Powerful ideas from top nonfiction
Try Blinkist to get the key ideas from 5,500+ bestselling nonfiction titles and podcasts. Listen or read in just 15 minutes.
Start your free trial
Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
Listen to the Intro
Sane New World summary
Ruby Wax
Taming the Mind
4.5 (30 ratings)
16 mins
9 key ideas
Audio & text
What is Sane New World about?
In Sane New World, author Ruby Wax explains how we can better handle the stress of the modern world, pressures our brains just aren’t naturally equipped to handle. She outlines concrete steps you can take to curb anxiety, depression and fear and lead a happier life. With dedication, you will learn how to “rewire” your brain, replacing destructive habits with healthier ones.
About the Author
Ruby Wax is an actress, screenwriter and comedian. A depression sufferer herself, Wax initially studied mindfulness-based cognitive therapy and other psychotherapeutic practices for her own benefit, and now brings the success of her studies to others.
Table of Contents
Sane New World
summarized in 9 key ideas
Audio & text in the Blinkist app
Key idea 1 of 9
A lack of satisfaction, whether at work or at home, leads us to feel unhappy.
When was the last time you felt insecure, or envious? It probably wasn’t too long ago. We all suffer from negative thoughts, inspired by a variety of reasons.
That inner voice that tells you you've done something wrong developed when you were a child. When we're young, parents and teachers tell us what to do and what not to do. While important as we’re growing up, this guidance often morphs into a voice that make us insecure and unhappy.
This critical voice doesn't like change, and doesn't want to deal with new, unpredictable situations.
Imagine you're at a party. You might only speak to people you already know, as your inner voice is telling you that if you talk to a stranger, they might not like you.
Here's the problem: if you're unhappy with your life, your inner voice may be preventing you from taking steps to change it.
When we're unhappy, it's often because we're constantly wanting something yet we're never satisfied when we get it. We may feel temporary happiness, but the moment passes quickly.
Some people deal with this permanent state of dissatisfaction by keeping themselves busy with unhealthy behaviors, so they don't have to think about what they really want in life.
You might want to be a team leader in your company, for example. If you get a promotion, however, you'll initially be happy about your new status and increased income. Eventually, however, you might feel burdened by the increased workload and responsibility.
So you may just try to keep busy with your new job, even if you don't enjoy it. Gradually you’ll get burned out, and then feel even unhappier.
Want to see all full key ideas from Sane New World?
Key ideas in Sane New World
More knowledge in less time
Read or listen
Get the key ideas from nonfiction bestsellers in minutes, not hours.
Find your next read
Get book lists curated by experts and personalized recommendations.
Shortcasts New
We’ve teamed up with podcast creators to bring you key insights from podcasts.
Best quote from Sane New World
No matter how powerful or successful we get, we still cant figure out how to deal with a mind that keeps us up at night, driving us to exhaustion.
—Ruby Wax
Who should read Sane New World
- Anyone dealing with stress, anxiety or depression
- Anyone looking to lead a healthier life
- Anyone interested in achieving inner peace
Categories with Sane New World
Books like Sane New World
What our members say
Sven O.
It's highly addictive to get core insights on personally relevant topics without repetition or triviality. Added to that the apps ability to suggest kindred interests opens up a foundation of knowledge.
Thi Viet Quynh N.
Great app. Good selection of book summaries you can read or listen to while commuting. Instead of scrolling through your social media news feed, this is a much better way to spend your spare time in my opinion.
Jonathan A.
Life changing. The concept of being able to grasp a book's main point in such a short time truly opens multiple opportunities to grow every area of your life at a faster rate.
Renee D.
Great app. Addicting. Perfect for wait times, morning coffee, evening before bed. Extremely well written, thorough, easy to use.
Start growing with Blinkist now
25 Million
Downloads on all platforms
4.7 Stars
Average ratings on iOS and Google Play
91%
Of Blinkist members create a better reading habit*
*Based on survey data from Blinkist customers