Beyond Anxiety

Curiosity, Creativity, and Finding Your Life's Purpose

By: Martha Beck

Narrated by: Martha Beck, Maria Shriver

From bestselling author Martha Beck, a new path to overcoming anxiety by awakening the creativity within

We live in an epidemic of anxiety. Most of us assume that the key to overcoming it is to think our way out. And for a while it works. But there is always something that sends us back into the anxious spiral we’ve been trying to climb out of.

In Beyond Anxiety, Dr. Martha Beck explains why anxiety is skyrocketing around you, and likely within you. She also tells you how to not only reduce your anxiety but use it to propel you into a life filled with peace, meaning, and joy.

Using a combination of the latest neuroscience as well as her background in sociology and coaching, Beck explains how our brains tend to get stuck in an “anxiety spiral,” a feedback system that can increase anxiety indefinitely. To climb out, we must engage different parts of our nervous system—the parts involved in creativity. Beck provides instructions for engaging the “creativity spiral,” in a process that not only shuts down anxiety but leads to innovative problem solving, a sense of meaning and purpose, and joyful, intimate connection with others—and with the world.

The opposite of anxiety, it turns out, is a wonderful new way of life—one that can calm and inspire us as individuals and help us become a source of healing for everything around us.

©2025 Martha Beck (P)2025 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

“Martha Beck has changed my life with her words, her teachings, and her guidance. She is always ahead of the curve. This book will help you get curious about anxiety and tap into your divine creativity. Get ready to be transformed.”—Maria Shriver

“In this book, Martha has tackled a subject that is the true virus of our time: ANXIETY. And with her characteristic humor, brilliance, detective-level research-skills and unconventional thinking, she has discovered actual real-life solutions to this dreaded mental scourge. In doing so, she has once again brought light, hope, and a welcome sense of excitement to us all.”—Elizabeth Gilbert, author of Big Magic and City of Girls

“I’m an anxious bunny. I opened this book hopeful but certain it wouldn’t work. It worked. It freaking worked. The gold on these pages gave me some life back. Thank you, thank you, Martha Beck. You did it again!”—Glennon Doyle, author of Untamed

Message for humanity

I'm in awe od the authentic and beautiful illustration of the essence - the truth of and for humanity. Thank you for who you are and for sharing your gift. ❤️

A public service for humanity!

This book has helped me understand not only anxiety, but myself, as a ‘creative’ and entrepreneur that feels constant tension in my life. It’s helped me make sense of so much that I didn’t understand about myself and has not only given me hope but EXCITEMENT that I overcome it, finally. This book is a masterpiece and we are so lucky that Dr. Beck poured herself into writing it!

Martha’s insights will have you laughing and crying as she provides completely actionable steps to go beyond anxiety.

I absolutely love Martha’s sense of humor and how she keeps me laughing while discussing serious topics. She is a brilliant light for humanity. This book absolutely gives me hope for our world. I needed this Martha. Thank you.

A total package

This book hits everything you need to work on to improve your life. Eloquent, but raw. I plan to send it to everyone I know

Excellent and encouraging!

From the personal issue of anxiety to the big picture of climate change Martha Beck gives easy concrete suggestions to take action. I finished this book feeling encouraged personally and globally. Wonderful!