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  • Waking Up

  • By: Sam Harris
  • Narrated by: Sam Harris
  • Length: 5 hrs and 51 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (1,234 ratings)

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Waking Up

By: Sam Harris
Narrated by: Sam Harris
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Publisher's Summary

For the millions of people who want spirituality without religion, Sam Harris’ new book is a guide to meditation as a rational spiritual practice informed by neuroscience and psychology.

From best-selling author, neuroscientist, and "new atheist" Sam Harris, Waking Up is for the increasingly large numbers of people who follow no religion, but who suspect that Jesus, Buddha, Lao Tzu, Rumi, and the other saints and sages of history could not have all been epileptics, schizophrenics, or frauds. Throughout the book, Harris argues that there are important truths to be found in the experiences of such contemplatives - and, therefore, that there is more to understanding reality than science and secular culture generally allow.

Waking Up is part seeker’s memoir and part exploration of the scientific underpinnings of spirituality. No other book marries contemplative wisdom and modern science in this way, and no author other than Sam Harris - a scientist, philosopher, and famous sceptic - could write it.

©2014 Sam Harris (P)2014 Simon & Schuster, Inc. 2014, published in the UK by Random House Audiobooks

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  • sam
  • 10-03-2015

Great insight into the mind

A great insight into the mind using Harris' own personal experiences and science alike. Always enjoy a Sam Harris work.

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6 people found this helpful

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JJF

An interesting read but ultimately the thesis that consciousness is the truth that we must follow is unsubstantiated by science (as is the case with religion or concepts of an enduring self). The existence of feelings of disconnection from self while meditating or some change in functional brain testing during such states is insufficient to justify this premise. Harris’ methods to dismantle the validity of self are selective with the same principle not applied to notions of consciousness. These methods therefore exhibit bias. Finally his style, particularly early in the book is needlessly combative, arrogant and dogmatic. This suggests that Harris may need to do some more work on deconstructing his own sense of self. Taken together these observations lead me to the view that Harris’ conceptualisation of consciousness is itself a leap of faith. I find his narrative that this is not the case entirely unjustified. Ultimately the hope that science and rationalism can one day explain the infinite is in my view I’ll founded, arrogant and itself (ironically) illogical.

Despite all of this there are many interesting observations and arguments presented that provoke thought. It is also alway useful to read ideas that are counter to ones own and to reflect on this.

Harris’ delivery on Audible also adds significant value to the book in a way that I can quite articulate...

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Marrying the science with transcendence

Sam Harris has always been a favourite of mine, who has a driving need to bring logical and rationality to a subject that is most known for it lacking of. Loved the concluding chapter.

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  • Dan
  • 19-01-2016

A must read for atheists and religious alike

Harris eloquently articulates what I have experienced and known to be true for many years; that there is a profoundly beautiful and transcendent alternative to blind religious observance that is accessible to us all. To the religious and atheist alike, I say you owe it to your own wellbeing and the wellbeing of those around you to read and comprehend this book.

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Timely, insightful and compelling

Listening to Sam Harris's perspective on the need and nature of a secular consideration of spirituality was extremely positive and liberating. His style of address, the stories he chooses to tell and the stability of his arguments made this a very worthwhile and valuable experience.

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I needed a book like this.

I listened to this book in one day . It was both interesting and educational. This book has got me more interested in meditation and it's benefits.

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mind blown away

a must read for anyone looking to expand your minds view on this world we all live in

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Perfect!

As always, Sam Harris gives an incredibly moving and scientifically accurate depiction of reality on the basis of spirituality, from one of the most rational minds I've ever come across.

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Hard work but interesting

Sam is in no doubt a smart character however this book for your average self seeking punter may find it a touch laborious at times.

He also sat a little to on the fence for my liking.

Half way through and hopefully he has a strong landing

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Feels like a bit of a Break-up, rather than a Wake-up

...and in this case, definitely a - it’s not You, it’s Me kind of break-up. Because I’m not yet convinced of the primary assertion in this work that the Self is an illusion, and that’s probably on me.

I’m quite a fan of the ideas and intellectual honesty and effort of the author on his podcast and YouTube conversations. However I have come away from my second listen, perhaps in equal measure; a little awakened, a bit disturbed, certainly confused.

Hard yards of persistent rational argument for a seemingly invisible but yet ever-present and apparently instantly accessible true-r perspective on life; based in part on the illusion of the Self...

I’ll go back for a third listen, but like some Tibetan pilgrimage, it’s a lot of time and effort to arrive in a place I’m not convinced exists.

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