The Open-Focus Brain: Harnessing the Power of Attention to Heal Mind and Body (Hardcover)

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Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Alongtime clinician and researcher in biofeedback, Fehmi (with the assistance of science writer Robbins, author of A Symphony in the Brain) advances his program for learning to relieve stress by attaining what he calls open focus—a more diffuse, flexible form of attention that, paradoxically, allows one to focus better and in a more relaxed way. According to Fehmi, most of us habitually operate in a narrow-focus stress mode that results in anxiety and a host of physical problems, including digestive upsets, rashes and migraines. Fehmi draws on his experience with neurofeedback (brain-wave biofeedback) to explain how we can shift our brain waves to attain open focus. These mental techniques help you to experience your body and even your heart in a new way and change how you perceive the space around you. Fehmi grounds his plan in research and patient anecdotes showing the techniques can reduce pain and improve relationships and athletic performance. Fehmi acknowledges the results of open focus are similar to those from meditation, but even readers skeptical of Eastern spirituality may find Fehmi's science-based program useful. (The accompanying audio CD was not heard by PW). (July 10)
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Review

"These mental techniques help you to experience your body and even your heart in a new way. Fehmi grounds his plan in research and patient anecdotes showing the techniques can reduce pain and improve relationships and athletic performance."—Publishers Weekly

"Fehmi and award-winning science writer and journalist Robbins present a convincing argument for the effectiveness of neurofeedback in a self-help format for those who want to try the techniques. . . . This well-written book will be of interest to anyone in the alternative healing community."—Library Journal

“The concept of open-focused attention is useful and powerful. The authors of this practical and readable book explain what it is and teach you how to develop it. The techniques described in this book can make life fuller, more enjoyable, and more productive. I recommend it.”—Andrew Weil, MD, author of Healthy Aging

“Dr. Fehmi taught me the power of cultivating full, relaxed attention in sports. I’ve used his Open Focus techniques in my work with NFL players, and I’ve shared this knowledge with other athletes and coaches. The attention exercises he teaches are applicable across all disciplines. I encourage you to read this book and apply it to your field of work or play.”—Bob Ward, Director of Sports Science, former conditioning coach for the Dallas Cowboys

“Based on thirty-plus years of research and professional experience, this book reveals a startling truth: how you deploy your attention in your daily life is centrally important for your mental and physical health. It also describes a breakthrough methodology for overcoming depression, anxiety, and other hard-to-manage emotional states. As a colleague of Dr. Fehmi from the earliest days of brainwave-biofeedback  research, I can trust the credibility of his reports. He is a creative and critical thinker in the field. I heartily recommend this book.”—Joe Kamiya, PhD, research psychologist at Langley Porter Institute of Psychiatry

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 176 pages
• Publisher: Trumpeter (August 28, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1590303768
• ISBN-13: 978-1590303764
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.4 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (28 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #172,095 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

60 of 64 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Important, Groundbreaking, Destined to be Become a Self Help and Philosopical Classic, yet a great read. , August 31, 2007

By	Robert Kall "Rob Kall of Opednews.com" (Newtown, PA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is an important, groundbreaking book that promises to become a classic that could very well become more and more widely read over the decades.

More than any other book, it reminds me of Herbert Benson's RELAXATION RESPONSE. Just as Benson took a simple concept-- relaxation-- and created a landmark book on how to do it... simply, Les Fehmi, with co-author Jim Robbins, has laid out an approach to attention that is remarkable in its simplicity and power to change lives.

As Fehmi points out, our lives, our experiences, all we know, are determined by how we pay attention. The process of paying attention is usually something we ignore. Yet, Fehmi teaches, we can easily learn how to become aware of how we are paying attention and then voluntarily pay attention as we choose to.

Fehmi walks us through the ways that narrowed, inflexible attention leads to stress and stress disorders, depression, reduced performance, even diminished relationships. The good news is he provides practical, easy to learn and implement techniques which work-- and quickly, at that.

I first learned the Open Focus technique from Les Fehmi 30 years ago. I've used them ever since in my life and as a trainer and consultant teaching newcomer physicians, psychologists, counselors, educators, etc. the field of biofeedback and self regulation. I've taught hundreds of practitioners this technique because I believe it is very effective and powerful.

This book has been long overdue and will be highly valuable to both lay readers and professional psychologists. Fehmi's co-author Jim Robbins is an extraordinary writer who has helped Fehmi to take his ideas and put them into a fun and fascinating to read language that makes this book almost as engaging as a great novel.

Dr. Fehmi has been a consultant to the Dallas Cowboys, Golf Pros, ther US Olympic team and so many others who have benefited from these techniques. He's polished and fine tuned them with biofeedback and brain assessment technologies. This means that, unlike many techniques, Open Focus has been objectively measured and tested with brain wave technologies such as neurofeedback devices and brain maps.

Ask yourself. How much thought have you given to the way YOU pay attention. What are the parameters you assess? What "handles" do you have for modulating and adjusting your attention for different situations? Most people don't have good answers to these questions. This book provides them.

Some people will approach this book as a self-help book for healing disorders caused by stress, anxiety, etc.

Some will, like the pro teams and players who have hired Dr. Fehmi, approach this book as an aid to help improve performance, to reach peak performance and optimal functioning.

Some will seek out this book to help their personal relationships.

Some will approach it as a map for achieving higher consciousness and or spiritual deepening.

All will find answers that will make a difference in their lives and work.

As the founder organizer of one of the world's largest biofeedbac meetings, my job has been to bring together the best and the brightest leaders. Les Fehmi has, with his wife Susan, always been one of the best. The presentations have always drawn big crowds of other experts and leaders in the fields of biofeedback, peak performance, positive psychology, neurofeedback, stress management, meditation and relaxation. The experts come to hear Fehmi because he combines science and solid theory with practical, easy to use techniques. This book does the same thing.

This is one of the few books I'd like my adult children to read, and I'll be passing on copies to any of my employees who want to read it too.

Do I sound enthusiastic? It's a real joy to see that the life work of one of the scientist practitioner psychologists I've come to respect has been put on the printed page in such a stunning, powerful way. You do yourself a great disservice if you fail to avail yourself of the unique, original ideas and life strategies you'll find in this book.

Last but not least, I was amazed to see tht the book includes a CD with guided Open Focus exercises on it. They've always sold separately. Fehmi has given his all on this.

36 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The included CD is terrific!, October 2, 2007

By	common reader (Lords Valley, PA) - See all my reviews

I approached this book with pure skepticism. I thought it would be boring, and, as a scientist, I could not believe that a few simple exercises could begin to alleviate the mental and physical pain of stress and depression. But I was wrong!

Fehmi combines his years of research and experience with a forthright and simple presentation. His humanism shines throughgout the book.

The text is simple and clear, and I found myself, wanting to learn more with each chapter I read. In addition, the included CD is terrific, especially, as I love to listen to audio books. My favorite exercises, "Expanding Your Awareness of Visual Space" and "Seeing in Open Focus", are particularly useful to me, in reducing the chronic tension that lives in my shoulder muscles.

Buy this book!

26 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Open Focus and Spiritual Practice, January 6, 2008

By	Copthorne Macdonald (Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island Canada) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

My own introduction to Open Focus took place in the early 1980s when I explored its potential as a tool for spiritual development.

Buddhist meditation techniques such as Vipassana and Dzogchen are attentiveness training practices. In Vipassana you begin by narrowly focusing on breath sensations and gradually widen the field of attention until it takes in whatever is arising in the mind. In Dzogchen meditation (an advanced practice) you go immediately into that wide-angle, all-inclusive mode of attending and hang out there. Both are highly worthwhile practices, but to develop the ability to enter at will that open-to-everything mindset requires an extended period of prior practice.

During the 1970s Les Fehmi developed and recorded a series of exercises designed to talk a person into the Open Focus mind state. By the time I heard about these tapes I had already attended several Vipassana retreats. I bought a set of tapes, and when I started using them I was immediately impressed by how effective they were. If I diligently followed the suggestions being made on the tape, at the end of the half-hour lesson I would invariably be in the Open Focus mode of attending to mind contents. That was rarely the case when I spent an equal amount of time doing Vipassana meditation. Better yet, after using the tapes daily for several weeks I found that in everyday life circumstances I was able to switch at will between narrow-focus attention and Open Focus -- something I had not yet developed the ability to do in my meditation practice.

When I recently obtained a copy of THE OPEN-FOCUS BRAIN and its companion CD I was delighted. It now seems likely that this powerful technique will finally get the widespread recognition it deserves.