The Craving Mind

From Cigarettes to Smartphones to Love - Why We Get Hooked and How We Can Break Bad Habits

By: Judson Brewer, Jon Kabat-Zinn - foreward

Narrated by: P. J. Ochlan

Length: 8 hrs and 19 mins

Publisher's summary

We are all vulnerable to addiction. Whether it's a compulsion to constantly check social media, binge eating, smoking, excessive drinking, or any other behaviors, we may find ourselves uncontrollably repeating. Why are bad habits so hard to overcome? Is there a key to conquering the cravings we know are unhealthy for us?

This book provides groundbreaking answers to the most important questions about addiction. Dr. Judson Brewer, a psychiatrist and neuroscientist who has studied the science of addictions for 20 years, reveals how we can tap into the very processes that encourage addictive behaviors in order to step out of them. He describes the mechanisms of habit and addiction formation, then explains how the practice of mindfulness can interrupt these habits.

Weaving together patient stories, his own experience with mindfulness practice, and current scientific findings from his own lab and others, Dr. Brewer offers a path for moving beyond our cravings, reducing stress, and ultimately living a fuller life.

©2017 Judson Brewer (P)2017 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Hard to listen to

This would have been better if the author had read it himself! Good content hard to listen to.

Excellent content, narrator hindered my enjoyment

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

No. I feel the narrator did not capture the proper tone of the author. I would recommend the written book instead. The narrator was too unnatural in his tone and delivery.

Great insight into your Habits

great insight into habits and addictions and how to understand and fix them, great personal stories and scientific research

Unbelievable Revelations!

Amazing book. Hands down must read! Weather you are trying to quit a vice in your life, or grow as an individual this book has so much to offer you!

im so glad I discovered this

im so happy to have discovered this. with this understanding I can start my journey to mindfulness about my food consuming and other habits.

Awesome

This is probably one of the better ox I’ve seen on mindfulness. It gets a lot of basic detail that would be good for anyone at any stage. Very good review for the adapter.

Insightful For Understanding Habit

Presents a nice insight into habits and cravings. Slight education in how to use existing habit loops to create new ones.

This book is changing my life!

Even though this book is very technical it was well written and easy to understand. It has changed the way I function in the world and for that I am forever grateful. I am in my 6th week of Mindfulness Meditation and I absolutely love it and what it is doing for my life. I cannot imagine not meditating every single day! This book has definitely taught me a lot about myself and how to move forward in a more meaningful way.

Awareness is the solution to addiction problems

I gave up a horrendous heroin addiction and cigarettes shortly afterward, simply by becoming aware of the thoughts and cravings in my mind by practicing meditation multiple times a day. At the time I had never heard of this book, but since then I’ve been searching for the scientific reasoning as to why practicing mindful meditation made it so easy for me to give up the vices I had. I heard Brewer give an interview and briefly talk about what to do when a craving for a cigarette arises and it sounded strikingly similar to what I practiced when I got sober. I decided to check out the book and now that I have I am so glad I did. Learning the science behind reward based learning and operant conditioning really helped me understand what happened to me. Great book, and I strongly suggest anyone trying meditation to supplement their practice with a reading of this book.

Good Read

I loved the book. The narrators voice was like a robot though. Once I got passed that though I very much enjoyed the book. Very scientific and not preachy/overly faithful like a lot of self help books.