Help me find inner peace through my Ipod

November 20, 2008 5:47 AM

Please help me achieve inner peace on my morning commute. Looking for audio book recommendations.

I've found that listening to self-improvement audio books on my daily commute really helps cut down the amount of stress and road rage I experience. This is a good thing for myself, my family, my co-workers, my fellow travelers on the road and pretty much all of the central Ohio area. However, I'm running out of books and would like some suggestions for new titles...please save us all.

Are there any audio books that have had a real transformational effect on you? Titles that you recommend to everyone you know? Titles you return to for inspiration?

To give you an idea of the kind of thing I might be looking for, I just finished listening to "Happiness" by Matthieu Ricard. I like that Ricard has a scientific background and brings a "matter-of-fact" approach to his work. I also like the more informal, lecture style of delivery rather than someone who just sits down and reads their book. Thanks everyone!

posted by Otis to religion & philosophy (18 comments total)

I recommend The Power of Now, by Eckardht Tolle. Available on iTunes also...
posted by toastchee at 5:59 AM on November 20, 2008

If you're up to improvement on a wider scale, I enjoyed Obama's Audacity of Hope. Especially since he reads it.
posted by craven_morhead at 5:59 AM on November 20, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]

One book that relieved commute-induced my road rage problem was Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. Not exactly self-improvement, but very engrossing and I did feel better after my daily fix.
posted by RussHy at 6:17 AM on November 20, 2008

I've enjoyed listening to the the Dalai Lama's Art of Happiness on long trips.
posted by Mouse Army at 6:50 AM on November 20, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]

Oddly, when I first read your question it was immediately followed by an ad for Dr. Wayne Dyer's stuff. www.nightingale.com/WayneDyer_Audio . He's got hours and hours of stuff out there, I've listened to most of it. Sometimes he's repetitative, but his style is great and he easily becomes a friend. His thrust is 'Self Improvement, Power of Attraction' stuff. Can't recall titles at this moment, but "Nine Laws of Manifestation" is close to one of the titles.
Similar to that is anything from Hay House. www.hayhouse.com/
posted by dkippe at 6:52 AM on November 20, 2008

I would highly recommend David Foster Wallace's Consider the Lobster. The title essay (50 mins) is free.
posted by mattbucher at 7:20 AM on November 20, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]

Not a book, but the Zencast podcast has been transformational for me.
posted by desjardins at 7:49 AM on November 20, 2008 [2 favorites has favorites]

My definition of self improvement encompasses pretty much anything put out by The Teaching Company, from whom I would recommend in particular the American History lectures.
posted by beerbajay at 7:53 AM on November 20, 2008 [2 favorites has favorites]

The free Alan Watts podcasts on itunes are great.
posted by lovejones at 8:18 AM on November 20, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]

It might not be exactly what you're looking for, but I listened to Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance on a long trip once. I found it enjoyable and relatively peace inducing.
posted by krisak at 8:44 AM on November 20, 2008

You can find audio lectures by the Dalai Lama and other Tibetan Buddhists here: LamRim.com.
posted by dixie flatline at 9:03 AM on November 20, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]

David Sedaris!
posted by *s at 9:10 AM on November 20, 2008

I love Sedaris, but how is his stuff "self-improvement"? Has he written some stuff I don't know about?
posted by grumblebee at 9:20 AM on November 20, 2008

Maya Angelou makes you feel good.

I recently listened to The Law of Attraction, Plain and Simple... It is basic, but a very positive and pleasant way to pass time.
posted by Fairchild at 9:29 AM on November 20, 2008

Thich Nhat Hanh?
posted by vaguelyweird at 9:47 AM on November 20, 2008

Since no one else has done it yet, I'll make the obligatory Pema Chodron recommendation. I think most of her books are available in audio form.
posted by chicainthecity at 10:15 AM on November 20, 2008

beerbajay said exactly what I wanted to say. In addition to the Teaching Company, there is a similar line of audiobooks from The Modern Scholar.

Also, check out your local public library for any audiobook CDs and tapes that they might have.
posted by turbodog at 10:53 AM on November 20, 2008

The Alan Watts lectures are great, and huge quantities are available in various places on the internet.

The Teaching Company is wonderful if your definition of self-improvement includes general learning. Robert Solomon's Passions: The Philosophy and Intelligence of Emotions profoundly changed my understanding and appreciation of emotions.
posted by fidelity at 12:23 PM on November 20, 2008