Press Kit

“Super Mind is a wonderfully practical exploration of the benefits of Transcendental Meditation that reveals how the technique is not a belief or faith but a simple tool that, in my experience, can improve your life in ways you never thought possible.” —Hugh Jackman

“In Super Mind, Norman E. Rosenthal has written a vibrant, practical, and persuasive guide to all the ways in which mediation can profoundly affect every aspect of our lives – from our emotional and spiritual well-being to our intellectual and creative abilities.” —Arianna Huffington
“Super Mind opens new doors to thinking about consciousness, and new possibilities about how consciousness can grow and change a person’s life forever. Transcendental Meditation has been found to improve physical and psychological health in hundreds of published studies and Norman E. Rosenthal weaves this evidence together with powerful stories of transformation — a must-read for anyone wanting to develop a Super Mind. —Maria Shriver
“Dr. Rosenthal’s Super Mind is a thoroughly engaging, scientifically sound testament to the immediate and long-term benefits of Transcendental Meditation—a technique I have been practicing for nearly two years. TM has made me more mentally and physically energetic, sharper, less stressed and more positive. If I could write a prescription for TM to all my patients, I would.” —Dr. Jennifer Ashton, ABC News Chief Women’s Health Correspondent, Ob-Gyn
“Norman E. Rosenthal, renowned scientist and researcher, reveals the powerful, life-enhancing effects of Transcendental Meditation in this acutely observed and poetic book. In Transcendence, Rosenthal gave us the science behind TM; in Super Mind he does that and more, showing us the broad applications and transformative stories of real people using this simple technique.” —Richard A. Friedman, M.D., contributing Op-Ed writer for The New York Times and Professor of Clinical Psychiatry at Weill Cornell Medical College

Copyright © 2016 by Norman E. Rosenthal, M.D.

Hardcover: 320 pages
Publisher: TarcherPerigee (May 17, 2016)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0399174745
ISBN-13: 978-0399174742
Product Dimensions: 6.2 x 1.1 x 9.1 inches
Shipping Weight: 1 pounds

Norman E. Rosenthal M.D. explores how life’s disappointments and difficulties provide us with the lessons we need to become better, bigger, and more resilient human beings.

Adversity is an irreducible fact of life. Although we can and should learn from all experiences, both positive and negative, bestselling author Dr. Norman E. Rosenthal, believes that adversity is by far the best teacher most of us will ever encounter.

Whether the adversity one experiences is the result of poor decision-making, a desire to test one’s mettle, or plain bad luck, Rosenthal believes life’s most important lessons—from the value of family to the importance of occasionally cutting corners—can be best learned from it.

Running counter to society’s current prevailing message that “excellence” must always be aspired to, and failure or mistakes of any sort are to be avoided at all costs, Rosenthal shows that engaging with our own failures and defeats is one of the only ways we are able to live authentic and meaningful lives, and that each different type of adversity carries its own challenges and has the potential to yield its own form of wisdom.

Using stories from his own life—including his childhood in apartheid-era South Africa, his years after suffering a violent attack from a stranger, and his career as a psychiatrist—as well as case studies and discussions with well-known figures like Viktor Frankl and David Lynch, Rosenthal shows that true innovation, emotional resilience, wisdom, and dignity can only come from confronting and understanding the adversity we have experienced. Even when life is hardest, there are meanings to be found, riches to be harvested, and gifts that can last a lifetime.

Rosenthal illustrates his message through a series of compact, memorable chapters, each one drawn from episodes in the lives of his patients, colleagues, or himself, and concluded with a take-away maxim on the lesson learned.

“I really loved Dr Rosenthal’s book… adversity can be a great teacher” – David Lynch, Filmmaker

“Dr. Norm is cosmonaut of consciousness, launching into the the murky abyss and returning with meteoric treasures for us all. His writing on the value of adversity may come to be regarded by Alien archeologists as a Rosetta Stone in understanding how we advance as individuals and as a culture.” – Russell Brand, Actor/Comedian
“Dr. Rosenthal catalyzes conversations around adversity with tales of wisdom and survival that we can all treasure.” – Mehemet C. OZ, M.D.

“Rosenthal captures both the complexity of our emotions and the pragmatics needed to harness them.” – Andrew Solomon, Writer

JEREMY P. TARCHER/PENGUIN
Published by the Penguin Group
Penguin Group (USA) Inc., 375 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014, USA
Penguin Books Ltd, Registered Offices: 80 Strand, London WC2R 0RL, England
Copyright © 2013 by Norman E. Rosenthal, M.D.

Rosenthal, Norman E.
The Gift of Adversity: The Unexpected Benefits of Life’s Difficulties, Setbacks, and Imperfections
Norman E. Rosenthal
.
p. cm.
ISBN-10: 0399163719
ISBN-13: 978-0399163715

Norman Rosenthal, M.D., a twenty-year researcher at the National Institute of Mental Health and the psychiatrist who pioneered the study of seasonal affective disorder (SAD), brings us the most important book on Transcendental Meditation since the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi’s Science of Being and Art of Living–and one of this generation’s most significant works on achieving greater physical and mental health and wellness.

Transcendence demystifies the practice and benefits of Transcendental Meditation for a general audience who may have heard about the technique but do not necessarily know what it is or what they stand to gain, physically and emotionally, from its daily practice. Rosenthal clearly and practically explains the basic ideas behind Transcendental Meditation: It is a non religious practice that involves sitting comfortably for twenty minutes twice a day, while using a silent mantra, or nonverbal sound, to attain a profound state of aware relaxation.

Rosenthal draws upon experience from the lives of his patients and a wealth of clinical research amassed on TM over the past generation (some 240 peer-reviewed published articles) to provide the fullest and most accessible book ever on the broad range of benefits of this remarkably simple method–from relief of anxiety, stress, and depression to new hope for those suffering from addiction, attention deficit disorder, or post-traumatic stress disorder.

In exclusive celebrity interviews, stars like Paul Mccartney, Ringo Starr, Martin Scorsese, Russell Brand, Laura Dern, Moby, and David Lynch openly discuss their meditation and the benefits they have experienced. McCartney and Starr talk about TM and the Maharishi publicly for the first time in more than thirty years. Transcendence also features stories from everyday people–ranging from veterans to students coping with anxiety disorders–highlighting how TM has helped them achieve more fulfilling lives.

“Dr. Norman Rosenthal’s Transcendence is the best-ever book on Transcendental Meditation: accessible and substantive, engaging and scientific, practical and profound. A very enjoyable read that can change your life, for good.” – David Lynch, Filmmaker

“I have been meditating for over 10 years, and I have found Transcendence to be a uniquely compelling introduction to the art and science of Transcendental Meditation. Dr. Norman Rosenthal’s book will propel TM into the mainstream where it belongs.” – Russell Simmons, Entrepreneur

“Transcendence is a profoundly important book on a topic that you need to know more about… This will become the go-to book for those searching for the wisdom within meditation.” – Mehemet C. OZ, M.D.

“Whether your troubles are deep or you simply know life could be better and healthier, read this book.” – Candy Crowley, CNN Anchor

JEREMY P. TARCHER/PENGUIN
Published by the Penguin Group
Penguin Group (USA) Inc., 375 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014, USA
Penguin Books Ltd, Registered Offices: 80 Strand, London WC2R 0RL, England
Copyright © 2011 by Norman E. Rosenthal, M.D.

Rosenthal, Norman E.
Transcendence: Healing and Transformation through Transcendental Meditation
Norman E. Rosenthal.
p. cm.

ISBN 978-1-58542-873-1

Contents

Acknowledgments ix
Preface xi

Part I

Seasonal Syndromes

ONE Introduction: Discovering SAD 3
TWO: All About SAD 18
THREE: How Seasonal Are You? 51
FOUR: What Causes SAD? 61
FIVE: SAD in Children and Adolescents 81
SIX: “Summer SAD” and Other Seasonal Afflictions 95

Part II

Treatments

SEVEN: Light Therapy 113
EIGHT: Beyond Light Therapy: Other Ways to Help Yourself 166
NINE: Psychotherapy and SAD 190
TEN: Antidepressant Medications 209
ELEVEN: A Step-by-Step Guide Through the Revolving Year 225
TWELVE: “How Can I help?”: Advice for Family and Friends 247

Part III

Celebrating the Seasons

THIRTEEN: A Brief History of Seasonal Time 255
FOURTEEN: Polar Tales 260
FIFTEEN: SAD Through the Ages 264
SIXTEEN: Creating with the Seasons 275
SEVENTEEN: Words of All Seasons 284
EIGHTEEN: Winter Light: Life Beyond SAD 294

AFTERWORD: The End of an Era, 1979-1999 307

Part IV

Resources

Where to Get Further Help for Seasonal Problems 311
Dietary Advice, Menus, and Recipes 315
Further Reading 341

APPENDIX A Daily Mood Log 347
APPENDIX B Core Belief Worksheet 349

Index 351
About the Author 372

Winter isn’t a “wonderland” for everyone. Every year, millions of us feel our energy levels ebb and spirits fall as the days grow shorter. The condition is called seasonal affective disorder (SAD), and it can cause depression, reduce your productivity, and make it harder to control your appetite. In this no-nonsense, up-to-date survival kit for weathering the winter blues, Dr. Norman Rosenthal explains what causes seasonal mood swings and what you can do about them. A self-test allows you to evaluate your own level of SAD and helps you determine an appropriate plan of action. the book covers an expanded variety of methods proven to help you feel better – including new developments in light therapy, antidepressant medications, and breakthrough self-help strategies. Convenient menus and easy recipes make sticking to healthy winter diet more enjoyable, and a new section on the benefits of exercise motivates you to stay active even when it’s gloomy outside. A step-by-step guide helps you organize your yearly schedule to anticipate seasonal changes, and a special chapter for family and friends teaches loved ones effective ways to show support. Like a ray of light on an otherwise cloudy day, Dr. Rosenthal’s expertise, warmth, and enthusiasm will inspire you to reclaim the winter months and find ways to celebrate even the darkest days of the year.

“This is the book I recommend to all who struggle beneath the weight of winter. It is highly authoritative yet lively, warm, and quite personal. Dr. Rosenthal is an unsurpassed expert in the field and he lays out exactly what you need to do to feel more like your ‘summer self.’”

– Michael J. Norden, MD, Author of Beyond Prozac

“Dr. Rosenthal writes beautifully about the human side of the reasons and our profound beholdenness to light, while at the same time providing an invaluable guide to handling the seasonal depressions that affect so many individuals.”

– Kay Redfield Jamison, PhD, Author of An Unquiet Mind and Exuberance

“Read and Heed Dr. Rosenthal’s advice. It can change your life.”

– Jean Carper, Syndicated Columnist

(c) 2006 Norman E. Rosenthal
Published by The Guilford Press
A Division of Guilford Publications, Inc.
72 Spring Street, New York, NY 10012
www.guilford.com
All rights reserved
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN-10: 1-59385-116-2 ISBN-13: 978-1-59385-116-3 (pbk.)
ISBN-10: 1-59385-214-2 ISBN-13: 978-1-59385-214-6 (cloth)
1. Seasonal affective disorder-Popular works. I. Title.
RC545.R67 2006
616.85’27-dc22