Altered Traits by Daniel Goleman and Richard J. Davidson Summary
Overview of Altered Traits
Beyond meditation hype, "Altered Traits" distills 6,000 studies into science-backed revelations. Endorsed by Arianna Huffington, this guide reveals how consistent practice rewires your brain. What if 60 minutes of meditation could permanently transform your neural pathways?
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What If Your Brain Could Be Permanently Rewired for Calm?
On September 11, 2001, Lieutenant Colonel Steve Z survived the Pentagon attack only because falling debris shielded him from a fireball. Though physically intact, his mind fractured-nightmares, hypervigilance, rage. Classic PTSD. Years of therapy barely touched it. Then he discovered mindfulness meditation, and something shifted. Not a cure, but something more profound: his brain began to change. Steve's journey captures meditation's modern promise-stress relief, better focus, emotional balance. But here's what most people miss: these benefits represent just the surface, what researchers call the "wide path." Beneath lies the "deep path," meditation's original aim-not temporary calm, but permanent transformation. Can sitting quietly actually rewire your brain? Can fleeting peaceful states become enduring peaceful traits? After decades of rigorous neuroscience, the answer is yes. But the real story is far more nuanced than the mindfulness hype suggests.
The Scientific Revolution Nobody Believed Could Happen
The Problem With Most Meditation Research and How Science Got Better
How Meditation Rewires Your Stress Response, Sharpens Attention, and Transforms Pain
The Neuroscience of Compassion: From Feeling to Doing
When Meditation Meets Medicine: Real Benefits, Real Limits
The Yogi's Brain: What 62,000 Hours of Meditation Looks Like and Your Mind's Hidden Potential
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"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
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