SANE NEW WORLD
BY RUBY WAX
Taming the Mind
Contents
What’s it about?
The way modern society is constructed goes against our brain’s natural instincts
Our basic needs are met, so our mind isn’t naturally occupied
Understanding our brains helps us understand our issues
The science behind our brains can help us understand our emotions
Depression isn’t just extreme sadness
You can gain control over your thoughts with mindfulness
You can apply mindfulness to your life with mindfulness-based cognitive therapy
There are some alternatives to mindfulness
Final summary
Now read the book
What’s it about?
Our modern age is one of the most prosperous times in human history. Centuries ago, we used to forage and hunt for our food, but now we produce and consume tons of food daily. We used to have trouble finding shelter from the elements and predators, but now we have housing and protection to keep ourselves safe. We’ve even found a way to communicate with people half a world away through the internet, phones, and social networking. And yet, even with all this, true happiness seems to be more and more elusive.
So why are we so unhappy? With our advanced society, don’t we have everything we need? What is it that keeps happiness from us? The answer can be found in our own minds, where we torment ourselves with negativity and second-guessing, worrying about ourselves and other people. We allow the negative, nagging monologue in our heads to affect our actions and moods, but, in reality, these thoughts should barely be influential to us at all. The way we think pushes the negatives to the front, making them the loudest voice and giving them power over us—when it really should be the other way around.
Luckily, it’s possible to change the way you think. With diligent daily effort, the negativity that comes from your brain’s thought patterns can be regulated, giving you control over your own mind and helping you find your happiness. The key is mindfulness—a state of mind that focuses on one’s current emotions—and in Sane New World you’ll learn how mindfulness can help you rewrite the way your brain operates and change your thought patterns. Most of us have no idea how our own brains work, but this book is the missing user’s manual we need to help us take back control of our minds and our happiness.
The way modern society is constructed goes against our brain’s natural instincts