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Meditations for Mortals

A Four Week Guide to Doing What Counts

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Meditations for Mortals

By: Oliver Burkeman
Narrated by: Oliver Burkeman
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About this listen

Brought to you by Penguin.

Stop trying to sort your life out. Start living.

Our lives can feel defined by the struggle with overwhelm, endless decisions and striving to be productive. Wouldn’t it be good to stop doing all that? What if we could find freedom – and get more of the important things done – by embracing our limitations, and by letting things happen instead of forcing them?

Meditations for Mortals begins with the reality in which we actually find ourselves, not with fantasies of an ideal existence. Reflecting on ideas from philosophy, religion, psychology and self-help, it offers us a powerful and practical new way to do what counts: a guiding outlook Oliver Burkeman calls ‘imperfectionism’.

This book is a profound and liberating crash course in living more fully. It overturns much familiar advice and opens a gateway to a saner, freer and more enchantment-filled life.

‘Full of wisdom and comfort' CHRIS VAN TULLEKEN

‘A practical path toward personal transformation… A must-read' CAL NEWPORT

'If there are two people who have changed my life...then one of them is Oliver Burkeman' PANDORA SYKES

'Oliver Burkeman has a way of giving you the most unexpected productivity advice exactly when you need it’ MARK MANSON
© Oliver Burkeman 2024 (P) Penguin Audio 2024

 Alternative & Complementary Medicine Best of 2024 Buddhism Meditation Personal Development Personal Success Philosophy Psychology Psychology & Mental Health Spirituality

Critic Reviews

Thoughtful, level-headed and useful ... a book to meditate upon
I'm sceptical about self-help - but a four-week 'mind retreat' changed me ... [Meditations for Mortals] teems with good sense, sensibly dispensed
A bracing read ... I'd bet that his audience will finish it in one sitting ... uplifting
Illuminating ... Burkeman's insight [is] always clear-eyed and jargon-free ... reassuring and constructive
Full of wise advice on not getting overburdened by work
Life-changing
Oliver Burkeman has a way of giving you the most unexpected productivity advice exactly when you need it (Mark Manson, author of The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck)
Full of wisdom and comfort. I enjoyed every page and read it in a single sitting. This is a really important book about embracing truth and reality (Chris van Tulleken, author of Ultra-Processed People)
A very special book. We should all read this - for the sake of our aching world as well as the state of our souls (Krista Tippett, author of Becoming Wise)
A practical path towards personal transformation. A must-read (Cal Newport, author of Slow Productivity)
All stars
Most relevant
Lovely voice and listened everyday .light hearted take on our thoughts in this crazy world.

Great insight to everyday thinking

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About 8 minutes per day of listening (1 chapter/day) = Quick and powerful food for thought each day, to then absorb and consider how that applies to myself and my life.


I found myself re-listening to some chapters instead of a new chapter because they were so powerful and applicable to me at this time in my life.

Absolutely brilliant.
Insightful, easy to understand & many various succinct examples to assist me with how to apply these ideas to my own situation.

I’m now considering the purchase of a hard copy.

Brilliant

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I love this book, it’s well written and very insightful. I have read a lot of self-help books previously, however, this one stands out because of the whole concept that puts one at ease, and gives one a perspective to be at peace with oneself, no matter what one’s circumstance is. That said, in the spirit of the book, being a peace does not negate motivation to do things that are worthwhile. I will be recommending this book highly to all the people I care about in the world.

It was beautifully written, and has some directly relevant tips that can be practised immediately

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