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Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
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Peak Mind summary
Amishi Jha
Find Your Focus, Own Your Attention, 12 Minutes a Day
20 mins
Brief summary
Peak Mind by Amishi Jha is a guide to improving focus, productivity and well-being through mindfulness. Jha draws on research and personal experience to offer practical tools for individuals and organizations to optimize brain function and achieve peak mind performance.
Table of Contents
Peak Mind
Summary of 9 key ideas
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Key idea 1 of 9
What's in it for you? Get your attention into peak shape.
Imagine this: you’re a firefighter – and not just any firefighter, either. You’re a specially trained emergency responder in the Australian bush. Your job is controlling the blazes that regularly break out in the country’s scrubland.
It’s not an easy job. The bush is inaccessible by land, so you and your team rappel into the area from a helicopter and then fan out, each of you carrying a big bag of tools and specialized equipment. Each firefighter takes their own section, where they’ll aim to contain the rapid spread of the fire.
You know that before long, a support helicopter will drop foam and water on the blaze. But for now, you’re on your own. So you get to work. Sweat pours down your face as the sound of an inferno rages in your ears. As you tackle the intensity of the fire roaring in front of you, you lose yourself in the work, focusing on the urgent task at hand.
After a while, though, something suddenly grabs your attention: a huge whooshing noise. It’s the sound of a gigantic amount of air being sucked up by the flames, and it means that while you were honing in on the fire in front of you, a wall of fire crept up the other side.
So what happened? Basically, your attention failed you – not because you couldn’t focus, but because you focused too much. When your mind zeroed in on one small patch of flames, your awareness of the broader situation became hazy and unclear. In this case, a lapse of attention endangered your life.
Now, forget the flames for just a second. Let’s say you survived. There are two things you can learn from your close brush with death. Number one is this: issues of attention can be life threatening.
Sure, you might not be a firefighter or a soldier. But do you drive? Are you a pedestrian who needs to cross roads on foot? Do you take any medications? All of these things require your attention, and messing them up can be fatal.
Point number two? Attention is misunderstood. When people talk about it, their thinking is often confused and imprecise, and based on a big misconception: that attention describes a single phenomenon. That simply isn’t true. Attention is actually three subsystems, each of which does something distinct. We’ll call these subsystems the flashlight, the floodlight, and the juggler.
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What is Peak Mind about?
Peak Mind (2021) provides a cutting-edge overview of the science of attention – looking at the various ways your mind focuses and pays attention, as well as the factors that cause our mental vigilance to lapse and weaken over time. What’s more, it lays out a simple, easy-to-follow regimen to keep your mind in tip-top shape – even as you deal with the ups and downs of life.
Peak Mind Review
Peak Mind by Amishi Jha (2022) is an insightful exploration of how mindfulness can enhance our mental capabilities and help us thrive in today's fast-paced world. Here's why this book is worth reading:
- It provides scientific evidence and practical techniques to develop attention, resilience, and compassion, empowering readers to optimize their cognitive performance.
- Combining personal anecdotes with cutting-edge research, the book offers a genuine and relatable perspective on the benefits of mindfulness for our overall well-being.
- With its engaging storytelling and emphasis on practical application, the book keeps readers captivated and motivated to incorporate mindfulness into their daily lives.
Who should read Peak Mind?
- Science enthusiasts interested in the frontiers of neuroscience
- Distractible procrastinators trying to find their focus
- Mindfulness skeptics interested in the science underpinning the practice
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Peak Mind FAQs
What is the main message of Peak Mind?
The main message of Peak Mind is how to train your mind to focus and find clarity in our fast-paced and distracted world.
How long does it take to read Peak Mind?
The reading time for Peak Mind varies depending on the reader's speed but the Blinkist summary can be read in just 15 minutes.
Is Peak Mind a good book? Is it worth reading?
Peak Mind is worth reading because it provides practical strategies and insights to enhance focus and attention in our modern lives.
Who is the author of Peak Mind?
Amishi Jha is the author of Peak Mind.
What to read after Peak Mind?
If you're wondering what to read next after Peak Mind, here are some recommendations we suggest:
- 18 Minutes by Peter Bregman
- Frames of Mind by Howard Gardner
- Know Thyself by Stephen M. Fleming
- Breaking The Habit of Being Yourself by Joe Dispenza
- Evolve Your Brain by Joe Dispenza
- Four Seconds by Peter Bregman
- The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle
- Mind Magic by James R. Doty
- The Mindful Day by Laurie J. Cameron
- The Miracle of Mindfulness by Thich Nhat Hanh