“I simply had to write it.” This is how world-renowned psychiatrist and medical researcher, Norman Rosenthal, M.D., described what drove him to write his New York Times bestseller, Transcendence: Healing and Transformation Through Transcendental Meditation (Tarcher-Penguin, 2011). “TM has done so much good both for my patients and myself,” Dr. Rosenthal said. “But as importantly, there is such solid body of evidence documenting its benefits. I felt the urge to share these findings and experiences, as seen through the eyes of a doctor, a scientist and a TM practitioner—through my eyes.”
Dr. Rosenthal’s Transcendence is an incredibly readable account of the benefits, research, and mechanics of the Transcendental Meditation technique. The print, Kindle, and audio versions of the book have been purchased by tens of thousands of people, moving many of them to learn to meditate. The book has now been translated in many languages, including Mandarin, Greek, Portuguese and Swedish.
The following video provides a glimpse into the tone and tenor of one of Dr. Rosenthal’s numerous public lectures, conference presentations, and news events.
Here are some excerpts from a recent interview with the author:
Dr. Rosenthal:
“I think that there was a yearning for a straightforward book that described Transcendental Meditation from several points of view: personal, clinical and scientific. I believe that was the reason behind Transcendence becoming a New York Times and Washington Post bestseller.”
Q: What’s new about the paperback version of Transcendence?
“In this regard, I was once again surprised by all the developments in the world of TM just in the one year since Transcendence was first published. I highlight these changes in a totally new chapter, called ‘After Transcendence.’
“I have included some important new areas that I believe TM can help, including migraines and other pain syndromes, tremors and movement disorders, food addictions, autism spectrum disorder (sometimes referred to as Asperger’s Syndrome), and insomnia, which is one of the most pervasive and quickly growing problems faced by people leading stressful lives. This chapter provides some very inspiring stories of people in al these categories who have benefited from TM practice, as well as explanations for how TM might help such a widely divergent group of conditions.”
“I have also added a section about the potential benefits of TM practice for those who suffer from seasonal affective disorder (SAD). Actually, in the new edition of another book I wrote, Winter Blues, which has also just been released, I have added an entire chapter on the potential benefits of meditation for those afflicted by this disorder.
“Writing Transcendence, and most of all, seeing the positive effect that it has had on so many people, has been tremendously fulfilling for me. I am hoping that this paperback edition makes it possible for the profound and practical scientifically-validated benefits of TM to reach many, many more people. As I have said many times, ‘If TM were a drug, it would be a billion-dollar blockbuster.’”
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