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Mindwandering

How Your Constant Mental Drift Can Improve Your Mood and Boost Your Creativity

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By Moshe Bar

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• ebook $14.99 $19.99 CAD
• Hardcover $29.00 $37.00 CAD

This item is a preorder. Your payment method will be charged immediately, and the product is expected to ship on or around February 8, 2022. This date is subject to change due to shipping delays beyond our control.

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Description

“One of the pre-eminent cognitive neuroscientists of his generation” explores the proven benefits of letting your mind wander and the positive impact it can have on your mood and creative potential (Daniel Gilbert, author of Stumbling On Happiness ).

• Develop your sense of self, better relate to others, and make associations that help you understand the world around you
• Increase your ability to focus by understanding when to wander—and when not to
• Magnify and enrich your experiences by learning about full immersion
• Stimulate your creativity by combing through the past and making predictions about the future
• Boost your mood by unleashing your mind.
• Cognitive Neuroscience & Cognitive Neuropsychology
• "An original, provocative, and fascinating new theory by one of the world’s leading neuroscientists about why the mind wanders -- and how we can change its trajectory to make ourselves happier and more creative." Daniel Gilbert, professor of psychology, Harvard University, New York Times bestselling author of Stumbling on Happiness
• " Mindwandering is the best thing that can happen to anyone. What is it? Why is it good? Let Moshe Bar take you by the hand and show you the exciting ways it liberates us from the tedium of the known world into the world of possibilities. And while you are at it, chill out and learn profound insights about the brain and how it works." Michael S. Gazzaniga, professor and head of SAGE Center for Study of the Mind at UCSB, author of The Consciousness Instinct"
• "In this highly original, accessible, erudite, engaging, and informative book, a distinguished neuroscientist highlights the role of mind wandering in solving problems, inducing happiness, and in teaching us to 'bring the right mind to the right time." Nancy Etcoff, psychologist and researcher at Harvard University
• "In this important, entertaining, and instructive treatment, Moshe Bar takes us on a journey through contemporary  neuroscience to show when, why, and exactly how a wandering mind can be good for us. Along the way, we learn why we should meditate, how to profit from imagined experiences, and how we can make the most of our limited mental resources. A gentle and humane book that should be read by everyone interested in the human mind and the human brain." Andy Clark, professor of cognitive philosophy, University of Sussex, author of Surfing Uncertainty
• "Brains constantly balance the two states of tracing known paths and setting off on new adventures. Bar's revelatory, pioneering studies on this are finally available for everyone to enjoy, so we can optimally direct our states of mind to better align with the moment. A fascinating read that will bring your mind back home." David Eagleman, neuroscientist at Stanford, New York Times bestselling author
• "This book evinces the intimate relationship between curiosity and creativity, mindwandering and mindfulness, agency and association sentience and selfhood. It does so using a compelling mixture of personal narratives and high-end cognitive (and clinical) neuroscience; in which the author is wonderfully fluent (and internationally acclaimed). It is an addictive and eclectic read, crafted with a gentle and telling humor." Karl J. Friston, MBBS, scientific director, Wellcome Centre for Human Neuroimaging, professor, University College London
• "A gold standard in neuroscience research is to prove links between brain activity and behavior. Bar's analysis of mindwandering offers us 'a good broad-ranging stroll' through all sorts of familiar human behaviors, provocatively locating them in relation to brain functions that he has spent decades studying. Highly accessible and entertaining, alternately personal and analytic, this lovely and stimulating book will make you appreciate your mind, and Bar’s." Susanna Siegel, Edgar Pierce Professor of Philosophy, Harvard University`

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Moshe Bar | Mindwandering

How Your Constant Mental Drift Can Improve Your Mood and Boost Your Creativity

“An original, provocative, and fascinating new theory by one of the world’s leading neuroscientists about why the mind wanders–and how we can change its trajectory to make ourselves happier and more creative.”

--Daniel Gilbert, Harvard University 

A arte da divagacao.

Mindwandering UK

Mindwandering

• How Your Constant Mental Drift Can Improve Your Mood and Boost Your Creativity
• By: Moshe Bar
• Narrated by: Patrick Lawlor
• Length: 8 hrs and 9 mins
• 4.6 out of 5 stars 4.6 (15 ratings)

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Publisher's summary

Our brains are noisy; certain regions are always grinding away at involuntary activities like daydreaming, worrying about the future, and self-chatter, taking up to forty-seven percent of our waking time. This is mindwandering—and while it can tug your attention away from the present, cognitive neuroscientist Moshe Bar is here to tell you about the method behind this apparent madness.

Mindwandering is the first popular book to explore this multi-faceted phenomenon of your wandering mind and introduces you to the new, exciting research behind it. Bar combines his decades of research to explain the benefits and the possible cost of mindwandering within the broader context of psychology, neuroscience, psychiatry, and philosophy, providing you with practical knowledge that can help you:

• Develop your sense of self, better relate to others, and make associations that help you understand the world around you
• Increase your ability to focus by understanding when to wander—and when not to
• Magnify and enrich your experiences by learning about full immersion
• Stimulate your creativity by combing through the past and making predictions about the future
• Unabridged Audiobook
• Categories: Health & Wellness

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What listeners say about Mindwandering

• 4.5 out of 5 stars 4.6 out of 5.0
• 4.5 out of 5 stars 4.7 out of 5.0

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• Overall 5 out of 5 stars
• Performance 5 out of 5 stars
• Story 5 out of 5 stars

Every Mindfulness Meditator should read

This helped me expands my understanding of Buddhist meditation techniques. What this book gives you a is another dimension to mindfulness. While it doesn't dwell into mindfulness meditation in any depth. It shows you how the mind work. It gets into the underlying mechanism of different ways of how thoughts occur. So if you had enough experience with mindfulness meditation you can parse out the nuances between focused meditation vs open monitoring vs open awareness practice and the underlying cognitive processes. Then it also gave me a greater appreciation for the DMN activities. It helped me understand how the contemplation of Anattha, Anicca, Dukka work. Some Buddhist teachers call it discernment. Discernment requires DMN procesees over a longer period of time for insights to occur. I wish Moshe Bar had a bit more experience with meditation, to explain this. But he like all other meditators new to it get stuck in the narrow understanding of meditation that most meditation teachers are stuck in. Still the book is a very worthwhile book. I will be returning to this book to glean more understanding with time. Two other books that added depth to Mose's thesis is "How Emotions are Made" by Lisa Feldman Barrett and "Positivity" by Barbra Fredrickson. Both research scientists speaking about their domains.

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Genius author

My bullshit indicator says that this book is 100% pure genius. Interesting solutions to deal with unwanted thoughts. This book inspires me to be a better person. I don’t feel bad when my mind wanders anymore :) I got more tools to control difficult mental situations and hopefully I’ll be able to help a friend or two :) Thank you Moshe bar for sharing your genius inspiring work with the world. Waiting for your next book.

• Overall 3 out of 5 stars
• Performance 4 out of 5 stars
• Story 4 out of 5 stars

• James Alton Thomas

A step into neurodivergence.

I heard good information about this book and it’s relatable content, so made the effort to listen. Though the insight was informative, it felt more like a personal journey speaking to the authors own struggle with mind wandering and his efforts to harness his story. It also seemed to drag in parts as it seemed he was trying to match points of contextual information but got a bit lost in his own explanation.! At times it seemed less relatable to me as a listener. Overall interesting content was okay, though not sure if it’s a book for everyone.

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Mindwandering Paperback – 28 January 2023

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• Print length 272 pages
• Language English
• Publisher Bloomsbury Publishing
• Publication date 28 January 2023
• Dimensions 20.3 x 25.4 x 4.7 cm
• ISBN-10 1526663228
• ISBN-13 978-1526663221
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Product details

• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Bloomsbury Publishing (28 January 2023); Bloomsbury Publishing
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Paperback ‏ : ‎ 272 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1526663228
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1526663221
• Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 350 g
• Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 20.3 x 25.4 x 4.7 cm
• Country of Origin ‏ : ‎ United Kingdom
• Net Quantity ‏ : ‎ 1 Grams
• Importer ‏ : ‎ Bloomsbury Publishing
• Packer ‏ : ‎ Bloomsbury Publishing
• Generic Name ‏ : ‎ Books
• #47 in Art Therapy & Relaxation

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Mindwandering Paperback

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• Language English
• Dimensions 9.17 x 0.87 x 5.94 inches
• ISBN-10 1408888068
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• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1408888068
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1408888063
• Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 14.4 ounces
• Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 9.17 x 0.87 x 5.94 inches
• Best Sellers Rank: #4,483,184 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books )

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Rusmania • Deep into Russia

History of Kursk

11th century, first mention.

Although archaeological evidence suggests that there was a large settlement in the location of Kursk before the 8th Century, Kursk was first mentioned in 1032 in the Hagiography of St Theodosius (Feodosi) of the Kiev-Caves, who grew up in Kursk which was by then already a large, developed and important city. In approximately 1095 Izyaslav Vladimirovich, a son of Vladimir Monomakh, became the first prince of Kursk although he only ruled there for a year as shortly afterwards he was elevated to prince of Murom. However Prince Izyalslav had enough time to build a fortress in Kursk, making the settlement one of the strongest on the borders of Kievan Rus.

12th Century

Princes of kursk.

As only a minor principality, the Kursk Principality did not always have its own prince and never had its own dynasty of Ryurikid princes. The principality often passed between the various factions of Ryurikid princes during this period of time when internecine wars were common. In 1127 Vsevolod Olgovich took Chernigov from his uncle. To stop Mstislav the Great interfering in this conflict Vsevolod gave him Kursk and the surrounding lands. In turn Mstislav the Great made his son Izyaslav prince of Kursk. Izyaslav Mstislavich ruled as prince of Kursk until 1130 when he became prince of Polotsk. The Olgovichy princes were able to regain Kursk in 1136 : Gleb Olgovich ruled Kursk up to his death in the city in 1138 and was followed by his younger brother Svyatoslav Olgovich who ruled in Kursk until 1139 when he returned to be prince of Novgorod. In 1146 Svyatoslav Olgovich became prince of Novgorod-Seversky, which included Kursk. Svyatoslav gave Kursk to Ivan Yurievich, son of his ally Yuri Dolgoruky. Ivan Yurievich died in 1147 and Svyatoslav gave the principality to Ivan's younger brother Gleb who ruled in Kursk until 1148 .

Tale of Prince Igor's Campaign

In 1161 Kursk once again had its own prince - Oleg Svyatoslavich, son of Svyatoslav Olgovich. Oleg ruled in Kursk until 1164 when he became prince of Novgorod-Seversky. Oleg's brother Vsevolod succeeded him in Kursk. Vsevolod Svyatoslavich was known as Vsevolod Bui-Tur, meaning something along the lines of Mighty Bull. As his sobriquet suggests he was known for his bravery in dealing with the Cumans (Polovtsians). In 1185 Prince Igor of Novgorod-Seversky led an unsuccessful campaign against the Cumans which is the subject of the famous 12th-century Tale of Prince Igor's Campaign. Prince Vsevolod Bui-Tur accompanied his brother on the campaign and also features as one of the heroes in the tale. Vsevolod Bui-Tur remained prince of Kursk until his death in 1196 .

13th Century

Mongol-tatar invasion of rus.

After Vsevolod Bui-Tur's death in 1196 , it is unclear who became prince of Kiev. It is possible that he was succeeded by his nephew Prince Svyatoslav Olgovich of Rylsk. In 1223 a Prince Oleg of Kursk participated in the Battle of River Kalka against the Mongols, Prince Oleg was a descendent of Prince Oleg Svyatoslavich of Novgorod-Seversky, possibly the son of Prince Svyatoslav Olgovich of Rylsk. After Prince Oleg, information on the princes of Kursk is unclear. In any case the principality came to an end in 1238 when Kursk was destroyed during the Mongol-Tatar Invasion of Rus. Later Kursk was once again devastated by Mongol-Tatar forces in response to the citizens of Kursk rising up against the Mongol representative there.

14th and 15th Centuries

The Mongol-Tatar Invasion significantly weakened Russian territories and Grand Duke Algirdas of Lithuania took advantage of this situation. In the 1350s Algirdas managed to capture the Chernigov and Novgorod-Seversky lands, including Kursk, and incorporated them into the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. Kursk would remain part of Lithuania up until the beginning of the 16th century. In 1402 Kursk is mentioned as a Lithuanian city in an agreement between Lithuania and the Teutonic Order. Throughout the 15th century the city was raided by Crimean Tatars and the Nogais.

16th Century

Russian-lithuanian wars.

The Russian-Lithuanian War of 1500 - 1503 was very successful for Russia which gained control of one-third of Lithuanian territory, including Kursk. After the Russian-Lithuanian War of 1507 - 1508 a peace treaty was signed between Russia and Lithuania under which Grand Duke Sigismund I the Old of Lithuania recognised the territory won by Grand Prince Ivan III of Rus during the 1500 - 1503 war as territory of Russia. In 1597 Tsar Fyodor I had a new fortress constructed in Kursk to protect it from Crimean Tatar raids.

17th Century

Znamensky monastery.

Kursk was one of the first cities to declare its support of the First False Dmitri in 1604 . When Dmitri was in Kursk he demanded the Our Lady of the Kursk Root Icon be brought to him and later he took it with him to Moscow. In 1612 Polish interventionists began besieging the Kursk fortress. The defenders refused to surrender even though the situation looked hopeless. Legend has it they made an oath to build a monastery should the Virgin Mary protect them. Several weeks later the siege was lifted and the fortress did not fall. The defenders immediately began to fulfil their oath and built a wooden church dedicated to the Nativity of the Virgin Mary. In approximately 1615 , Tsar Michael returned the Our Lady of the Kursk Root Icon to the nearby Korennaya Hermitage and in 1618 the icon was transferred to a newly established monastery in Kursk. It remained in Kursk thereafter only returning to the Korennaya Hermitage on annual religious processions. In 1649 on the orders of Tsar Michael a new  stone cathedral was built especially to house the icon and from this point onwards the monastery became known as the Znamensky monastery.

18th Century

Administrative reform.

In 1708 Kursk became part of the Kiev Governorate and in 1727 part of the Belgorod Governorate. In 1779 it was elevated to the administrative centre of the Kursk Viceroyalty. A coat of arms was officially approved for the city in 1780 which depicts three partridges flying on a blue strip on a silver background. In 1781 there was a major fire in Kursk and subsequently a new general plan was adopted for the city. Kursk became the administrative centre of the  in 1797 .

19th Century

Our lady of the kursk root icon and religious processions.

In the mid-19th century the religious procession with the Our Lady of the Kursk Root Icon from Kursk's Znamensky Monastery to the nearby Korennaya Hermitage became one of the biggest religious events in the empire and tens of thousands of people took part in it. In 1883 the artist Ilya Repin depicted this religious procession in his famous painting in which he shows the various social strata in Russia at the time. In 1898 an anarchist placed a bomb in the Our Lady of the Sign Cathedral of the Znamensky Monastery under the Our Lady of the Kursk Root Icon. The explosion caused great damage to the cathedral but when the priest found the silver case of the icon in the rubble, he discovered that the icon itself has miraculously survived.

20th Century

In 1917 Soviet power was declared in Kursk, but the volunteer army of General Anton Denikin briefly occupied the city from September to November 1919 when the Soviets retook the city. When Denikin's army left Kursk they took with them the Our Lady of the Kursk Root Icon, which was eventually taken to the USA where it remains today. In 1934 Kursk became the centre of the newly-established Kursk Region.

Second World War

On 29 August 1941 Kursk experienced its first bombing raid by the Luftwaffe and on 1 November 1941 the city was attacked. Kursk fell two days later on 3 November 1941 and was only liberated on 8 February 1943 by the 60th army of the Voronezh Front. The liberation of Kursk resulted in what is known as the Kursk Salient - a Soviet-controlled bulge on the frontline around the city. It was obvious to the Soviets that soon Hitler would launch an attempt to recapture the city. Marshal Zhukhov was among those who argued that the Red Army should go on the defensive and only once the Nazis had been exhausted should they launch a counter-attack. This proved to be a successful tactic and at the Battle of the Kursk Salient, which was fought between 5 July to 23 August 1943 , the Soviets were victorious, although at a very high cost. The Battle of Prokhorovka (often also called the Battle of Kursk) took place during the Battle of the Kursk Salient in Prokhorovka outside Belgorod and was the largest tank battle in history. After the Battle of the Kursk Salient, the Nazis remained on the defensive for the rest of the war.

21st Century

After the fall of the Soviet Union, many of Kursk's churches were once again reopened.  This included the Znamensky Monastery and the new century saw the religious procession from the monastery to the Korennaya Hermitage being revived and gaining in popularity.  In 2007 Kursk was awarded the title of City of Military Glory for the “courage, endurance and mass heroism, demostrated by defenders of the city in the struggle for the freedom and independence of the Motherland”.

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