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Beyond Anxiety

Curiosity, Creativity, and Finding Your Life's Purpose

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Beyond Anxiety

Written by: Martha Beck
Narrated by: Martha Beck, Maria Shriver
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INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

INDIE BESTSELLER

USA TODAY BESTSELLER

From bestselling author Martha Beck, a new path to overcoming anxiety by awakening the creativity within

We live in an epidemic of anxiety. Most of us assume that the key to overcoming it is to think our way out. And for a while it works. But there is always something that sends us back into the anxious spiral we’ve been trying to climb out of.

In Beyond Anxiety, Dr. Martha Beck explains why anxiety is skyrocketing around you, and likely within you. She also tells you how to not only reduce your anxiety but use it to propel you into a life filled with peace, meaning, and joy.

Using a combination of the latest neuroscience as well as her background in sociology and coaching, Beck explains how our brains tend to get stuck in an “anxiety spiral,” a feedback system that can increase anxiety indefinitely. To climb out, we must engage different parts of our nervous system—the parts involved in creativity. Beck provides instructions for engaging the “creativity spiral,” in a process that not only shuts down anxiety but leads to innovative problem solving, a sense of meaning and purpose, and joyful, intimate connection with others—and with the world.

The opposite of anxiety, it turns out, is a wonderful new way of life—one that can calm and inspire us as individuals and help us become a source of healing for everything around us.

©2025 Martha Beck (P)2025 Penguin Audio
Mental Health Personal Development Human Brain

What the critics say

“Martha Beck has changed my life with her words, her teachings, and her guidance. She is always ahead of the curve. This book will help you get curious about anxiety and tap into your divine creativity. Get ready to be transformed.”—Maria Shriver

“In this book, Martha has tackled a subject that is the true virus of our time: ANXIETY. And with her characteristic humor, brilliance, detective-level research-skills and unconventional thinking, she has discovered actual real-life solutions to this dreaded mental scourge. In doing so, she has once again brought light, hope, and a welcome sense of excitement to us all.”—Elizabeth Gilbert, author of Big Magic and City of Girls

“I’m an anxious bunny. I opened this book hopeful but certain it wouldn’t work. It worked. It freaking worked. The gold on these pages gave me some life back. Thank you, thank you, Martha Beck. You did it again!”—Glennon Doyle, author of Untamed

What listeners say about Beyond Anxiety

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As helpful as expected

I’ve been following Martha Beck’s work for a while and have always found it insightful, helpful, and at times, even transformative. This book is no exception. It contains not just conceptual ideas and wisdom, but specific exercises and practices to develop a new relationship to anxiety.

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Martha's presentation is concise, compassionate and humourous.

Martha's calming voice and subtle, sometimes silly humour dot the landscape of this wonderful book! The Best "self help" I have ever read and plan to reread(listen to) as well as buy the hard copy to use as a guide.
Looking forward to another week of knowledge, compassion and tools from Martha.
Thank you Martha! 🤗🇨🇦🌠

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Too anecdotal

Too anecdotal and also … too gringo-centric. The way the author writes about being at a game reserve in Africa is unrelatable to me and comes across as privileged and colonialist, which she doesn’t seem to be aware of. Also, if you think life coaches are annoying i doubt you will like this book. I do and therefore didn’t. The author’s research and work sounds interesting and valuable tho and the premise of the book is interesting … I had high hopes for it based on the preview but was ultimately disappointed.

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