Comments on: Help me find inner peace through my Ipod

Question: Help me find inner peace through my Ipod

Otis — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 05:47:49 -0800

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!

By: toastchee

toastchee — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 05:59:06 -0800

I recommend The Power of Now, by Eckardht Tolle. Available on iTunes also...

By: craven_morhead

craven_morhead — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 05:59:45 -0800

If you're up to improvement on a wider scale, I enjoyed Obama's Audacity of Hope. Especially since he reads it.

By: RussHy

RussHy — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 06:17:56 -0800

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.

By: Mouse Army

Mouse Army — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 06:50:30 -0800

I've enjoyed listening to the the Dalai Lama's Art of Happiness on long trips.

By: dkippe

dkippe — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 06:52:13 -0800

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/

By: mattbucher

mattbucher — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 07:20:08 -0800

I would highly recommend David Foster Wallace's Consider the Lobster. The title essay (50 mins) is free.

By: desjardins

desjardins — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 07:49:39 -0800

Not a book, but the Zencast podcast has been transformational for me.

By: beerbajay

beerbajay — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 07:53:45 -0800

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.

By: lovejones

lovejones — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 08:18:26 -0800

The free Alan Watts podcasts on itunes are great.

By: krisak

krisak — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 08:44:36 -0800

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.

By: dixie flatline

dixie flatline — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 09:03:10 -0800

You can find audio lectures by the Dalai Lama and other Tibetan Buddhists here: LamRim.com.

By: *s

*s — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 09:10:58 -0800

David Sedaris!

By: grumblebee

grumblebee — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 09:20:57 -0800

I love Sedaris, but how is his stuff "self-improvement"? Has he written some stuff I don't know about?

By: Fairchild

Fairchild — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 09:29:37 -0800

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.

By: vaguelyweird

vaguelyweird — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 09:47:11 -0800

Thich Nhat Hanh?

By: chicainthecity

chicainthecity — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 10:15:58 -0800

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.

By: turbodog

turbodog — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 10:53:10 -0800

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.

By: fidelity

fidelity — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 12:23:21 -0800

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.