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Counterclockwise: Mindful Health and the Power of Possibility
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.
Drawing on landmark work in the field and her own body of colorful and highly original experiments–including the first detailed discussion of her “counterclockwise” study, in which elderly men lived for a week as though it was 1959 and showed dramatic improvements in their hearing, memory, dexterity, appetite, and general well-being–Langer shows that the magic of rejuvenation and ongoing good health lies in being aware of the ways we mindlessly react to social and cultural cues. Examining the hidden decisions and vocabulary that shape the medical world (“chronic” versus “acute,” “cure” versus “remission”), the powerful physical effects of placebos, and the intricate but often defeatist ways we define our physical health, Langer challenges the idea that the limits we assume and impose on ourselves are real. With only subtle shifts in our thinking, in our language, and in our expectations, she tells us, we can begin to change the ingrained behaviors that sap health, optimism, and vitality from our lives. Improved vision, younger appearance, weight loss, and increased longevity are just four of the results that Langer has demonstrated.
Immensely readable and riveting, Counterclockwise offers a transformative and bold new paradigm: the psychology of possibility. A hopeful and groundbreaking book by an author who has changed how people all over the world think and feel, Counterclockwise is sure to join Mindfulness as a standard source on new-century science and healing.
Drawing on landmark work in the field and her own body of colorful and highly original experiments–including the first detailed discussion of her “counterclockwise” study, in which elderly men lived for a week as though it was 1959 and showed dramatic improvements in their hearing, memory, dexterity, appetite, and general well-being–Langer shows that the magic of rejuvenation and ongoing good health lies in being aware of the ways we mindlessly react to social and cultural cues. Examining the hidden decisions and vocabulary that shape the medical world (“chronic” versus “acute,” “cure” versus “remission”), the powerful physical effects of placebos, and the intricate but often defeatist ways we define our physical health, Langer challenges the idea that the limits we assume and impose on ourselves are real. With only subtle shifts in our thinking, in our language, and in our expectations, she tells us, we can begin to change the ingrained behaviors that sap health, optimism, and vitality from our lives. Improved vision, younger appearance, weight loss, and increased longevity are just four of the results that Langer has demonstrated.
Immensely readable and riveting, Counterclockwise offers a transformative and bold new paradigm: the psychology of possibility. A hopeful and groundbreaking book by an author who has changed how people all over the world think and feel, Counterclockwise is sure to join Mindfulness as a standard source on new-century science and healing.
240 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2009
225 people are currently reading
2254 people want to read
About the author
Ellen J. Langer
43 books295 followersEllen Langer, Yale PhD, Harvard Professor of Psychology, artist. Among other honors, she is the recipient of a Guggenheim Fellowship and three Distinguished Scientist Awards, the World Congress Award, the NYU Alumni Achievement Award, and the Staats award for Unifying Psychology, and has authored eleven books and over 200 research articles on the illusion of control, perceived control, successful aging, decision-making, to name a few of the topics. Each of these is examined through the lens of her theory of mindfulness. Her research has demonstrated that by actively noticing new things—the essence of mindfulness—health, well being, and competence follow. Her best selling books include Mindfulness; The Power of Mindful Learning; On Becoming an Artist: Reinventing Yourself Through Mindful Creativity; and her most recent book, Counterclockwise: Mindful Health and the Power of Possibility.
In addition to other honors, she has been a guest lecturer in Japan, Malaysia, Germany, Australia, Mexico, Switzerland, and Argentina.
The citation for the APA distinguished contributions award reads, in part, “…her pioneering work revealed the profound effects of increasing mindful behavior…and offers new hope to millions whose problems were previously seen as unalterable and inevitable. Ellen Langer has demonstrated repeatedly how our limits are of our own making.”
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 101 reviews
February 23, 2015
Dr. Langer is a skilled and talented psychologist with an excellent reputation and has made significant contributions to psychology. This makes it all the more surprising that I found the book to seem more like an informercial for 'natural cures'. Her premise that you can 'turn back the clock' and fight off the ravages of aging by practicing mindfulness. She bases this approach on a study done where a group of elderly people were place in a 1959 environment for 1 week and supposedly had physical improvements in hearing, seeing and other categories. She does not provide much detail on this study so it's hard to actually judge how much you should believe it. For instance, how many people in the study; the actual changes in these characteristics; if the improvements were permanent; if it was really the 1959 environment or would any well organized, fun retreat (eg a cruise) yield the same result (eg there was no control group)? Nonetheless, this study serves as her spring board into the use of mindfulness to mediate the effects of aging. Her logic is demonstrated whe she states that if she found one monkey that said one word, she would take that as a sign that all monkeys could speak under the right conditions. It is an odd presentation and belief for someone so accomplished in her field. Her achievement in the 80's and 90's were very meaningful but that those accomplishments don't make this approach more believable. Although there may be something to her beliefs, they were not presented in a convincing manner to me.
Please leave room in my criticism for the fact that I am a 'traditional' scientist who likes to see studies clearly, and unambiguosly answer a hypothesis. My comments are NOT against the benefits of mindfulness. My criticism is the way in which this book supports it.
Please leave room in my criticism for the fact that I am a 'traditional' scientist who likes to see studies clearly, and unambiguosly answer a hypothesis. My comments are NOT against the benefits of mindfulness. My criticism is the way in which this book supports it.
August 24, 2012
I can't speak to the science in this book, but I can say that it made me more aware of things that cue my opinions and prime my thinking about aging, disease, and depression. So, five stars for waking up my brain.
February 22, 2022
"We don’t see things as they are, we see them as we are..."
—Anaïs Nin
Counter Clockwise was an incredibly thought-provoking and eye-opening look into the power of the mind; expectations, and presumptions. Reading this book should have you deeply questioning the nature of the stories we are told; both by others, as well as ourselves.
Author Ellen J. Langer is the author of more than two hundred research articles and eleven books, including the international bestseller Mindfulness, which has been translated into fifteen languages.
A member of the psychology department at Harvard University and a painter, she lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Ellen J. Langer:
Both the title of the book and the writing within center around Langer's groundbreaking 1979 "Counterclockwise" study. The study aimed to shed some light on the power of framing, mindset, and expectation related to human aging.
The book is absolutely full of insightful and interesting writing. Langer writes in an easy and engaging style, so this one should have no trouble holding the reader's attention. The formatting of the book was also very well done.
Like many other books about mindset that I've read, mindfulness plays a central theme here. Langer writes:
There are so many interesting topics covered here by Langer. She brings much of her own, as well as other research to bear in discussing some mindset-related topics. Among the subjects examined here includes:
• The power of psychological "primes"
• The Socially Constructed World
• The power of placebos, as well as nocebos
• Cancer diagnoses
• The effects of labeling in psychology
Sadly, my review won't be able to capture the super-interesting lines of thought pursued here by Langer. She has an incredibly formidable set of analytical tools, and I found her employment of these tools towards the big-picture questions of self, health, and aging to be most interesting.
She summarizes her thesis, and the experiment with this succinct quote:
**********************
As mentioned above, Counter Clockwise was a surprisingly thought-provoking book, that had me question the foundations of the way I view reality, as well is what is possible.
And while the power of the right mindset became illuminated to me not too long ago, this book really buttresses that view.
If you are interested in psychology and/or mindset, and mindset training, then this one needs to be on your list.
An easy 5-star rating, and a spot on my "favorites" shelf.
—Anaïs Nin
Counter Clockwise was an incredibly thought-provoking and eye-opening look into the power of the mind; expectations, and presumptions. Reading this book should have you deeply questioning the nature of the stories we are told; both by others, as well as ourselves.
Author Ellen J. Langer is the author of more than two hundred research articles and eleven books, including the international bestseller Mindfulness, which has been translated into fifteen languages.
A member of the psychology department at Harvard University and a painter, she lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Ellen J. Langer:
Both the title of the book and the writing within center around Langer's groundbreaking 1979 "Counterclockwise" study. The study aimed to shed some light on the power of framing, mindset, and expectation related to human aging.
The book is absolutely full of insightful and interesting writing. Langer writes in an easy and engaging style, so this one should have no trouble holding the reader's attention. The formatting of the book was also very well done.
Like many other books about mindset that I've read, mindfulness plays a central theme here. Langer writes:
"If we spill a drop of red sauce on a white shirt, we easily will notice it. If the shirt were a busy plaid, we might not.
Most of us are so disengaged from ourselves—stressed, depressed, overworked, and so on—that we look at ourselves and see plaid shirts. But that can change if we take note of what’s new and different about the world and ourselves. When we notice new things, we become mindful, and mindfulness begets more mindfulness. The more mindful we become, the more we see ourselves as white shirts and the easier it is to find the red spot and remove it..."
There are so many interesting topics covered here by Langer. She brings much of her own, as well as other research to bear in discussing some mindset-related topics. Among the subjects examined here includes:
• The power of psychological "primes"
• The Socially Constructed World
• The power of placebos, as well as nocebos
• Cancer diagnoses
• The effects of labeling in psychology
Sadly, my review won't be able to capture the super-interesting lines of thought pursued here by Langer. She has an incredibly formidable set of analytical tools, and I found her employment of these tools towards the big-picture questions of self, health, and aging to be most interesting.
She summarizes her thesis, and the experiment with this succinct quote:
"The most dramatic example of language acting as placebo can be found in the counterclockwise study. The study used language to prime the participants, asking the elderly men at the retreat to speak about the past in the present tense.
With language placing the experimental groups’ minds in a healthier place, their bodies followed suit..."
**********************
As mentioned above, Counter Clockwise was a surprisingly thought-provoking book, that had me question the foundations of the way I view reality, as well is what is possible.
And while the power of the right mindset became illuminated to me not too long ago, this book really buttresses that view.
If you are interested in psychology and/or mindset, and mindset training, then this one needs to be on your list.
An easy 5-star rating, and a spot on my "favorites" shelf.
January 12, 2011
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've heard to date. With so much information bombarding us to "lose weight" "stay young" "eat well", this book provides advice backed by clear & concise research findings to manage our own lives with awareness and dignity. A must-read for anyone in the health care profession!
December 17, 2021
“Counterclockwise” is named after a study in which elderly people in 1979 lived for a week in an environment which mimicked 1959. They listened to music, heard news, read magazines, and generally tried to live as though they were 20 years younger. The result was that their health indicators, their moods and their capabilities improved markedly. Langer takes this as showing that mindfulness and a positive attitude can do wonders for reversing the effects of aging.
While I can subscribe to the importance of mindfulness and positive thinking, many of her arguments struck me as magical thinking, denial or just trivial. In the key study, if I were placed in an environment that simulated twenty years ago, I would be working in an unpleasant job, facing some difficult family struggles, and hearing about 9/11.
In another example she describes an elderly woman who, when she returned from shopping, had to put her groceries on the floor in order to unlock her apartment door. She then was unable to pick them up. Rather than taking this as an indication that she should be in assisted living, Langer suggests that simply installing a shelf on which to put her groceries would have solved the problem. Langer emphasizes problem solving and incremental approaches as solutions to the problems of aging, which is fine but which does not change the fact of reduced capability.
Describing the phenomenon of older people forgetting things, particularly names and details, Langer says that perhaps these things are not so important to the older person. Maybe childhood memories are more important, or maybe once one has arrived at a general rule, the particular instances are not so important. Nonsense. When I can’t remember a name, it is not because I don’t want to; quite the contrary. This is simply denial and rationalization.
What I can agree to is that mindfulness, being aware of one’s worldly existence from moment to moment, is a good practice no matter what one’s age. And attacking problems aggressively, one step at a time, always helps. Beyond that it is good to acknowledge the fact that one’s capabilities and experience change as one ages, for worse but also for the better. I have more experiential resources as I age, and I can look at my life as a whole, but helpful hacks for everyday problems are somehow not very enlightening.
While I can subscribe to the importance of mindfulness and positive thinking, many of her arguments struck me as magical thinking, denial or just trivial. In the key study, if I were placed in an environment that simulated twenty years ago, I would be working in an unpleasant job, facing some difficult family struggles, and hearing about 9/11.
In another example she describes an elderly woman who, when she returned from shopping, had to put her groceries on the floor in order to unlock her apartment door. She then was unable to pick them up. Rather than taking this as an indication that she should be in assisted living, Langer suggests that simply installing a shelf on which to put her groceries would have solved the problem. Langer emphasizes problem solving and incremental approaches as solutions to the problems of aging, which is fine but which does not change the fact of reduced capability.
Describing the phenomenon of older people forgetting things, particularly names and details, Langer says that perhaps these things are not so important to the older person. Maybe childhood memories are more important, or maybe once one has arrived at a general rule, the particular instances are not so important. Nonsense. When I can’t remember a name, it is not because I don’t want to; quite the contrary. This is simply denial and rationalization.
What I can agree to is that mindfulness, being aware of one’s worldly existence from moment to moment, is a good practice no matter what one’s age. And attacking problems aggressively, one step at a time, always helps. Beyond that it is good to acknowledge the fact that one’s capabilities and experience change as one ages, for worse but also for the better. I have more experiential resources as I age, and I can look at my life as a whole, but helpful hacks for everyday problems are somehow not very enlightening.
June 22, 2018
The subtitle of the paperback version of this book, 'A proven way to think yourself younger and healthier' makes it sound a bit happy-clappy, airy-fairy, 'manifest-me-a-new-body sort of thing; but actually, it's full of interesting suggestions for the ways in we, as individuals, and as a society, can improve our experience of ageing. For example, many older people have arthritic conditions, and struggle getting out of car seats, sideways ( my hand is up, here); so why don't car manufacturers make car seats that swivel? That suggestion alone had me thinking all day, 'Yes, why don't they?'
Also of interest to me was what she had to say about our attitudes to illness, illustrated by a rather shocking statistic re iatrogenic conditions ( have a read). The data refers to the USA, where illness has become big business and is highly litigious, but I imagine that there might be broadly similar patterns in other countries. ( If you're interested in this area, try 'Smile or Die' by Barbara Ehrenreich ). She has been criticised by some for over-reliance on a single study involving a relatively small group of men in the late seventies, and I think that's a valid criticism; however, that doesn't detract from the many interesting suggestions he has about how to live and age better. We might not actually be able to turn the clock back - but maybe we can encourage it to run a bit slower...
Also of interest to me was what she had to say about our attitudes to illness, illustrated by a rather shocking statistic re iatrogenic conditions ( have a read). The data refers to the USA, where illness has become big business and is highly litigious, but I imagine that there might be broadly similar patterns in other countries. ( If you're interested in this area, try 'Smile or Die' by Barbara Ehrenreich ). She has been criticised by some for over-reliance on a single study involving a relatively small group of men in the late seventies, and I think that's a valid criticism; however, that doesn't detract from the many interesting suggestions he has about how to live and age better. We might not actually be able to turn the clock back - but maybe we can encourage it to run a bit slower...
January 17, 2019
Many of the benefits of mindfulness outlined in this book I ascribe to. Having the right mindset and being mindful of your surroundings and your feelings can change your life for the better. Langer mentioned numerous studies concluding things like: "those who viewed ageing more positively lived, on average, seven and a half years longer than those who were negative about it." I don't dispute a lot of what she is saying - the fact that the placebo effect is even a thing shows us that our thoughts influence our health. The problem I have with this book is that it almost seems to be encouraging people to distrust medicine and science. Yes, medicine isn't perfect - the way experiments are set up, the arbitrary cut-off points for diagnoses, and the generalised prognoses that cannot possibly account for individual differences are all valid reasons not to blindly trust medicine - but it's the best we've got right now, and it's easy to see Langer's advice of "work with your physician" being misconstrued by someone to mean "go and see a homeopath or crystal healer because scientific studies aren't worth shit". I think it's fair to be critical of your medical advice and take an active role in your own health treatment (i.e. work with medical practitioners) but I don't like the way this book talks about these subjects.
I also feel like the book could have been compressed into half the size - possibly even less - and gone into more detail about her experiments (a couple of which seem a little anecdote-y rather than rigorous). I feel like the major points of the book could have been covered in an article, even.
Despite these points, I feel that this book did cover a lot of useful stuff. The way you think about yourself and how you define things is absolutely important to your health (both mental and physical).
I also feel like the book could have been compressed into half the size - possibly even less - and gone into more detail about her experiments (a couple of which seem a little anecdote-y rather than rigorous). I feel like the major points of the book could have been covered in an article, even.
Despite these points, I feel that this book did cover a lot of useful stuff. The way you think about yourself and how you define things is absolutely important to your health (both mental and physical).
May 18, 2020
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 looking at how choice, expectation, and other factors affect human (and animal) behavior in realms as diverse as memory changes, physical functioning, and pain perception. At times, the thread that holds all the stories together gets a little lost, but overall it is quite interesting.
October 16, 2012
A thought provoking book which focuses on the mind-body connection especially in relations to our health. Through the practice of being mindful, Dr Langer provides a different perspective on health and aging. It will likely transform the way you view medicine and help you to learn and change from being a passive recipient to one that is informed and active.
October 17, 2012
I read the first chapter and immediately bought this book for my 90-year-old mother. The insights on how perception changed the physicality of aged adults were inspiring. Too often the clock of aging is turned forward, thinking and being treated as older than we are. I recommend this book to anyone and everyone who is interested in challenging how mindfulness can increase health and happiness.
October 28, 2017
The author is essentially postulating that the software of the brain is partially under our control and can effect how your body functions.
The hardware of the body (and the rest of the universe) is less malleable and she doesn’t seem to draw clear distinction. So there is a fair amount of ‘woo woo’ going on.
But I’m all for hacking your brain, so I’m going to keep reading
The hardware of the body (and the rest of the universe) is less malleable and she doesn’t seem to draw clear distinction. So there is a fair amount of ‘woo woo’ going on.
But I’m all for hacking your brain, so I’m going to keep reading
June 10, 2011
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.
June 25, 2012
Author seemed only too happy to keep reviewing her own published literature. While I enjoyed the main argument about patients taking control of their own health, the book seem somewhat repetitive and could have been shorter.
January 22, 2015
This book inspired me and made me think. I especially loved her ability to reframe everything we think about aging and illness in such a simple and practical way. It's all baby steps and...there is way more right with us than wrong.
July 27, 2022
Vratite svoj bioloski sat untarag
“Ellen J. Langer, profesorica psihologije na Harvardu, već više od trideset godina proučava vezu između uma i tijela te kako i koliko način razmišljanja može utjecati na to da se osjećamo mlađima i budemo zdravi”.
Imam pricu. Pocinje, vrelog kolovoza 2020.
U tom beskraju cekaona, na razini ispod razine zemlje, cekaju satima razne zene, u sesirima, maramama, turbanima i sa vjesto iscrtanim obravama. Snalazljive su to dame, iznimno strpljive i jake.
Cekanje na toj ispodrazini dodatno tisti i pritisce tisina lebdece neizvjesnosti. Nepoznate buducnosti. Pa tracak nade, optimizma, svjetlosti. Prosao je sat. Knjiga jedna dovrsena. Broj ljudi i dalje konkurira onima u zracnoj luci. Ili je guzva veca? Red se bas i ne pomice. Iako se vrata otvaraju i zatvaraju. Prezimena zlokobno odzvanjaju. Bojis se da ne cujes jos neko poznato. Zasto je ova trudnica ovdje? Ne pomices se. Ne odlazis po vodu. Ni na wc. Jer mozda ces biti pozvan bas u tom trenutku. Casting je to za zivot. Odjel onkologije. Pisem ovaj uvod iz vlastite sadasnjosti, jer se u tom istom labirintu cekaona, cesto cuje da imamo jednaku dijagnozu. Mozda je stvar u tome da ceznemo za utjehom, nadom, mozda se radi o pukoj potrebi da te netko saslusa, da podijeli svoju nazovimo, slicnost.
Upravo se na tu “medicinsku slicnost” kriticki osvrce dr. Langer. Svatko od nas je drugaciji i svatko od nas je vise nas. U toj mnogosti jasno je da iako imamo naoko identicne nalaze krvi, mokrace, identicne vrijednosti, ne znaci nuzno da su nam dijagnoze jednake, da cemo jednako reagirati na lijecenje, da cemo imati jednake simptome, da cemo jednako dugo zivjeti. Jasno mi je da su ljudi, koji nisu medicinske struke, skloni svodjenju stvari na zajednicki nazivnik (“ah ona ima jednaku dijagnozu kao i ti; joj da i jednaku terapiju; ajme, sve isto”, a uglavnom nitko nema pojma koje sve lijekove dobiva, evetnualno kazu, onu “crvenu” sam primila cetiri puta). U knjizi dr. Ellen J. Langer, primijecuje kako medicinska struka uglavnom ne zauzima holisticki pristup prema pojedincu kao vrlo individualnoj jedinki i kako takav necijeloviti pristup lijecenju (uz odsustvo preispitivanja valjanosti odredjenog lijecnickog protokola) moze biti stetan. To je, po meni, glavna poruka ove knjige, koja (opet meni osobno) na momente djeluje nedovoljno znanstveno i usudila bih se reci povrsno (npr. eksperiment kada su starce iz doma smjestili u kontekst 50. godina, kada su bili mladi i odmah im se popravio tlak, otkucaji, kolesterol, krvna slika, pamcenje itd...). No, kako je iza dr. Langer ipak zavidna karijera (a zasto i to ne bismo dovodili u pitanje) i jos zavidnije obrazovanje, trud i rad, vjerovat cemo da je svim tim eksperimentima pristupila sa znanstvenom ozbiljnoscu. Knjiga vas moze potaknuti na promisljanje, pogotovo ono vec spomenuto kriticko i holisticko (a nije li tako kod svakog problema koji nas tisti). Vec sama cinjenica da promisljate o odnosu prema sebi i prema zdravlju na jedan nov nacin, korak je ka duzem i mozda, ljepsem zivotu.
“Ellen J. Langer, profesorica psihologije na Harvardu, već više od trideset godina proučava vezu između uma i tijela te kako i koliko način razmišljanja može utjecati na to da se osjećamo mlađima i budemo zdravi”.
Imam pricu. Pocinje, vrelog kolovoza 2020.
U tom beskraju cekaona, na razini ispod razine zemlje, cekaju satima razne zene, u sesirima, maramama, turbanima i sa vjesto iscrtanim obravama. Snalazljive su to dame, iznimno strpljive i jake.
Cekanje na toj ispodrazini dodatno tisti i pritisce tisina lebdece neizvjesnosti. Nepoznate buducnosti. Pa tracak nade, optimizma, svjetlosti. Prosao je sat. Knjiga jedna dovrsena. Broj ljudi i dalje konkurira onima u zracnoj luci. Ili je guzva veca? Red se bas i ne pomice. Iako se vrata otvaraju i zatvaraju. Prezimena zlokobno odzvanjaju. Bojis se da ne cujes jos neko poznato. Zasto je ova trudnica ovdje? Ne pomices se. Ne odlazis po vodu. Ni na wc. Jer mozda ces biti pozvan bas u tom trenutku. Casting je to za zivot. Odjel onkologije. Pisem ovaj uvod iz vlastite sadasnjosti, jer se u tom istom labirintu cekaona, cesto cuje da imamo jednaku dijagnozu. Mozda je stvar u tome da ceznemo za utjehom, nadom, mozda se radi o pukoj potrebi da te netko saslusa, da podijeli svoju nazovimo, slicnost.
Upravo se na tu “medicinsku slicnost” kriticki osvrce dr. Langer. Svatko od nas je drugaciji i svatko od nas je vise nas. U toj mnogosti jasno je da iako imamo naoko identicne nalaze krvi, mokrace, identicne vrijednosti, ne znaci nuzno da su nam dijagnoze jednake, da cemo jednako reagirati na lijecenje, da cemo imati jednake simptome, da cemo jednako dugo zivjeti. Jasno mi je da su ljudi, koji nisu medicinske struke, skloni svodjenju stvari na zajednicki nazivnik (“ah ona ima jednaku dijagnozu kao i ti; joj da i jednaku terapiju; ajme, sve isto”, a uglavnom nitko nema pojma koje sve lijekove dobiva, evetnualno kazu, onu “crvenu” sam primila cetiri puta). U knjizi dr. Ellen J. Langer, primijecuje kako medicinska struka uglavnom ne zauzima holisticki pristup prema pojedincu kao vrlo individualnoj jedinki i kako takav necijeloviti pristup lijecenju (uz odsustvo preispitivanja valjanosti odredjenog lijecnickog protokola) moze biti stetan. To je, po meni, glavna poruka ove knjige, koja (opet meni osobno) na momente djeluje nedovoljno znanstveno i usudila bih se reci povrsno (npr. eksperiment kada su starce iz doma smjestili u kontekst 50. godina, kada su bili mladi i odmah im se popravio tlak, otkucaji, kolesterol, krvna slika, pamcenje itd...). No, kako je iza dr. Langer ipak zavidna karijera (a zasto i to ne bismo dovodili u pitanje) i jos zavidnije obrazovanje, trud i rad, vjerovat cemo da je svim tim eksperimentima pristupila sa znanstvenom ozbiljnoscu. Knjiga vas moze potaknuti na promisljanje, pogotovo ono vec spomenuto kriticko i holisticko (a nije li tako kod svakog problema koji nas tisti). Vec sama cinjenica da promisljate o odnosu prema sebi i prema zdravlju na jedan nov nacin, korak je ka duzem i mozda, ljepsem zivotu.
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December 11, 2024egan to realize that ideas about mind/body dualism were just that, ideas, and a different, nondualist view of the mind and the body could be more useful. If we put the mind and the body back together so that we are just one person again, then wherever we put the mind, we would also put the body. If the mind is in a truly healthy place, the body would be as well—and so we could change our physical health by changing our minds.
We might “know,” for instance, that certain brain injuries create “irreversible” brain damage, and accept that as fact. But if we asked how we could reverse “irreversible” brain damage, we would seek out information different from what we now examine when we take these labels as hard-and-fast truths and merely test existing theories. And so our medical conditions appear more and more as they have been defined by the research behind them
One reason people come to see being depressed as a constant condition is that when we are content we don’t check in with ourselves to see how we feel. We simply feel fine and go about living without gathering evidence about our feelings. When we grow depressed, we tend to ask why we are unhappy and gather evidence to support our depression. Thus, when we are depressed we ask why, and when we’re happy we don’t ask. As a result, when we become depressed we don’t have complete information about our mental state and we have little evidence supporting our happiness, which allows us to imagine we’re always depressed
Questioning presumed limits is the essence of the psychology of possibility. Asking why we can’t become better even when we feel we are at our best and our healthiest is the only way we will ever know how good we can be
December 09, 2024 04:22 Chapter 10 - Becoming Health Learners 85.9% #FFE0EC Right now we wait for the medical world to dole out medication that has been tested against a placebo. Others have acknowledged that the placebo itself is powerful medication. In many of the studies illustrating the placebo effect, subjects were deceived into thinking that the pill they were taking was “real” medication, that the coffee they were drinking was caffeinated, or that the leaves they were touching were real poison ivy. In all of these examples of the power of the placebo, the question remains: who is doing the healing? Since the placebo is inert, we must be the ones responsible for the improvement. If we are responsible for the placebo’s effectiveness, we should be able to learn a more direct way to affect our health—we can ask, “Given that this pill is not doing anything but priming our thoughts to be healthy, why do we need a pill at all?” We should also ask if the placebo effect in part can be attributed to attention to variability
December 09, 2024 04:02 Chapter 9 - Mindful Aging 81.6% #FFE0EC Forgetting” harsh interactions allows us to go forward without dwelling on the past; forgetting is a cue to be in the present.
November 17, 2024 05:29 Chapter 4 - The Social Construction of Health 26.7% #DFC We don’t see things as they are, we see them as we are. —Anaïs Nin
We might “know,” for instance, that certain brain injuries create “irreversible” brain damage, and accept that as fact. But if we asked how we could reverse “irreversible” brain damage, we would seek out information different from what we now examine when we take these labels as hard-and-fast truths and merely test existing theories. And so our medical conditions appear more and more as they have been defined by the research behind them
One reason people come to see being depressed as a constant condition is that when we are content we don’t check in with ourselves to see how we feel. We simply feel fine and go about living without gathering evidence about our feelings. When we grow depressed, we tend to ask why we are unhappy and gather evidence to support our depression. Thus, when we are depressed we ask why, and when we’re happy we don’t ask. As a result, when we become depressed we don’t have complete information about our mental state and we have little evidence supporting our happiness, which allows us to imagine we’re always depressed
Questioning presumed limits is the essence of the psychology of possibility. Asking why we can’t become better even when we feel we are at our best and our healthiest is the only way we will ever know how good we can be
December 09, 2024 04:22 Chapter 10 - Becoming Health Learners 85.9% #FFE0EC Right now we wait for the medical world to dole out medication that has been tested against a placebo. Others have acknowledged that the placebo itself is powerful medication. In many of the studies illustrating the placebo effect, subjects were deceived into thinking that the pill they were taking was “real” medication, that the coffee they were drinking was caffeinated, or that the leaves they were touching were real poison ivy. In all of these examples of the power of the placebo, the question remains: who is doing the healing? Since the placebo is inert, we must be the ones responsible for the improvement. If we are responsible for the placebo’s effectiveness, we should be able to learn a more direct way to affect our health—we can ask, “Given that this pill is not doing anything but priming our thoughts to be healthy, why do we need a pill at all?” We should also ask if the placebo effect in part can be attributed to attention to variability
December 09, 2024 04:02 Chapter 9 - Mindful Aging 81.6% #FFE0EC Forgetting” harsh interactions allows us to go forward without dwelling on the past; forgetting is a cue to be in the present.
November 17, 2024 05:29 Chapter 4 - The Social Construction of Health 26.7% #DFC We don’t see things as they are, we see them as we are. —Anaïs Nin
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 17, 2019
I may want to return to this in twenty or thirty years as it seems geared towards a significantly older readership than that which I might fall within.
Dr. Ellen Langer offers some interesting insights about aging, for sure!
I just do not think they apply to me specifically right now. She discusses what it means to have a "chronic" ailment like ADHD, arthritis, dementia, senility, etc... (I do have a "chronic" ailment, which was why I got this book, but none of the specific ones she details.)
Wow, looking at the Wiki on her, it looks like I found her most influential work. According to the Wiki, people may have just acted according to how she claimed for a pecuniary reward.
So I might actually not want to read this again in twenty-five years, which would be, etto... 2044? If it were like that. But I might want to just see how I am at that point.
I got from Ellen Langer's book something interesting to chew on about how aging is changing - not necessarily decaying but developing. I can agree, having looked on over many, many tealeaves blooming in my cup! Gosh, this book made me want some more of that blooming tea, but it's so much more expensive!!
Dr. Ellen Langer offers some interesting insights about aging, for sure!
I just do not think they apply to me specifically right now. She discusses what it means to have a "chronic" ailment like ADHD, arthritis, dementia, senility, etc... (I do have a "chronic" ailment, which was why I got this book, but none of the specific ones she details.)
Wow, looking at the Wiki on her, it looks like I found her most influential work. According to the Wiki, people may have just acted according to how she claimed for a pecuniary reward.
So I might actually not want to read this again in twenty-five years, which would be, etto... 2044? If it were like that. But I might want to just see how I am at that point.
I got from Ellen Langer's book something interesting to chew on about how aging is changing - not necessarily decaying but developing. I can agree, having looked on over many, many tealeaves blooming in my cup! Gosh, this book made me want some more of that blooming tea, but it's so much more expensive!!
April 19, 2021
If this book were reduced largely to the questions alone, I still would have found it interesting and useful. I'm giving it five stars (a rare rating for me these days) for two reasons: first, it changed my perspective/brain significantly; second, I will definitely return to read it again.
I chuckled at the introduction saying that she does believe in medical science and would go to her doctor if ill, and it primed me to hear more radical ideas than the book actually holds. As it is, she has a few large points:
- Everyone needs awareness of their contexts and embodied experiences in order to experience optimal health and wellness
- All scientific studies and expert opinions are context-dependent, and we hear and interpret them differently based on the way they are framed
- We generally see or try to see the world in a more fixed way than is warranted
- Mindfulness, or awareness of change, affects the way we take in and interpret inputs
All of this sounds much more dry than the examples and stories in the book! I recommend reading one of her books about mindfulness first, then this one, so that you can be thoroughly primed for critical thinking throughout.
I chuckled at the introduction saying that she does believe in medical science and would go to her doctor if ill, and it primed me to hear more radical ideas than the book actually holds. As it is, she has a few large points:
- Everyone needs awareness of their contexts and embodied experiences in order to experience optimal health and wellness
- All scientific studies and expert opinions are context-dependent, and we hear and interpret them differently based on the way they are framed
- We generally see or try to see the world in a more fixed way than is warranted
- Mindfulness, or awareness of change, affects the way we take in and interpret inputs
All of this sounds much more dry than the examples and stories in the book! I recommend reading one of her books about mindfulness first, then this one, so that you can be thoroughly primed for critical thinking throughout.
December 13, 2024
This made me so happy!
I'm often frustrated by the pervasive messaging in our culture to expect decline with age (even beginning as early as mid-30s!), even to the point of writing off symptoms as "aging" without bothering to look for an actual root cause. While aging means we've been on the planet longer, and thus accumulated more toxic exposures, more opportunity for damage and deficiencies, and entropy means that everything (including our bodies) will go from order to disorder over time, far too often (as Langer points out), this becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. Our minds are far more powerful than we realize, and if we expect to go downhill by a particular calendar date, we've greatly increased the likelihood that it will, in fact, occur. Not only that, but if we expect it, we won't fight it. We won't look for ways to optimize our health, or search for obstacles to cure to eliminate, or nutritional deficiencies to bolster. We'll just complacently decide, "Oh, well, what can you expect? I'm getting older." If you don't look for a solution, it's guaranteed you'll never find it.
I love that Langer is a voice (perhaps almost a lone voice) proclaiming the opposite.
I'm often frustrated by the pervasive messaging in our culture to expect decline with age (even beginning as early as mid-30s!), even to the point of writing off symptoms as "aging" without bothering to look for an actual root cause. While aging means we've been on the planet longer, and thus accumulated more toxic exposures, more opportunity for damage and deficiencies, and entropy means that everything (including our bodies) will go from order to disorder over time, far too often (as Langer points out), this becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. Our minds are far more powerful than we realize, and if we expect to go downhill by a particular calendar date, we've greatly increased the likelihood that it will, in fact, occur. Not only that, but if we expect it, we won't fight it. We won't look for ways to optimize our health, or search for obstacles to cure to eliminate, or nutritional deficiencies to bolster. We'll just complacently decide, "Oh, well, what can you expect? I'm getting older." If you don't look for a solution, it's guaranteed you'll never find it.
I love that Langer is a voice (perhaps almost a lone voice) proclaiming the opposite.
October 13, 2025
I enjoyed several podcasts where the author was invited to but the book … not so much. Some few ideas repeated all the time and with research to ��prove” she is right. Unfortunately, there are so many studies published in the world that you could prove anything you want to prove: good, bad, relevant or irrelevant. To some extend, the author’s invitation to question medicine, doctors… can be even dangerous. Some people can take the message blindly and so reject treatments that may save their lives (an avoid wishful thinking as Steve Jobs curing his cancer with carrots juice). And the other side of the story is the quilt that one can feel for being sick or not recovering from a disease. While reading the last pages I had a cold - and of course, I was judging and evaluating myself “was I too stressed? No” “Was I thinking something “bad” that my body got a cold?” Etc etc It’s not as simple as the author tries to “prove”. And I also expected a bit more focus on the topic of mindfulness … maybe sometimes implied but I was expected more.
August 17, 2020
Ellen Langer is a very, very smart woman. And she is fun. She gets an idea to study something that is a little crazy and she goes for it; and gets tenure at Harvard in the process. I think she may have had a very good editor for this book as well because it is a super clean quick read.
This book will offers a return of agency over your body if the medical establishment has somehow taken it away. It explains the affects of placebos and "priming" and asks you primarily to 'NOTICE NEW THINGS'. It offers you the gift of your own attention.
Under the cogent organization of the chapters one can hear the pain and loss that lead her to champion mindfulness. She doesn't get stuck in it but her sharing it underlines her message.
Jennifer Anniston bought the rights to the movie and may play Langer. I imagine that gave Ms. Langer a little joy.
This book will offers a return of agency over your body if the medical establishment has somehow taken it away. It explains the affects of placebos and "priming" and asks you primarily to 'NOTICE NEW THINGS'. It offers you the gift of your own attention.
Under the cogent organization of the chapters one can hear the pain and loss that lead her to champion mindfulness. She doesn't get stuck in it but her sharing it underlines her message.
Jennifer Anniston bought the rights to the movie and may play Langer. I imagine that gave Ms. Langer a little joy.
October 18, 2023
This book calls us to attend to our mindset and that of others giving us direction, or medical advise. Your personal learning, experiences and perspective are different than anyone else. You are capable of writing your story through this aging disease differently.
Medical science uses a lot of numbers and averages on which to predict and advise. Some numbers might not paint how your particular strengths and weaknesses would help or harm on your personal health journey. It’s a reminder to not submit to a diagnosis as a finality or assign yourself all the negative information and finality you have built up about the disease.
It’s a book of hope and making personal choices to acknowledge your strengths and ability to change perspective. The path to health requires your involvement with help from your mindset.
Medical science uses a lot of numbers and averages on which to predict and advise. Some numbers might not paint how your particular strengths and weaknesses would help or harm on your personal health journey. It’s a reminder to not submit to a diagnosis as a finality or assign yourself all the negative information and finality you have built up about the disease.
It’s a book of hope and making personal choices to acknowledge your strengths and ability to change perspective. The path to health requires your involvement with help from your mindset.
February 1, 2021
3.5 stars, really. Starts out fascinating, asking the reader to examine accepted beliefs, to consider possibility and to question why we don't question science more often, particularly since science itself is ever-evolving and really just the pursuit of answers that beget more questions. Gets a bit slow towards the middle, but eye- and mind-opening for many reasons, includes results from actual studies focused less on how and why and more on "what if" and "why not". Recommend to anyone who wants to grow spiritually but considers him or herself a skeptic when it comes to the idea that "the mind controls the body" or who has a hard time believing that something as simple as positive (or negative) thinking can have a measurable physical impact.
July 8, 2017
Any work that results in a positive shift in one's thinking merits 5 stars.
We can personally redefine process of aging in a far more positive light. We can continue to break new ground, detour from established patterns and seek new challenges despite our increasing years. Many of the limitations which prevent us from taking these steps are preconceived notions personally held as well as societal expectations defining what is appropriate for a given age.
I took this book out of the library. I intend to purchase it and include it in my library. I look forward to rereading multiple times in the coming days to reinforce her ideas. I'm convinced my life will be richer for it.
We can personally redefine process of aging in a far more positive light. We can continue to break new ground, detour from established patterns and seek new challenges despite our increasing years. Many of the limitations which prevent us from taking these steps are preconceived notions personally held as well as societal expectations defining what is appropriate for a given age.
I took this book out of the library. I intend to purchase it and include it in my library. I look forward to rereading multiple times in the coming days to reinforce her ideas. I'm convinced my life will be richer for it.
December 11, 2018
Bu kitabı Türkiyədə olanda almışdım. Adı marağımı cəlb etmişdi. "Yaşam Yanı Başımızda deməklə görəsən nəyi nəzərdə tutur?" deyə düşünmüşdüm. Oxudum, bitirdim. Əvvəlcə müəllif haqqında onu qeyd edim ki, Ellen J. Langer Harvard universitetinin ilk qadın professorudur. Kitab daha çox fərqli düşünməyi, hadisələrə və gündəlik həyata fərqli gözlə baxmağı vurğalayır. Araşdırmalar və onların nəticələri kitabın məzmununu təşkil edir. Hər kitab kimi bu kitabdan da həyatıma qatdığım bir neçə cümlə oldu.
"Aslında her şey değişiyorken, biz zihnimizi sabit tutarız. Zihinlerimizi açarsak olasılık dünyası da kendini sunar."
"Aslında her şey değişiyorken, biz zihnimizi sabit tutarız. Zihinlerimizi açarsak olasılık dünyası da kendini sunar."
February 22, 2019
This book blew me away when I first read it years ago, but it was also well worth reading again now. Especially since I’m in a health care role again. AND because I’m older and experiencing things about aging that I wasn’t when I first read Langer’s research and findings and ideas about the power of our words and mindset for aging well and living healthy. I highly recommend this book to any and all who want to become active participants in their health and how they live each day - along with becoming an active health learner (and liver) for life! Our mindsets and mind view are so much more powerful that most of us even begin to imagine....
January 30, 2020
Güzel sorular sorup, dönen bir çarktaki kırık dişleri tespit edip, gevşek, sağlam temelleri olmayan hatta belki tehlikeli sonuçlara ulaşabilen bir kitap olmuş. Mindfulness ile ilgili bir kitap olduğunu düşünerek başlamıştım ama daha çok mindfulness ile nerelere ulaşılabileceğine dair bir sürü spekülasyon içeren, iddialarını da çok da güçlü olmayan çalışmalara dayandıran bir yapısı var maalesef. Evet tespitler doğru ama bu tespitlerle ulaştığımız sonuçtan emin miyiz? Sebep sonuç ilişkileri nerede? "What if" ile başlayan cümleler neden bir hastanın standart kanser tedavisini bırakmasına yol açabilecek kadar tehlikeli olasılıkları doğurabilecek yargılarla sonlanıyor?
October 9, 2019
More like a TED talk than a book, and I am not the audience for this book.
The concept has been part of my consciousness for a while: how we frame things matters.
This book looks specifically at how exceptions in healing could be looked at, not as abnormalities and not as statistically unimportant, but instead as possibilities that we haven't yet fully explored.
It's a good idea. The book is ok.
The concept has been part of my consciousness for a while: how we frame things matters.
This book looks specifically at how exceptions in healing could be looked at, not as abnormalities and not as statistically unimportant, but instead as possibilities that we haven't yet fully explored.
It's a good idea. The book is ok.
July 22, 2024
Langer leda study where mature men lived together for a week. In the control group, the reminisced about what their livew were like 20 years ago. In the experimental group, as a much as possible, they lived their lives like they did 20 years ago. Both groups showed mental and physical improvements at the end of the week, with the experimental groupl showing greater gains.
This book looks at what might be behind the placebo effect.
This book looks at what might be behind the placebo effect.
September 15, 2017
The Power of Possibility
I have just finished reading this book. What a great reminder of the awesome power of Possibility in our lives, frequently we live or days with a fixed mindset, accepting everything as is without questioning. That is a limiting view of what is possible. Let's open or minds to wonderful possibilities and enjoy more rewarding lives.
I have just finished reading this book. What a great reminder of the awesome power of Possibility in our lives, frequently we live or days with a fixed mindset, accepting everything as is without questioning. That is a limiting view of what is possible. Let's open or minds to wonderful possibilities and enjoy more rewarding lives.
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