You Are the Placebo

Terrible Choice for Audio

Recommend reading print version for all the referenced figures. 90% of the book is about the "why" and examples, and the last 10% is about the "how", but just references "figures" for meditation guides which are of no use when listening to the book.

24 people found this helpful

Very good, though very similar to his past works

I think I’d start by saying that if you’re new to Dispenza’s work, you’ll more than likely enjoy this one. It’s chock-full of wisdom, insights, and studies explaining how so much of what happens in our lives is a result of our thoughts, attitudes, and beliefs. As the title explains, we are the placebo; we can use our minds to transform our lives.

However, if you’ve read any of his previous works, such as “Evolve Your Brain” or “Breaking the Habit of Being Yourself,” then you’ll likely find that there’s not all that much new content here. If you’re a die-hard fan of Dispenza’s, then this will be nothing to worry about, but if you’re just a “regular” fan, you might find this one to be frustratingly “too much of the same old thing.”

As a stand-alone book, this is a very good title in its own right. However, I just have to knock a star off for the lack of originality when compared to its predecessors. There’s all the normal Dispenza-style content here, so whether you end up enjoying this one will likely depend on if you think that’s a good or bad thing. I’d recommend, but only if you haven’t already read “Evolve Your Brain” and “Breaking the Habit.”

-Brian Sachetta
Author of “Get Out of Your Head”

19 people found this helpful

it is a sales pitch for the meditations

I kept waiting to get to the meditation part only to find out that it's something else you need to buy or read to yourself on a pdf.

This book had good stories and it was trying to explain his point of view. But it was overly long to just convince me to do meditation. I always try to ask myself at the end of the book will I read this again? The answer is most likely no. I am gonna try buying his meditations and I will update this if I can.

8 people found this helpful

Best read, not listened to

This is an excellent and informative book. There are graphs and figures which do not translate well to audio, as well as some important meditations in the end, which do not come across in the audio version.

8 people found this helpful

A little woo-woo for my taste

The placebo effect exists and it's real. I have no doubt that some things happen without a physical cause, and I believe that the substance we call "life" is more than atoms and molecules bumping into one another. Yet in this book are a few scientifically-disproved theories being dispensed as fact, and many of the anecdotes sound pretty sketchy. Having said that, as one who has difficulty meditating - heck, I even have difficulty sleeping - because my thinking brain and its stress 100% runs the show, I do look forward to giving the 3-week suggested meditation practice a try. I've wasted more time doing less valuable things.

Possibly my most important take-away is the need for persistence and patience. I love the example of the stallion turning toward the mares and being repeatedly, gently yet firmly, redirected ahead.

6 people found this helpful

You Should Read This

I believe more people are going to understand life much more clearly after investing time and thought into this rare read. “Know Thyself.”

2 people found this helpful

Starts strong, devolves in to BS

Some good ideas, meditation, self inducing placebo state. These things are possible and potentially good.

But most of the book is junk science and the author trying to sell you on his programs.

2 people found this helpful

A game changing book for healing of all kinds

Dr. Joe Dispenza has daringly put forth a most fascinating and hopeful idea and about self healing - healing through the unknown through meditation and finding the balance between over trying and over surrendering. He bases his ideas on sound biological information and that’s where he really shines. However, when it came to talking about quantum mechanics such as saying how we need to become like waves to change matter because matter cannot change matter, or spin at a faster vibration I found this part to be unsupported by evidence and not thoroughly explained. The author’s lack of understanding in this particular field of science became quite apparent. This is not to say that his overall message is not true and that the most important thing regardless of whether the QM stuff is true, is the potential and possibility for each individual to go beyond survival, to heal, and to thrive and live in joy. Marrying elevated positive emotions with the deep desire/intention to change our condition based upon a foundational conviction that this change is indeed possible is the doorway to amazing transformation (this is certainly not a new idea and also promoted by others in the self healing or personal transformation space). The key to this doorway as eloquently explained by Dr. Dispenza is meditation and surrender to the unknown where we can be touched by an unconditional love and light that is beyond us and experience wholeness and joy beyond words.

1 person found this helpful

Great book!!!

I love this scientific approach and explanation of what many call “spirituality”. It’s the scientific explanation, for those who need it, of miracle healings, changes and personal transformation.

Second time listening

This time with Alphawaves music, free on YouTube. And I am sure to do it again to freshen up the information. Life changing.