy people". But I'd strongly suggest looking at the other top rated mindfulness books if the subject appeals to you, unless you really believe you can endure the presentation. (I've ordered a copy of Wherever You Go, There You Are for another perspective.)
This is the first book on mindfulness I've read, so I can't compare it to anything else. But I've found the practices have proved useful even in just a few weeks, I've become more aware of my environment, my emotions, and my thoughts.
The writing, on the other hand, is just awful. It comes across like a parody of two middle class parents babbling to a young child. The book is written "for busy people" and half of this babble is justifying why a "busy person" should invest in learning mindfulness. I'd have thought it fairly safe to assume anyone who had bothered to buy and start reading this was already fairly invested, and that half way in they could stop preceding every paragraph of actual content with a sales pitch as to why you should continue to be patience. The greatest irony was when I read the section where ask you to think of signs of your impatience, including perhaps "skimming over sections of this book". Well yes I was, because despite all this fantastical wonderful mindfulness malarkey which is going to make me ohsohappywhenivecometoacceptlifeas it is (note: this is just a tiny sample of the agony-inducing style of prose you will have to endure), I couldn't sit through the drivel.
3 stars because the mindfulness proved useful once I extracted it from the apologies for the "busy people". But I'd strongly suggest looking at the other top rated mindfulness books if the subject appeals to you, unless you really believe you can endure the presentation. (I've ordered a copy of Wherever You Go, There You Are for another perspective.)
January 26, 2015
The content isn't bad but the condescending, patronising style of writing is really off-putting. For a book that is "aimed at busy people", it has an awful lot of b***shit to cut through to find the valuable content.
January 18, 2014
The condecending tone of this book is at times unbearable. The author seems to have searched the quotes of history to back up his so called words of wisdom. The exercises in the book are truly awful and meaningless. Overall I would advise dont waste your time reading this book instead go to a park and sit down because you will end up with a better understanding of Mindfullness than this book provides.
January 6, 2014
It's funny, because I used to really like this style of book and lap them up, but with this one I struggled... It had some really good points, but was also repetitive in parts and, sometimes, a bit condescending. Lacks a wee bit of context too, I think - it's a hard thing to feel inspired by, learn, master from a book alone.
February 9, 2018
What an apt book for me to review, I was asked to review by Nudge Readers.
This was so needed - I am always chasing my tail- perhaps I am trying to full time work part time) that's another story)
How do I spend my time? jumping from one aspect to another - which can be quite normal I am a Quality Governance Manager in a very busy NHS.
Reading this book has made me think just how I do spend my time, how do I do busy ( martyr me, I am the only one here late at night (well I am in my team) other leave on time etc etc. my bucket is always over flowing.
I have always wanted to meditate - but when have I got time to meditate I eat lunch at my desk- but I do have time for my home emails etc ( I freelance too)
There are so many practice sections and I have found them invaluable - sorting out my mind, being positive, don't buy into worries such as losing your job- readers you may become more ineffective.
I did like the section What a Superhero am I ? this was me to a T at work - in the end all that happens is I get more stressed - part of this is identifying and doing something about it.
This is well written, well researched there is a good section for further reading and useful resources for support.
light hearted, practical so give this a go take the time and become calm and composed.
This was so needed - I am always chasing my tail- perhaps I am trying to full time work part time) that's another story)
How do I spend my time? jumping from one aspect to another - which can be quite normal I am a Quality Governance Manager in a very busy NHS.
Reading this book has made me think just how I do spend my time, how do I do busy ( martyr me, I am the only one here late at night (well I am in my team) other leave on time etc etc. my bucket is always over flowing.
I have always wanted to meditate - but when have I got time to meditate I eat lunch at my desk- but I do have time for my home emails etc ( I freelance too)
There are so many practice sections and I have found them invaluable - sorting out my mind, being positive, don't buy into worries such as losing your job- readers you may become more ineffective.
I did like the section What a Superhero am I ? this was me to a T at work - in the end all that happens is I get more stressed - part of this is identifying and doing something about it.
This is well written, well researched there is a good section for further reading and useful resources for support.
light hearted, practical so give this a go take the time and become calm and composed.
April 14, 2018
I’ve read quite a few mindfulness books and this one’s practical exercises are really useful, and flexible.
The tone of the book is condescending, the case histories are often cringy, the format is too cutey but still if you skim and use it for your busy world problem, its really quite useful.
An example is the meditation about your mobile phone, sounds really idiotic but its been a very useful way for me to understand where the device fits in everyday life.
The tone of the book is condescending, the case histories are often cringy, the format is too cutey but still if you skim and use it for your busy world problem, its really quite useful.
An example is the meditation about your mobile phone, sounds really idiotic but its been a very useful way for me to understand where the device fits in everyday life.
May 18, 2020
I quite enjoyed this book with it's many exercises, examples, and quotes. It really got across the concept of mindfulness and how we move away from that with busy-ness. Though certain parts may seem repetitive, I thought it was helpful to demonstrate how it may apply in a different scenario - making it quickly accessible should you be experiencing that specific situation. And yet still see how mindfulness can be applied even in a situation that may seem different, e.g. grief vs anger.
February 19, 2021
Chánh niệm cho người bận rộn được thiết kế như một cuốn cẩm nang thực hành chánh niệm cơ bản. Sau khi đọc nó, bạn sẽ học được cách quản lý lịch trình kín bưng, cách vượt qua cảm giác ngột ngạt với những công việc tưởng chừng không hồi kết. Ban đầu bạn có thể cho rằng thực hành chánh niệm tiêu tốn thời gian, nhưng bạn sẽ sớm nhận ra nó giúp bạn có cuộc sống ý nghĩa.
July 16, 2021
I guess I must be more mindful than I thought, because I already do most of the recommended exercises regularly! There was some good stuff in there, but also some things that I couldn't understand (mindful washing up was just a bit too much for me). Worth it if you're feeling busy and overwhelmed though.
September 10, 2018
Did I really read “homo sapien sapien” instead of sapiens on page 29? What kind of doctors are these people? Trashed the book immediately after.
February 5, 2019
Some easy to adopt exercises but cut to the chase already!
Read
June 19, 2022Tạm được, không có gì đặc sắc quá
July 29, 2022
Really enjoyed this and found the practical exercises helped to embed the practices in my daily life. Easy to pick up and put down, and to digest in bite size chunks
October 2, 2014
The tone of the writing was truly AWFUL. The sense of humor felt very forced - as though the writers were trying to tell jokes to very busy children. And there was an assumption that all of their readers hated hippies and were sitting frozen in fear of anything that might have any relationship to Buddhism. I was annoyed by the tone throughout the entire book.
That being said, I have been working on putting some of the ideas into play and I have found it to be a very positive practice. I think I'd like to read more books about mindfulness, but this one is not something I can recommend at all.
That being said, I have been working on putting some of the ideas into play and I have found it to be a very positive practice. I think I'd like to read more books about mindfulness, but this one is not something I can recommend at all.
June 16, 2023
kTheo sách, chánh niệm là sự tỉnh thức, theo mình hiểu, sự tỉnh thức là sống trong hiện tại. Sách là một sự chỉ dạy căn bản để làm sao sống trong hiện tại.
Qua sách, mình nhìn được lờ mờ vấn đề của bản thân, có thể sách thiếu sự kết nối trong chính nó, sự mạch lạc nhất định theo mình thấy. Nhưng nó dạy mình nhiều thứ, mình được nhận nhiều từ sách này, để nhìn nhận lại nỗi đau của mình. Học cách sống trong hiện tại và nhìn thấy được nhiều thứ hơn, hạnh phúc hơn. Mình có tóm sách trong quyển sổ không dòng kẻ của mình. Hope I can Keep it so long as I can.
Qua sách, mình nhìn được lờ mờ vấn đề của bản thân, có thể sách thiếu sự kết nối trong chính nó, sự mạch lạc nhất định theo mình thấy. Nhưng nó dạy mình nhiều thứ, mình được nhận nhiều từ sách này, để nhìn nhận lại nỗi đau của mình. Học cách sống trong hiện tại và nhìn thấy được nhiều thứ hơn, hạnh phúc hơn. Mình có tóm sách trong quyển sổ không dòng kẻ của mình. Hope I can Keep it so long as I can.
January 8, 2022
The biggest thing that bothered me about this book, is that the author keeps coming up with examples on why mindfulness is good for you but it takes them FOREVER to really come up with something useful. I guess the people who buy a book like this, already did the research and and are aware of the positive effects and no further explanation is required. Thats why this is one of the very few books that i didn´t enjoy reading and therefore didn´t finish.
June 24, 2015
this is a 2.5 stars book for me. the exercises are often really good and I tune with the needs of busy western people but most of the book is written in this smug oversimplifying wannabe funny tone and that really ruined it for me. i think most of the readers of this book have a higher cog and level than a 4 year old.
November 4, 2016
Zajímavá kombinace moderní psychologie až příliš opatrně skrytého zenu
July 12, 2014
Lots of good practical exercises and ways to fit mindfulness into real life. Not too hippyish.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews