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  • The Unexpected Joy of the Ordinary

  • By: Catherine Gray
  • Narrated by: Catherine Gray
  • Length: 9 hrs and 50 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (29 ratings)

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The Unexpected Joy of the Ordinary

By: Catherine Gray
Narrated by: Catherine Gray
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Publisher's Summary

From the Sunday Times best-selling author.

We're told that happiness is in the extraordinary. It's on a Caribbean sun lounger, in the driving seat of a luxury car, inside an expensive golden locket, watching sunrise from Machu Picchu. We strive, reach, push, shoot for more. 'Enough' is a moving target we never quite reach.

When we do brush our fingertips against the extraordinary a deeply inconvenient psychological phenomenon called the 'hedonic treadmill' means that, after a surge of joy, our happiness level returns to the baseline it was at before the 'extra' event.

So, what's the answer?

The Unexpected Joy of the Ordinary theorises that the solution is rediscovering the joy in the ordinary that we so often now forget to feel. Because we now expect the pleasure of a croissant, a hot shower, a yoga class, someone delivering our shopping to our door, we no longer feel its buzz. The joy of it whips through us like a bullet train, without pause.

Catherine Gray was a grandmaster in the art of eye-rolling the ordinary and skilled in everlasting reaching. Until the black dog of depression forced her to rethink everything.

Along the way, she discovered some surprising realities about the extraordinaries among us: that influencers risk higher rates of anxiety and depression, high rollers are less happy and huge frothy weddings increase the likelihood of divorce.

Learning how to be exalted by the everyday is the most important lesson we can possibly learn. In Catherine Gray's hilarious, insightful, soulful (and very ordinary) next book, you may learn to do just that.

©2019 Catherine Gray (P)2019 Octopus Publishing Group

What listeners say about The Unexpected Joy of the Ordinary

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Lived it

I have listened to this 3 times! I get something new every time totally changed the way I see my life. A must read..

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

Ok, not great. Needs a lot of editing.

I love Cath Gray's writing. And no, she's not my sister despite the same surname. 100%, her books, Unexpected joy of, being sober, being single, Sunshine, Warm Sober, 100% awesome. And I reiviewed those too. Unfortunately this one lost me. Great in concept, but it's way way WAY too long. It covers others a lot of references and other people's material and I just don't think it's u to her normal standards. I mean read it, don't get me wrong, or rather listen to it, as the narration is excellent, as always, Catherine Gray has a great voice for audible. Just, I was kinda disappointed, and infact, I didn't even finish it. I couldn't. Sorry Catherine. I think it needs edited, The content is awesome just not 10 hours worth.

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

Loved it.

Amazing self help story about the simple things in life. Wanting to relisten, enjoyed the narrator.

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    1 out of 5 stars
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Steer clear if you’re religious. Or even healthy.

Sorry but I gave this a good go and I still couldn’t help but be offended because I cannot relate to the author or her views on spirituality, marriage, relationship or health. I hope others find it more relatable, not for me.

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