The Stress-free Habit: Powerful Techniques for Health & Longevity from the Andes, Yucatan & the Far East

by John Perkins

To achieve material success in a technologically advanced society, it may be necessary to subject yourself to a great deal of stress. However, it is not necessary to “stay tense.” The president of Independent Power Systems International, John Perkins manages large-scale projects aimed at conserving energy and improving the environment. The Stress-Free Habit is the result of his twenty years of experience as a management consultant to governmental organizations and businesses in countries as diverse as Ecuador, Indonesia, Egypt, Mexico, Iran, and Saudi Arabia. The author points out that stress is all around us and, while it is often useful and even essential, it can also be extremely harmful. While other cultures incorporate very specific methods of stress management as part of their daily routines, such methods are noticeably absent from the fabric of modern Western culture.Perkins emphasizes that we can--and should--seek out these techniques wherever they are to be found and put them into practice in our own lives. Throughout his travels and contacts with a variety of native cultures, the author has observed and integrated traditional practices that have enabled him and his co-workers to manage stress effectively and achieve high levels of success. The Stress-Free Habit consolidates this practical wisdom in a simple easy-to-follow eight-step program. Those who practice it experience physical and psychological benefits, including elimination of alcohol and drug abuse, insomnia, headache, diarrhea, and nervous disorders, as well as a lower probability of heart attack. The principles of The Stress-Free Habit come to life in tales of remarkable encounters with individuals who have mastered the art of creative living. Their stories are a testament to techniques of stress management that can help you live a longer, more relaxed, and more productive life.

Genres: Self Help

104 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1989

About the author

John Perkins is an activist and author. As a former chief economist at Boston strategic-consulting firm Chas. T. Main, Perkins says that he was an "economic hit man" for 10 years, helping U.S. intelligence agencies and multinational corporations cajole and blackmail foreign leaders into serving U.S. foreign policy and awarding lucrative contracts to American business.

However, after several years struggling internally over the role he was playing in crippling foreign economies, he quit his consulting job. In the 1980s Perkins founded and directed a successful independent energy company, which he subsequently sold. Since then he has been heavily involved with non-profit organizations in Ecuador and around the world. He continues this work today, in addition to his writing.

His new book, Confessions of an Economic Hitman, 3rd Edition: China’s EHM Strategy; Ways to Stop the Global Takeover, a follow-up to international best-seller Confessions of an Economic Hit Man, will be released on February 28th, 2023.

Reviews

[Sam Torode · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm reading my way through all of John Perkins' books... This was his first, and it's a little gem. A unique introduction to meditation techniques from a South American perspective. All of his books are well worth reading...

[Lyna M. Perez · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read other books by him and became intrigued when I found out about this one. It is a blend of memoir and self-help. The first chapter includes research on stress. The subsequent chapters are about places he went to, what happened, and how he obtained advice from someone in that country. The last chapter is the self-help portion on how to implement the advice given in the stories. Overall, I am glad I read it. The advice is simple yet profound.