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Herbert Benson
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Miriam Z. Klipper
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The Relaxation Response Mass Market Paperback – August 1, 1976

by Herbert Benson (Author), Miriam Z. Klipper (Author)
4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 1,116 ratings
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In this time of quarantine and global uncertainty, it can be difficult to deal with the increased stress and anxiety.  Using ancient self-care techniques rediscovered by Herbert Benson, M.D., a pioneer in mind/body medicine for health and wellness, you can relieve your stress, anxiety, and depression at home with just ten minutes a day. 

Herbert Benson, M.D., first wrote about a simple, effective mind/body approach to lowering blood pressure in The Relaxation Response. When Dr. Benson introduced this approach to relieving stress over forty years ago, his book became an instant national bestseller, which has sold over six million copies. Since that time, millions of people have learned the secret—without high-priced lectures or prescription medicines. The Relaxation Response has become the classic reference recommended by most health care professionals and authorities to treat the harmful effects of stress, anxiety, depression, and high blood pressure.

Rediscovered by Dr. Benson and his colleagues in the laboratories of Harvard Medical School and its teaching hospitals, this revitalizing, therapeutic tack is now routinely recommended to treat patients suffering from stress and anxiety, including heart conditions, high blood pressure, chronic pain, insomnia, and many other physical and psychological ailments. It requires only minutes to learn, and just ten minutes of practice a day.

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  1. Print length
    240 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    William Morrow Paperbacks
  4. Publication date
    August 1, 1976
  5. Dimensions
    4.19 x 0.56 x 6.88 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    0380006766
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0380006762
  8. See all details
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The Amazon Book Review
Book recommendations, author interviews, editors' picks, and more. Read it now

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

When you look at the popularity of mind-body medicine today, it's hard to understand what a groundbreaking book this was when it was first published in 1975. Based on studies at Boston's Beth Israel Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Dr. Herbert Benson showed that relaxation techniques such as meditation have immense physical benefits, from lowered blood pressure to a reduction in heart disease. The Relaxation Response demystifies the mantra meditation used in the transcendental meditation program, explaining how anyone can reap its advantages with or without the help of a guru. If you want to understand the beginnings of today's alternative medicine movement, or if you're simply looking to learn a simple meditation technique without a lot of metaphysical trappings, this is a good place to start. --Ben Kallen

Review

“This is the book that started it all, demystifying meditation and ushering it into the mainstream. Dr. Benson offers a simple technique for quieting the mind--and we need it now more than ever.” — Amy Bernstein, editor of the Harvard Business Review

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ William Morrow Paperbacks; Reissue edition (August 1, 1976)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Mass Market Paperback ‏ : ‎ 240 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0380006766
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0380006762
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 3.99 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 4.19 x 0.56 x 6.88 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 1,116 ratings

About the authors

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  1. Herbert Benson

    Herbert Benson

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    Herbert Benson, M.D., is the Director Emeritus of the Benson-Henry Institute for Mind Body Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital (BHI), and Mind Body Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School. A graduate of Wesleyan University and the Harvard Medical School, Dr. Benson is the author or co-author of more than 190 scientific publications and 12 books. More than five million copies of his books have been printed in many languages.

    Dr. Benson is a pioneer in mind body medicine, one of the first Western physicians to bring spirituality and healing into medicine. In his 40+ year career, he has defined the relaxation response and continues to lead teaching and research into its efficacy in counteracting the harmful effects of stress. The recipient of numerous national and international awards, Dr. Benson lectures widely about mind body medicine and the BHI's work. His expertise is frequently sought by national and international news media, and he appears in scores of newspapers, magazines, and television programs each year. Dr. Benson's research extends from the laboratory to the clinic to Asian field expeditions. His work serves as a bridge between medicine and religion, East and West, mind and body, and belief and science.

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  2. Miriam Z. Klipper

    Miriam Z. Klipper

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    Discover more of the author’s books, see similar authors, read book recommendations and more.

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Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
1,116 global ratings

Customers say

Customers find the book wonderful and informative for learning about meditation techniques. They describe it as an easy, well-written, and no-nonsense guide to the basic skill of meditation. Readers say it's worth buying and a worthwhile product. Additionally, they mention the book is very beneficial and helpful.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

Select to learn more
Meditation techniqueReadabilityValue for moneyEffectiveness
80 customers mention "Meditation technique"80 positive0 negative

Customers find the book wonderful and a great introduction to mind/body medicine. They say it provides a practical, scientific basis for the benefits of meditation. Readers mention the book explains meditation in the simplest way. They also appreciate the detailed medical explanation of the negative impacts of stress on their bodies.

"...It was designed to help you relax in pressure situations. You learned how to center, relax, and focus on your breathing...." Read more

"...The ease and accessiblity of the Relaxation Response, which consits of entering a "neutral" state of mind and silently repeating a word or phrase..." Read more

"...I think this book is of great historical interest because it was one of the first attempts to expose the dangers of stress in a clear way..." Read more

"I first read this book over 30 years ago. It helped foster a calming attitude toward stressful situations...." Read more

66 customers mention "Readability"50 positive16 negative

Customers find the book easy to read, well-written, and short. They say it's a solid, no-nonsense guide to basic skills. Readers also mention the book cuts through a lot of misconceptions and unnecessary associations.

"Extremely useful and easy to read." Read more

"...The method is really simple. But the book is good as you understand the fundamentals of it, what it was based on.Thank you dr...." Read more

"...I do think this has great potential and the entire book was an easy read but like I said for some could be overwhelming or even cause anxiety." Read more

"...In other words -- the method is great, but the book itself isn't very important...." Read more

36 customers mention "Value for money"36 positive0 negative

Customers find the book worth buying if you are beginner at meditation. They say it's an excellent product and a valuable asset to living.

"...All loved it and found it very helpful. It’s one of the best and most useful books I’ve ever read." Read more

"...Dr benson saved me a ton of money, kept me from joining a possible cult, and I can honestly say taught me how to finally meditate...." Read more

"...Overall a great book worth reading. This book could be a paradigm shift for those people who are stuck in the rational rut." Read more

"Great book if your trying to get into meditation" Read more

20 customers mention "Effectiveness"20 positive0 negative

Customers find the book very beneficial, helpful, and a good update for an effective health practice. They say it has great potential and the ideas in it work. Readers also mention the simple technique can transform both the individual and society.

"...You learned how to center, relax, and focus on your breathing. It worked great and I used it to improve my performance...." Read more

"Extremely useful and easy to read." Read more

"...All loved it and found it very helpful. It’s one of the best and most useful books I’ve ever read." Read more

"...I do think this has great potential and the entire book was an easy read but like I said for some could be overwhelming or even cause anxiety." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

David Witt
5.0 out of 5 stars A classic that demystifies Transcendental Meditation
Reviewed in the United States on December 20, 2023
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I first read this book in the mid-80s as a part of a sports psychology program I was participating in. It was designed to help you relax in pressure situations. You learned how to center, relax, and focus on your breathing. It worked great and I used it to improve my performance.

I rediscovered the book from a completely different angle recently while exploring Zen meditation resources. It came up with a number of other books while searching here on Amazon. It was so well rated, that I bought another copy and was reintroduced to the concepts as a much different person 40-years older!

The concepts still ring true and work great. If you'd like to explore a Western take on an Eastern philosophy--take a look at The Relaxation Response.
7 people found this helpful
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P.
5.0 out of 5 stars Great reading
Reviewed in the United States on August 21, 2024
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Extremely useful and easy to read.
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Brian
4.0 out of 5 stars Underrated and effective
Reviewed in the United States on November 12, 2020
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"The Relaxation Response" might be the holy grail of self-actualization: A simple method, backed by science, without any jargon. Although Benson's method of relaxation comes from studying Transcendental Meditation (TM), the process laid out in the book is secular and can be done by anyone, regardless of religious affiliation or lackthereof. The only problem is that the Relxation Response is so simple, that most of the book doesn't feel necessary.

Before we get into it, you should be aware that the entire Relaxation Response method is available online, for free. Benson himself explains it, step by step, in multiple YouTube videos and online articles; the book doesn't offer any "secret techniques" or addons to the relaxation response. It seems to me that the author wants the world to know about the Relaxation Response, with how easily available the technique is.

The ease and accessiblity of the Relaxation Response, which consits of entering a "neutral" state of mind and silently repeating a word or phrase for fifteen or twenty minutes, is a double-edged sword. The method is described twice, in the intro and in a later chapter, and even the longform explanation takes about five pages. The rest of the book is a breakdown of stress, a discussion of how the Relaxation Response was studied, and a comparison of world religions and how they all, in one way or another, use the Relaxation Response. Even with all the padding, the book is barely 200 pages. In other words -- the method is great, but the book itself isn't very important.

One wishes there were more books like The Relaxation Response. It's refreshing to read a "self-help" book that gives you an easy, actionable method, and does it without any mysticism or jargon. The book is realistic, and doesn't try to sell you a pie-in-the-sky. The book itself, however, doesn't feel necessary in the 2020s, considering the Relaxation Response method is available online, for free. If you've already learned the Relaxation Response, the book doesn't give you anything new.
63 people found this helpful
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Jennifer A. Robertshaw
5.0 out of 5 stars Sent quickly
Reviewed in the United States on November 28, 2024
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It got here fast! Our pastor was talking about this book in her sermon this past Sunday. I'm a worrier so I definitely need this. Thanknyou!
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Dennis Muzza
3.0 out of 5 stars Great information, but it is there anything new here?
Reviewed in the United States on May 14, 2001
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The message of this book could be summarized as "Relaxation is good for your health. You can relax by 1)Finding a quiet place 2) Sitting in a comfortable position/posture that will keep you alert but won't lead you to sleep 3) choosing a mental device that will let you concentrate 4) maintaining a passive attitude during this period". The rest of this book goes into the health dangers of stress (as understood in 1975),the health benefits of relaxation and how it differs from sleep, different ways to evoke the relaxation response, and how the relaxation response has been evoked throughout history in the context of various cultures and religions. I think this book is of great historical interest because it was one of the first attempts to expose the dangers of stress in a clear way (I found his discussion on how high blood pressure leads to heart disease particularly illustrating) and gave scientific validity to age-old ways of treating it without involving the methods traditionally sanctioned by Western medicine such as surgery and high-priced pills. His findings are based on research he performed with Transcendental Meditation followers, so he spends much effort on qualifying his conclusions, adding disclaimers, and otherwise protecting himself from possible attacks because of his work with such a fringe group. I think this limits the practical usefulness of the book and makes it somewhat dated, particularly since no one today questions that stress is bad and relaxation good. I think a more appropriate revision of this book should include not just a new introduction by the author, but also references to current research on which meditation techniques or approaches bring the most tangible health benefits and how they differ from placebos. A new assesment on the advantages of modern medicine vs. alternative therapies for preventing heart disease would also be in place. By being properly updated, a book of this nature would be very influential in setting a balance between the new age crowd that has little regard for science in medicine, and the medical establishment that has a vested interest in the status quo and thus rejects alternative medicine as a whole.
186 people found this helpful
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arenap
5.0 out of 5 stars Very helpful
Reviewed in the United States on October 13, 2023
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I first read this book over 30 years ago. It helped foster a calming attitude toward stressful situations. Over the years, I’ve given a copy to several people who seemed to be feeling stressed out. All loved it and found it very helpful. It’s one of the best and most useful books I’ve ever read.
6 people found this helpful
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Bobby
5.0 out of 5 stars Learn trancendental meditation for free
Reviewed in the United States on June 1, 2022
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I was looking at signing up for TM but found this book instead. Dr benson saved me a ton of money, kept me from joining a possible cult, and I can honestly say taught me how to finally meditate. I’ve tried all kinds of methods but they never seem to quiet the mind. As another reviewer stated, you don’t even need to buy this book. The technique is available on YouTube for free. I only bought the book to get a deeper understanding of the science. Highly recommend this!
7 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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Abhishek Ganguli
5.0 out of 5 stars Good
Reviewed in India on September 4, 2020
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Very good book for stress related diseases.
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Maria Rosalia Poblaciones
5.0 out of 5 stars Claridad
Reviewed in Spain on September 29, 2019
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Muy claro y útil para iniciar la práctica de meditación.
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wendy leyn
5.0 out of 5 stars La vie simple et tranquille est merveilleux.
Reviewed in France on April 23, 2019
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Je suis content d' avoir ce livre de référence comme guide de vivre autrement.
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Jens
5.0 out of 5 stars Easy to understand scientific report
Reviewed in Germany on December 16, 2017
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Good guide to experience the benefits of meditation/relaxation yourself...Herbert Benson is a bit too passive in promoting the general benefits of meditation in my view.... but i can understand this is the result of years of fighting against the medical establishment
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zengios
4.0 out of 5 stars A simple way to relax
Reviewed in the Netherlands on November 23, 2017
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I like the honesty of this book and the fact that it clearly sets out the case for a simple method of relaxation that can be practised by anyone. If you’re thinking of paying a lot of money to learn Transcendental Meditation, think again. Buy or borrow this book instead and find a way that the author has tested scientifically and has found to be equally effective. He has newer books that take the method further.
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