The Twenty Minute Break: Reduce Stress, Maximize Performance, Improve Health and Emotional Well-Being Using the New Science of Ultradian Rhythms [Hardcover]

Rossi (Author), Ernest Lawrence Rossi (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 1, 1991

This bestseller provides a fascinating set of guidelines for achieving a personal balance between active productivity and healing islands of peace. It is a practical manual for optimizing mind-body communication in everyday life by synthesizing ancient and new information about our natural body rhythms.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Rossi, a psychology researcher and disciple of clinical hypnotherapist Milton Erickson, introduces the concept of ultradian rhythms, or biological cycles of rest and activity that regulate physical and mental health. Approximately every 90-120 minutes, he asserts, the mind and body give clues signaling the need for rest and change in physical and mental activity. Rossi shows that ignoring these signals may lead to fatigue, stress, and ultimately psychosomatic illness. He recommends taking 20-minute breaks that lead to renewed energy and improved performance. He provides guidelines for monitoring one's own ultradian rhythms to aid in physical training, weight reduction, improving family and sexual relations, and managing stress. Recommended for popular psychology and consumer health collections.
- Lucille Boone, San Jose P.L., Cal.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Kirkus Reviews

Therapist Rossi teams up with health-writer Nimmons to promote the benefits to be gained from exploitation of ``ultradians,'' or the natural biological rhythms that occur more than once a day (circadian rhythms are those that occur about once a day, and infradians less than once a day). According to the theory presented here, our mind-body systems need a restful healing or rejuvenation period of about 20 minutes every 90 to 120 minutes. Ignoring this need leads to a plethora of physical and emotional problems; responding to it brings a host of benefits, including better mental and physical health, higher job performance, reduced stress, a better sex life, and weight control. However, the symptoms that Rossi and Nimmons list as indicative of distress are so common that it is virtually impossible not to have at least one of them, and the proclaimed benefits are so desirable that one cannot reject them. Moreover, little hard data are provided to back up the authors' claims. There is the usual anecdotal evidence, and reference is made to studies that may or may not be relevant, but ultimate acceptance of the concept of the ``Ultradian Stress Syndrome'' and the ``Ultradian Healing Response'' requires an act of faith. The psychobabble quotient is high, and the text is replete with guidelines, questions and answers, and checklists encouraging readers to tune into their mind-body talk--plus caveats not to try too hard or expect too much too soon. More New Age therapy for self-help fans; a wait-and-see book for skeptics. -- Copyright ©1991, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 210 pages
• Publisher: Tarcher (July 1, 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 087477585X
• ISBN-13: 978-0874775853
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.7 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #469,026 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

29 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Groundbreakingly great advice, 5 stars for usefulness..., February 4, 2001

By 

Bonnie MacBird (Los Angeles, CA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Twenty Minute Break: Reduce Stress, Maximize Performance, Improve Health and Emotional Well-Being Using the New Science of Ultradian Rhythms (Hardcover)

Despite its slow start and somewhat dull style, the dynamite content of this book is worth mining: What work habits do Winston Churchill and Steven Hawking share that helped make them incredible acheivers? How can a simple 20 minute break (two or three times a day) profoundly affect creativity, productiveness, body fat storage, and problem solving?

A long time ago I read somewhere that the British army once made record time over some incredible journey on foot by the simple trick of resting many short times each day. I've often pondered how to apply this to my own marathon workaholic style and this book is the answer I sought. Attention workaholics - this book is for you.

What absolutely free and painless thing can we do to work smarter, think better, boost creativity, and lose weight? The answer (and the scientific evidence) is right here. My guess is that techniques described here will massively boost productivity - and health! But my fear is that this man and his theories are ahead of his time. And his lackluster writing style will fail to start the revolution to this "tortoise" style of winning life's race to achievement and health.

Highly recommended for content, this book's only flaws are style and organization (surprising from publisher Jeremy Tarcher). Somebody else will probably rewrite this info into a bestseller. But if you're ready for some terrific advice now - be ahead of the crowd - buy this and read it. Life changing.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Practice the 20 minute break and reap the rewards, February 20, 2004

By 

Henry W. Kastler (Chicago, IL USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Twenty Minute Break: Reduce Stress, Maximize Performance, Improve Health and Emotional Well-Being Using the New Science of Ultradian Rhythms (Hardcover)

I've been practicing the 20 minute break since November 2003, and it works for me. I believe it will help anyone who will take the time to practice it. It is a natural restorative state. I'm really glad I found this book.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A great book to get you started on a healthier life, November 28, 2007

By 

Charlie Badenhop "charliebhop" (Nakano-ku, Tokyo Japan) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Twenty Minute Break: Reduce Stress, Maximize Performance, Improve Health and Emotional Well-Being Using the New Science of Ultradian Rhythms (Hardcover)

I think Ernest Rossi is sharing some very important information in this book. There is a lot of science behind what he says, but much more important than that is he offers concepts and practices that can work, IF you actually follow what he suggests.