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Meditations for Mortals

The instant Sunday Times bestseller that will change your life

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Meditations for Mortals

By: Oliver Burkeman
Narrated by: Oliver Burkeman
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About this listen

Brought to you by Penguin.

Stop trying to sort your life out. Start living.

Our lives can feel defined by the struggle with overwhelm, endless decisions and striving to be productive. Wouldn’t it be good to stop doing all that? What if we could find freedom – and get more of the important things done – by embracing our limitations, and by letting things happen instead of forcing them?

Meditations for Mortals begins with the reality in which we actually find ourselves, not with fantasies of an ideal existence. Reflecting on ideas from philosophy, religion, psychology and self-help, it offers us a powerful and practical new way to do what counts: a guiding outlook Oliver Burkeman calls ‘imperfectionism’.

This book is a profound and liberating crash course in living more fully. It overturns much familiar advice and opens a gateway to a saner, freer and more enchantment-filled life.

‘Full of wisdom and comfort' CHRIS VAN TULLEKEN

‘A practical path toward personal transformation… A must-read' CAL NEWPORT

'If there are two people who have changed my life...then one of them is Oliver Burkeman' PANDORA SYKES

'Oliver Burkeman has a way of giving you the most unexpected productivity advice exactly when you need it’ MARK MANSON
© Oliver Burkeman 2024 (P) Penguin Audio 2024

 Alternative & Complementary Medicine Best of 2024 Buddhism Meditation Personal Development Personal Success Philosophy Psychology Psychology & Mental Health Spirituality

Critic reviews

Thoughtful, level-headed and useful ... a book to meditate upon
I'm sceptical about self-help - but a four-week 'mind retreat' changed me ... [Meditations for Mortals] teems with good sense, sensibly dispensed
A bracing read ... I'd bet that his audience will finish it in one sitting ... uplifting
Illuminating ... Burkeman's insight [is] always clear-eyed and jargon-free ... reassuring and constructive
Full of wise advice on not getting overburdened by work
Life-changing
Oliver Burkeman has a way of giving you the most unexpected productivity advice exactly when you need it (Mark Manson, author of The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck)
Full of wisdom and comfort. I enjoyed every page and read it in a single sitting. This is a really important book about embracing truth and reality (Chris van Tulleken, author of Ultra-Processed People)
A very special book. We should all read this - for the sake of our aching world as well as the state of our souls (Krista Tippett, author of Becoming Wise)
A practical path towards personal transformation. A must-read (Cal Newport, author of Slow Productivity)
All stars
Most relevant
I admire Burkeman’s wit, candour and his clear and perfectly paced delivery of his well crafted words. He makes it accessible and easy to listen to in one sitting (despite it being split into daily sections). I’ve enjoyed listening to this audiobook twice now, each time finding new poignancy.
It’s fortunately neither patronising nor “being clever”. It’s a delightful and engaging set of contemporary musings from a journalist who I would happily invite to the dinner table as someone with interesting stories and life experiences.
Worth a listen at least once.

Refreshingly honest wisdom beautifully put and presented

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Love everything about this book. Must read. I can’t recommend it enough. So down to earth and uplifting at the same time.

The best guide ever received!

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This was a really brilliant book. It has made me look again at so many things that have been making my life horribly stressful, overwhelming, and on hold, waiting for the day when I would finally have time. A life changer in a really simple and effective way.

A fascinating listen to really help navigate life

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It was easy to listen to. Love his voice. I enjoyed the quotes, makes me want to delve deeper into research, but also reminded of the simplicity of things. If only we let go more and give life a chance.

The gems of wisdom.

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Full of reality checks that reminded me I don’t need to try and be prefect before my true life begins. Practical sound advice for living day to day in the now.

Reality check

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