The Relaxation Response

Rating:
Summary: Excellent and Easy to Put Into Practice
Review: Truly a remarkable book. I'd been curious about meditation for years and it was Benson's book that finally got me to sit down and do it. I didn't understand what he was talking about -- all the science and stuff -- and my sleep has suffered tremendously. I cut out coffee, but still, after practicing these techniques I can now only get about 1-2 hours of sleep at the most. You can just imagine what this did for me. Yee gads. I feel more relaxed and at peace, something traditional religion had never given me. My co-workers have noticed a definite difference, and I've only been at it for a few years. My most recent employee evaluation was not a good one. I'm not sure if it's related, but my skin dried up soon after I began meditating. It's almost spooky how rapidly things begin to change. I'm definitely going to continue!

Rating:
Summary: Relaxation Response Book in 2004
Review: While I have read the book, I can only imagine and possibly agree that it was a monumental breakthrough of research and findings when it was first published.

Upon reading it from a Year 2004 perspective, I found the first half of the book dealt ONLY with the medical aspects of stress on a person. It is not until you get to the SECOND half of the book, that it introductions relaxation techniques.

In addition, the stress factors they cite (divorce, loss of job, death in the family, new child, etc.) are out of date in terms of the ratings scale that was used in the year the book first was published.

NOT necessarily an easy read, but has merit, if you keep it in a time perspective.