Open: Living with an Expansive Mind in a Distracted World

by Nate Klemp

A New York Times bestselling author shares a powerful new approach for living in a distracted and divided world with greater engagement, freedom, and openness. With the avalanche of information we get every day, closing down our minds and hearts seems to be the only way to survive. We close down to our inner experience by compulsively checking our devices. We close down to others by getting caught in echo chambers of outrage. But what if there’s another way? What if being more open to life is actually what brings us sanity and happiness? In this climate of distraction and division, Nate Klemp’s Open offers a path back to a way of living that is expansive, creative, and filled with wonder. Drawing on new science, age-old practices, and personal stories, Klemp examines why we close down when faced with stressors or threats, then reveals how we can train ourselves to open up to the fullness that life offers—even when frightened, outraged, or heartbroken. Join him to • The uniquely modern challenges that make closing down easier and more tempting than ever• Experiential stories of psychedelic-assisted therapy, opening to political adversaries, meditation, and other tools for opening the mind• The Three Shifts of Opening—how to break the habit of mind wandering, approach instead of withdraw, and enlarge the size of your perspective• The Open Toolkit—a treasury of meditations, investigations, and habit-changing practices to open your mind Expanding the size of the mind may sound subtle —yet the results can utterly transform our lives. “When we open to life,” says Klemp, “we’re no longer stuck in here fighting against our thoughts on the inside or a crazed world on the outside. We’re connected. Our minds and lives get bigger. There’s more room, more perspective, more possibility. This is what it means to be free.”

Genres: Nonfiction, Psychology, Self Help, Philosophy, Mental Health

235 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 13, 2024

About the author

Nate Klemp, PhD, is a bestselling author and formally trained philosopher. He is the author of the new book OPEN: Living With an Expansive Mind in a Distracted World. Nate is also the coauthor of the New York Times Editors’ Choice The 80/80 Marriage: A New Model for a Happier, Stronger Marriage and the New York Times Bestseller Start Here: Master the Lifelong Habit of Wellbeing.

He has been featured in The LA Times, The New York Times, The Times London and has appeared on Good Morning America and Talks at Google. Nate cofounded the mindfulness training company Life Cross Training and holds a B.A. and M.A. in philosophy from Stanford University and a PhD from Princeton University.

Reviews

[Max · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was actually very different from what I expteced! Reading the blurb, I thought this was going to be just another standard self help meditation book. But it's definitely much more! The author's personal journey in "opening up" was really nice to read, not so standard. I found the tips at the end helpful and I will definitely be using them from now on.

Thank you so much to the author, publisher and NetGalley for an ARC to read & review. These are my honest opinions.

[enchantingprose · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kudos on it being a short read. Basically reworded jargon on escapism and being present. Seems very midlife crisis memoir.

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5ish

I received this book from a Goodreads Giveaway and wasn’t really sure what to expect. Luckily, it ended up falling into my hands at a perfect time. I was feeling a bit more anxious and distracted with the hustle of daily life and feeling motivated to return to what was a consistent yoga, meditation, and mindfulness practice. At the same time, I found myself with a weekend without consistent access to wifi or cell service. Ready-or-not, I was forced to reconnect with the slow simplicity of tech-free (okay, minimal tech) living.

The author describes his journey of obtaining an expansive mind. This is mostly told through his own personal experience, although he does reference conversations with monks and other experts along the way. I would have liked additional information to back up his experiences such as references to studies and perspectives from “regular” people (the author makes a living from philosophy and mindfulness).

The author’s privilege as a white, cis-man (he acknowledges this briefly), allows him to more safely engage in activities that many minority groups don’t have access to. From walking into a room filled with loaded guns to meditating in public spaces, his choices allow him to expand his mind in ways that may put others at risk.

Although you won’t find me meditating in a grocery store, this book did inspire me to clear my phone from unnecessary apps and drastically reduce my notifications. His chapter on ketamine use reaffirmed what I believe to be true about psychedelic healing and his desire to engage with the other political side provided a compelling perspective.

This book is great for considering what it’s like to live more simply, with more personal insight, and better community connection. He brings to light the American perspective of “the pursuit of happiness” and rightly challenges the common thought that humans should strive to always be happy and calm. I didn’t necessarily learn anything new, as I have had consistent yoga and meditation practices in the past, but overall I thought it was insightful with an important message in our individualistic, tech-driven world.

[Barbara · Rating 2 out of 5]

Even though I believe Nate has a deep passion for the topic of openness, this book reads like a project for a publisher, like work, and lacks vulnerability.

I will say that today when I vacuumed my car, I tried to be mindful. I listened to clashing country music played from the car wash against a pop song coming from a nearby vehicle.I listened to the little tinkle noises of the gravel and dirt getting sucked up against the nozzle of the vacuum. I took in the faded blue of my carpets and the holes and wear. I found myself breathing and vacuuming without being my usual neurotic self. I just was present with the task and it was quite pleasant. The song playing from the carwash speakers -Looking for love in all the wrong places - maybe a better way of getting at the heart of what this book is about.

I really wanted to be more open and like this book. The chapter with Beaglegate was pretty good. The street meditation topic and his trip to the ER made me laugh. If it was his kid in the ER or something actually personally traumatic this would have been a really interesting chapter. Dear Lord, what a fool about his gum surgery. Ew.

Since I really didn't enjoy this book, does that mean I am closed-minded? Oh well.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nate Klemp's insights resonate deeply as he delves into the profound impact of distraction on our daily lives and the importance of cultivating a mindset of curiosity and compassion.

One of the book's greatest strengths lies in Klemp's ability to dissect attention's intricate anatomy and the pervasive grip of digital distractions. Through thought-provoking discussions, he illustrates the interconnectedness between burnout and distraction, urging readers to make profound shifts in how they experience the world around them.

As someone who values personal growth and mindfulness, I found "Open" to be a captivating read that left a lasting impression. Klemp's writing is both insightful and accessible, making this book a valuable resource for anyone seeking to cultivate a more open-minded and intentional approach to life.

I highly recommend "Open" to readers of all backgrounds. Whether you're navigating the complexities of modern life or simply looking to deepen your understanding of yourself and the world around you, this book offers invaluable wisdom and guidance.

[kyphamus · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book hit me 'in the right place, at the right time'. I came across it randomly on the bookshelf at my library and I'm thankful I picked it up. Like most of us, I battle screen addiction - and I have started to reflect on this a lot more as a Father. Klemp provides practical and well researched advise on how to get a more 'Open' mind. Thinking you have a "Closed" mind may make you defensive, but I love Klemp's example that a closed mind is like being in a Four Seasons Suite. It is comfortable, easy to get lost in, and small. This book has encouraged me to approach life being more open to the 'uncomfortable' moments. This isn't a pursuit of trying to have every moment free of pain and discomfort. It is about being present in this world and open to all it has to offer.

Also - I was surprisingly captivated by his analysis of psychedelic assisted therapy. This has been something that has always made me feel uncomfortable but I believe Klemp's approach is the right one. We need to stop stigmatizing what can be genuinely helpful in certain circumstances.

[Nikki Knox · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read little parts of this book over time because I thought of it more as a refresher or reminder of the posture I want to take in the world and it’s not the kind of a book I would read start to finish. I really like the stories that he shared for each chapter and I’m impressed with the things that he did to push himself to be more open-minded, like going to a gun safety training. The part that I found less helpful was the tips because they were too generic. I wish they had been more specific or directed to specific resources such as an example of a specific meditation to do in the mornings to start the day more open-minded. But I know there’s plenty of other resources out there like Insight Timer and such.

[Jorge Torrens · Rating 3 out of 5]

I find it difficult to rate this book as I'm not yet sure how to classify it. One the one hand it seems, or I expected a book to learn how to become more open, but instead it's more about the authors journey to experiment with openness. About what he has been discovering and even his final conclusions. Which is also fine and interesting as he has been very brave in some aspects and the recording and descriptions are precise and interesting.
Perhaps you can not cover everything in one book so the teaching and practicing for readers felt in my opinion short.

[Sarah-jane Ward · Rating 3 out of 5]

ARC from Netgalley

Open wrote by Nate Klemp was alot different from what i expected reading blub I was expecting this to be another self-help meditation book it was definitely more though. Klemp talks about his personal journey in opening up and had some helpful insights with the tips at the end.

[Sequella Coleman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting Information

[Carolyn Bowman · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very good overview of meditation, letting go of distractions, developing habits. Enjoyable and practical.

[Angi Thorstenson · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded up to 4

[Aryn · Rating 2 out of 5]

You could re-title this to "I'm in my 40s and am having a midlife crisis about how much my anxiety has held me back in life."

It's mostly the author just... trying new things?

He decided to do something really scary- he talked to conservatives, oh no.... Nate, some of us talk to conservatives every time we go home for Thanksgiving.

I don't want to completely knock the book. It's a fine Mindfullness 101, just... you could read a summary and skip all the anecdotes.