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Counterclockwise: Mindful Health and the Power of Possibility
by
Ellen Langer
If we could turn back the clock psychologically, could we also turn it back physically? For more than thirty years, award-winning social psychologist Ellen Langer has studied this provocative question, and now, in Counterclockwise, she presents the answer: Opening our minds to what’s possible, instead of presuming impossibility, can lead to better health–at any age.
Drawin...more
Drawin...more
Hardcover, 240 pages
Published
May 19th 2009
by Ballantine Books
(first published January 1st 2009)
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I was curious to know more about the "counterclockwise" experiment Langer ran -- bringing elderly men together, prompting them to act like it was still the 50s, and then finding that their physical health improved after the experiment. So that was interesting, yes, and Langer cites all kinds of interesting psychological studies. But I can't help but wonder why the social psychologists don't seem to be in conversation with the critical theorists, cultural studies folks, or feminists. Al...more
I think this book has interesting and important messages, but it is a bit repetitive on making the key points. Some areas explored include (1) being mindful of our health as a continuum and not a binary condition of "healthy" or "ill", (2) being careful of labels and the mechanical approach to medicine that doesn't recognize individuality, (3) not taking diagnoses and prognoses as 100% reliable, and (4) the effects of priming on setting our expectations for aging, rather tha...more
This book stretches your perceptions of possibility for the ways people look at their health. For example, reading an eye chart from top to bottom causes people to be able to read fewer lines than if it were reorganized so that they were first trying to read small letters and working up to bigger ones. Apparently, this may be due to the different ways our brains interpret an imminent barrier as opposed to an imminent opportunity. Dr. Langer goes through decades of psychological research looki...more
An absolutely amazing book that provides new perspectives on aging, mindset, perception, and our personal influence over our life experiences. As a music therapist & yoga instructor, I found the theoretical basis for her theories sound, and am encouraged by her scientific approach to researching how our perceptions shape our health. Her clear definition of mindfulness, loosely paraphrased here as "the simple process of actively noticing distinctions" is one of the best explanations I'v...more
I don't think that Langer's writing style is the most gripping but I appreciate the information that this book has to offer and I think it can begin a conversation that we can have with ourselves around age and how we choose to engage with it.
This book has an important message. The first chapter discusses some really important ideas. There are tidbits through out that are very interesting but it isn't the best read.
A short read containing some v. interesting reports of social psychological experiments with thought-provoking implications. Writing isn't especially engaging; somewhat repetitious, too.
Fantastic subject matter and one of the most Buddhist-centric medical books I've read. Though it is highly repetitious and never excels beyond its initial point. Still, I'd highly recommend taking a glance through it.
Book has interesting insights about recognizing how health is contextual and that by recognizing degrees of personal heath improvement, one can improve one's health. This concept is repeated throughout the book which is why I did not give this book 5 stars.
Nothing new for me here.
Interesting topic. Understanding our ability to exchange our own (mis)beliefs to ones which suit us better can serve us well.
Fantastic book!
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