Do Breathe by Michael Townsend Williams Summary
Overview of Do Breathe
In "Do Breathe," former advertising exec turned mindfulness guru Michael Townsend Williams reveals how conscious breathing transforms productivity without sacrificing wellbeing. Endorsed by Calm's CEO as "a great little book about something we do 600 million times in our life but rarely think about."
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Key takeaways
When a Song About Breathing Became a Wake-Up Call
A pop song playing in a Malaysian nightclub shouldn't change your life. But when "Every Breath You Take" echoed through the speakers, Michael Townsend Williams broke down. His younger brother Jonathan had just died at 31, falling from his apartment balcony. That moment shattered everything-his career in advertising, his relationship with alcohol, his entire understanding of what mattered. Years later, Williams would become a mindfulness teacher whose slim book sits on Emma Watson's and Arianna Huffington's shelves. The irony isn't lost: a song about obsessive surveillance became the soundtrack to awakening. Sometimes we need tragedy to notice what's been there all along-our breath, quietly keeping us alive, waiting to teach us how to truly live. You've breathed about 600 million times in your life without thinking about it. Your breath operates on autopilot, yet it's the only bodily system you can consciously control. This makes it uniquely powerful-a bridge between your racing thoughts and physical tension. Here's what most of us miss: we've forgotten how to breathe. Watch a baby sleep and you'll see their belly rise and fall, air flowing through their nose in a perfect rhythm. Now notice yourself reading this-chances are you're breathing shallowly from your chest, possibly through your mouth, maybe even holding your breath slightly. We've developed dysfunctional patterns that keep us stressed, scattered, and disconnected.
The Science of Breath and the Biology of Stress
Organizing Your Life to Reclaim Your Attention
Cultivating Courage and Breaking Through Limiting Beliefs
Mindfulness and the Power of Present-Moment Awareness
Energy Management and the Foundation of Sustainable Performance
Focus, Flow, and the Integration of Being and Doing
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"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"
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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