Alex Lickerman - The Undefeated Mind: On the Science of Constructing an Indestructible Self

Praise for The Undefeated Mind

Alex Lickerman mines lifes greatest challenges with an artists eye, a scientists rigor, and a Buddhists wise hand. The result is a book that I could not stop reading. Dr. Lickermans unique gifts as a writer, doctor, and scientific thinker make for an epiphany-studded quest to tame his own mind and to enter and commune with the minds of others. The result is a book like no other: profound, compassionate, and inspiring.

Kaja Perina , editor-in-chief of Psychology Today

Buddhism and Western medicine would seem an incongruous mixture, but in the hands of Alex Lickerman they meld seamlessly into a recipe for overcoming lifes hardshipsindeed, for turning them into advantages. An accomplished physician, Lickerman has no truck for the supernatural, but recognizes that the tenets of Nichiren Buddhism have been honed over centuries to help alleviate lifes inevitable sufferings. The Undefeated Mind is a deeply engaging story of how Lickerman has fused modern medicine with ancient wisdom to heal his patients both physically and psychologicallylessons that apply to all of us.

Jerry Coyne , professor of ecology and evolution
at University of Chicago and author of Why Evolution is True

Eastern religious practices such as chanting are often brushed aside as mysticism by Western science. In this highly original book based on extensive case studies, Lickerman effectively bridges these two great traditions, providing novel insights along the way regarding how we can all triumph over the psychological impact of adversity and live joyfully, even in this vale of tears.

V. S. Ramachandran , director of the Center for Brain and
Cognition at University of California San Diego and
author of the New York Times bestseller The Tell-Tale Brain

Dr. Lickermans wisdom and compassion are evident on every page of this outstanding book. Inspired by his many years of practice in the Nichiren Buddhist tradition, Dr. Lickerman, a practicing physician, sets forth nine principles for developing an undefeated mind. By sharing personal stories of how he and his patients have benefited from these nine principles, Dr. Lickerman turns them into easy-to-apply tools that everyone can put to use immediately. Incorporating the nine principles of The Undefeated Mind into your everyday life will open the door to limitless compassion for others and to unshakeable happiness for yourself. This profound book has the power to change your life.

Toni Bernhard , author of How to Be Sick: A Buddhist-Inspired
Guide for the Chronically Ill and Their Caregivers

A terrific read that was hard to put down. Dr. Lickerman provides valuable insights into common problems facing patients, such as obesity, nicotine addiction, chronic pain, and significant illness. He eloquently illuminates the path to employing our mental powers to live a fulfilled life using the teachings of Nichiren Buddhism, which provide guideposts for living a healthy, productive, and moral life. Most importantly, he shows how to do more good than harm.

Emil F. Coccaro, MD , E. C. Manning professor and
chairman of Psychiatry & Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Chicago

Dr. Lickerman beautifully weaves Eastern and Western wisdom, rigorous research, and poetic storytelling in The Undefeated Mind. This is a book that can help you become stronger and happier.

Tal Ben-Shahar , PhD., bestselling author of Choose the Life You Want

for my parents

The names, identifying details, and histories of the patients whose stories appear in this book have been altered and condensed to preserve their privacy and protect their confidentiality.

A portion of the text in Chapter 5 appeared originally in the April 2010 edition of Psychology Today and is reprinted with permission. Additionally, material in some chapters has appeared previously on the authors blog at www.happinessinthisworld.com.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Lickerman, Alex.

The undefeated mind : on the science of constructing an indestructible self /
Alex Lickerman.

p. cm.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN 978-0-7573-1642-5 (trade paper)

ISBN 0-7573-1642-5 (trade paper)

ISBN 978-0-7573-1643-2 (e-book)

ISBN 0-7573-1643-3 (e-book)

1. Self-realization. 2. Self-actualization (Psychology) 3. Resilience (Personality trait)
4. Autonomy (Psychology) I. Title.

BF637.S4L496 2012

158.1dc23

2012029179

2012 Alex Lickerman

All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the written permission of the publisher.

HCI, its logos, and marks are trademarks of Health Communications, Inc.

Publisher: Health Communications, Inc.
3201 S.W. 15th Street
Deerfield Beach, FL 334428190

Cover design by Dane Wesolko
Interior design and formatting by Lawna Patterson Oldfield

E-Book created by Dawn Von Strolley Grove

CONTENTS

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

INTRODUCTION

Chapter 1 The Meaning of Victory

Chapter 2 Find Your Mission

Chapter 3 Make a Vow

Chapter 4 Expect Obstacles

Chapter 5 Stand Alone

Chapter 6 Accept Pain

Chapter 7 Let Go

Chapter 8 Appreciate the Good

Chapter 9 Encourage Others

Chapter 10 Muster Your Courage

AFTERWORD

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

T hanks goes first to my agent, Stephany Evans, who agreed to represent The Undefeated Mind within two days of reading the book proposal and then proceeded not only to get it into the hands of a terrific publisher, but also to teach me how the world of publishing works in general. Thanks also to my editor at HCI, Candace Johnson, whose editorial expertise, positive spirit, and willingness to indulge my controlling nature made the process of turning the manuscript into a book a genuine pleasure.

Thanks to Jerry Coyne, Ash ElDifrawi, John Kolligian, Janet Lickerman, Michael Nix, and Scott Stern, all of whom read early drafts of the manuscript and provided invaluable feedback. Thanks to Lori Corbett for helping to create both my website and blog, and to Paul Woodard for fixing them when they break.

I owe a great debt of gratitude as well to all the patients for whom Ive cared over the years whose storiesalbeit in a disguised formappear in the pages that follow. Its been a privilege both to care for and learn from them.

To my wife, Rhea Campbell, though, I owe the greatest debt of gratitude of all. Few writers are given the luxury of wide swaths of time to write, which means they have to carve out such swaths from their lives at home. So thank you, Rhea, for taking our son, Cruise, on so many weekends while I stayed home writing. Thank you for your emotional support and unflagging optimism, for pushing me to take on what remains for me the hardest part of publishing a book, marketing and promotion, and for your belief in the value of my ideas. Thank you, in short, for making my dreams as important to you as your own. I couldnt have done this without you.

INTRODUCTION

Six months into my second year of medical school, the first woman I ever loved brought our year-and-a-half-long relationship to an end, causing me to fall immediately into a paralyzing depression. As a result, my ability to study declined dramaticallyand as a result of that, six months later I failed Part I of the National Board Exam.