Finding Serenity in the Age of Anxiety

by Robert Gerzon

Offers a mind/body approach to coping with the anxieties and stresses of modern life, drawing on elements of psychology, philosophy, and spirituality to explore three different types of anxiety and to explain how readers can find true purpose and peace in their lives

Genres: Nonfiction, Psychology

Hardcover

First published March 1, 1997

Reviews

[Jay Booth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Main Takeaways
Toxic, natural, and sacred anxiety
Toxic anxiety=unhealthy hopelessness/self-doubt. Has its roots in our past, unresolved traumas/natural/sacred anxieties from stuffing down. Often manifests in obsessing about everyday things like traffic. The mind prefers self-created anxieties about being overweight or the future than facing what we're really worried about
Natural anxiety=realistic fears of everyday life, useful
Sacred anxiety=existential angst/meaning, fear of death, naturally formless questions
Embrace anxiety as a path towards growth, diagnosis as purely chemical = prevents finding meaning in it.
Eventually, serenity starts to come (not the absence of anxiety)
Overall great book that is extremely practical, I think I reached enlightenment in the last chapter

[Sheila · Rating 4 out of 5]

This potentially life-changing book is not a current read for me, but I am remembering it now because someone in my life needs it. It was an eye opener for me to think of anxiety as not necessarily a bad thing, depending on the particular KIND of anxiety, as the author categorizes three kinds . . . natural, toxic, and sacred. I'm glad this book was there when I needed it and I recommend it highly as we certainly do live in an age of anxiety.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

The publishing house should’ve asked the author to write this book based on the last chapters alone. There’s not much new under the sun in the earlier chapters, but he really hit his stride on the mystery of death and that specific anxiety.

He has done an excellent, gentle job of touring the reader through how a patient reached a place of serenity and grace in her battle with cancer. There’s more to tell there. The writer should’ve been steered to mine that. The rest is just Anxiety 101.

[Pamala · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked some of the ideas presented in this book (I did the audiobook version), but didn't find it as inspiring or engaging as I had hoped. I think it does do a great job at defining anxiety and I love the idea of sacred anxiety.

[Jenn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book to help teach mondern day society to understand the toxic thoughts....
great self help

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting, but the last chapter was the best.

[Bridget Thomas · Rating 1 out of 5]

I had one takeaway from this book: some anxiety is good, turn it into the energy you need to accomplish something. The rest of it is new age, all religions are right, God does not judge, we are all achieving a higher plane through anxiety, bull hockey.