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"Dr. Norman Rosenthal's Transcendence is the best-ever book on Transcendental Meditation: accessible and substantive, engaging and scientific, practical and profound. A very enjoyable read that can change your life, for good." - David Lynch
"I have been meditating for over 10 years, and I found Transcendence to be a uniquely compelling introduction to the art and science of Transcendental Meditation. Dr. Norman Rosenthal's book will propel TM into the mainstream where it belongs." - Russell Simmons
In this definitive book on the scientifically proven health and stress-relieving benefits of Transcendental Meditation, a renowned psychiatrist and researcher explores why TM works, what it can do for you, and how to use it for maximum effect.
Norman E. Rosenthal, M.D., a twenty-year researcher at the National Institute of Mental Health and the celebrated psychiatrist who pioneered the study and treatment of Season Affective Disorder (SAD), brings us the most important work on Transcendental Meditation since the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi's Science of Being and Art of Living— and one of our generation's most significant books on achieving greater physical and mental health and wellness.
Transcendence demystifies the practice and benefits of Transcendental Meditation for a general audience who may have heard about the method but do not necessarily know what it is, how it is learned, or what they stand to gain, physically and emotionally, from achieving transcendence. Dr. Rosenthal clearly and practically explains the basic ideas behind Transcendental Meditation: It is a nonreligious practice that involves sitting comfortably for twenty minutes twice a day while using a silent mantra, or nonverbal sound, to attain a profound state of aware relaxation.
Alongside exclusive celebrity interviews-where figures like Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Martin Scorsese, Russell Brand, Laura Dern, Moby, and David Lynch openly discuss their meditation-Dr. Rosenthal draws upon experience from the lives of his patients and a wealth of clinical research amassed on TM over the past generation (340 peer-reviewed published articles). He provides the fullest and most accessible book ever on the broad range of benefits of this remarkably simple practice, from relief of anxiety, stress and depression to new hope for those experiencing addiction, attention-deficit disorder, or post-traumatic stress disorder.
Foreword Mehmet C. Oz, M.D. ix
Part I Transcendence
Introduction: My Journey Back 3
1 A Return to the Self: Aspects of Meditation 13
2 The Mind Within the Mind: What Is Transcendence? 31
Part II Healing
3 Decompression: Managing Toxic Stress 55
Part III Transformation
4 Turning Off the Brain's Alarm System: Treating Anxiety and Anger 87
5 The Schoolboy Who Pulled Out His Hair: Attention, Priorities, and Effectiveness 113
6 Helping the Spikes and Valleys: Meditation and Moods 131
7 Silencing the Bubble Machine: Addiction and Recovery 153
8 An Island of Safety in a Sea of Trouble: Transformation in Schools 173
9 Learning to Love Yourself: The Long Road Back from Prison 189
10 Self-Actualization?Your Personal Best 205
Part IV Harmony
11 Harmony: Coherence at Many Levels 241
Afterword to the Paperback Edition: After Transcendence 252
Appendix-Answers to Questions About Transcendental Meditation: An Expert's Perspective 276
Acknowledgments 285
Notes 287
Index 316
Anonymous
Posted July 5, 2011
I very rarely write reviews and I NEVER EVER write bad ones, but I'm very disappointed in the book. Not only am I disappointed in the book but I'm disappointed in the celebrities who endorsed it and here's why...
I am in an extremely stressful time in my life and always wanted to learn to meditate. When I heard about this book and TM and how endorsements said "the book changed their lives", I downloaded on kindle. The sample seemed interesting and I figured they are making you buy the book to learn the techniques of TM, which would have been fine. Wrong. This book is nothing more than data on studies and story after story of people's experiences with TM and the benefits. There is NO technique on how to meditate. And then it's endorses learning Tm through classes that costs something like $1200.
Really, you made me pay $15 for a pamphlet for a $1200 meditation class? Shame on you and the celebrities who can afford to spare $1200 to wipe their butts with everyday! LOL
This is REALLY false advertising. It should be clear that there are NO techniques explained in this book. I'm sure that compiling these stories and data took a lot of effort, but it's not right.
Plus, the reviews here are fishy too. Someone gave a 5 star review WITHOUT EVEN READING IT! LOL
14 out of 19 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.neil108
Posted June 10, 2011
I Also Recommend:
It's a gem. Full of riveting stories, written with the skill of a novelist, Dr Rosenthal explains the importance of mental resilience, and presents the compelling evidence that a simple, meditation technique is highly effective in developing it. He gives us a scientist's sophisticated appraisal of the extensive research on Transcendental Meditation (TM), and presents many personal accounts of the power of TM in addressing anxiety, depression, and ADD, as well as in helping already happy people (including Paul McCartney, Martin Scorcese, and several other celebs) find deeper meaning and joy in their lives.
7 out of 8 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted June 11, 2011
This is an excellent survey of 40 years of research on Transcendental Meditation. Such a topic could be, well, boring. But Dr. Rosenthal brings in the human element, narrating many stories of how people (including well known celebrities) have been helped by Transcendental Meditation. After he tells their story, he then asks, why might this person be experiencing this result? Then he presents specific related studies and shows why TM may have this particular effect -- whether lower blood pressure, reduced anxiety, greater alertness, etc. Regarding those studies, Dr. Rosenthal has done well to highlight and summarize the main findings in a range of areas. I haven't seen a better overview of this research. It's up-to-date and comprehensive.
6 out of 8 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.AZAuthor
Posted October 30, 2011
This book tells yoy all you want to know about TM, except how to do it. For that you have to go to their website and pay $1,500 for their course.
4 out of 6 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted June 10, 2011
Cover's a lot of areas, scientific, personal results from celebrities, and programs for at risk populations.
4 out of 6 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted December 19, 2011
This book is not a "how to" book but rather a "how can it benefit me" book. Lots of good, sound scientific facts as well as interesting case studies. Very uplifting read which I enjoyed tremendously.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted June 12, 2011
I've been awaiting this book for awhile (i've also been practicing TM for a while) and I'm looking forward to getting my hands on it, hopefully today. I'm delighted to see more information on TM out there. It has been a great gift for me; more mental focus, creativity, health and well being and it would be awesome for anyone who is looking to grow their life positively to read this and learn.
3 out of 7 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Snookie56
Posted June 24, 2011
I'm very picky but found no problem with this book at all -- in the writing or content. It's an enjoyable read and the science is impeccable. It's a truly objective account of Transcendental Meditation, from someone who really knows science. Every therapist and psychiatrist should read this, as well as anyone looking to become a better person and rise above stress, negativity, and self-doubt.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
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Posted June 19, 2011
In "Transcendence", Norman Rosenthal encapsulates in words both wise and clear his experience with, and understanding of, the Transcendental Meditation technique. Reading his careful review of the scientific research on TM in a variety of areas (stress, cardiovascular disease, depression, anxiety, etc.), it's striking to consider that a fundamentally simple and easy meditative practice can produce such a complex and widespread range of benefits for both mind and body.
My favorite parts of the book are those where he relates the personal experiences of people suffering from various conditions, and the results they experienced directly in their own lives after starting TM. While Rosenthal is careful to say that such stories indicate or point to the benefits of TM (rather than to prove them), he puts them in a broader context by citing the research studies in those areas.
Rosenthal is a doctor who listens to and learns from his patients. He tells us in the book that he learned the TM technique when young, then fell away from it. Later a patient of his, suffering from bipolar disorder, reported great results from TM and suggested that Rosenthal take it up again. He resumed his TM, and then delved into the hundreds of research studies conducted on the technique since he last paid it any attention. Now he regularly recommends it to patients in his practice.
Rosenthal is one of the discoverers of Seasonal Affective Disorder. These days it seems like an obvious thing. But it was brand new when he and his colleagues first figured it out, to everyone's benefit through light therapy, etc. Rosenthal applies this same uncommon common sense to the TM technique. His conclusions are well supported. This book is an authoritative review of the TM technique; it's well worth reading and heeding if you're interested in meditation in general or TM in particular.
2 out of 4 people found this review helpful.
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Posted June 11, 2011
I recommend this book to anyone interesting in improving their life and health, gaining relief from stress, or attaining inner peace. Norman Rosenthal, a veteran scientist at NIH with 30 years experience overseeing high-caliber research, writes about the experience of "transcendence" as a powerful way to overcome stress and stress-related disorders, while giving us a whole new understanding of the potentialities of our brain.
Dr. Rosenthal says, "If the Transcendental Meditation technique were a new prescription drug, conferring this many benefits, it would be a billion-dollar blockbuster."
The forward by Mehmet Oz, M.D., is surgically to the point: people need to read this book and find a way to relieve their stress, and TM is one proven, practical, effective and easy way to do that.
The book explores the scientific documentation of healing and transformation through TM practice, also also presents case studies and interviews with meditators such as Paul McCartney, Russell Brand, Martin Scorsese, Moby, Laura Dern and David Lynch. An interesting, insightful, enjoyable read.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted June 10, 2011
I've just ordered a copy, can't wait as it was highly recommended by friends as a great read.
1 out of 5 people found this review helpful.
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Posted April 18, 2013
I have decided to give myself a mantra and to share it with everyone, it shall be "ripped off"7
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted December 14, 2012
In the first paragraph or so, the author states that these techniques can only be learned with a qualified teacher - in person. So why did I buy the book? I stopped right there. B&N should give me a refund on this, but that ain't gonna happen. Robbery.
0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.umelk
Posted December 6, 2011
For those looking to better there lives with no long term fees or memberships, TM is the answer. If you are unsure about TM, this book is a must read. This book gives great insight, answers many common misconceptions about meditation, has stories of real life people and how it changed their lives. I had already started TM when Mario suggested i read this book. Reading this book helped round off the learning experience and give support to understand the changes happening in my life.
0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Posted July 13, 2011
Transcendence is really inspiring. I learned Transcendental meditation shortly before reading the book and TM has helped me immensely. I hope this book opens people's eyes to the possibility of changing their life for the better. I've seen firsthand the challenges that are associated with mental illness and the current paradigm. Dr. Rosenthal suggests an unconventional approach that could free many people with mental illness from simply "managing illness" to really making improvements and living normal life. It's true that this isn't a "how to book," so not the right purchase if that's what you're looking for. My experience with TM has been that most important in my growth has been my relationship with my teacher. I never would've had that if i had learned through a book. So props to Mr. Rosenthal for giving us the research and leaving the teaching to the teachers.
0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Posted August 10, 2011
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Posted July 10, 2011
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Posted July 8, 2011
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Posted May 18, 2011
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Posted May 24, 2011
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Overview
"Dr. Norman Rosenthal's Transcendence is the best-ever book on Transcendental Meditation: accessible and substantive, engaging and scientific, practical and profound. A very enjoyable read that can change your life, for good." - David Lynch
"I have been meditating for over 10 years, and I found Transcendence to be a uniquely compelling introduction to the art and science of Transcendental Meditation. Dr. Norman Rosenthal's book will propel TM ...