Dr. Mort Orman: A Reading List to Eliminate Stress

I first discovered today’s guest’s work when I was suffering with balancing my work and life. As a business owner, I consistently gave into it’s demands and would work most of my waking hours in an attempt to achieve my goals. I found myself suffering from anxiety, gaining weight and generally feeling helpless. Whenever I have an issue, I always turn to books – so after some quick googling, the same book kept appearing. It was The 14-Day Stress Cure by Dr. Mort Orman. I ordered the book, read it and it has had a big impact on my life. So, when the opportunity to speak with Dr. Mort Orman appeared, I jumped at the chance and was excited to hear of the books that have had the biggest impact on him. His work spans over 30 years, helping thousands of professionals, business owners, corporate executives, and many other high performers dramatically lower their stress levels. His methods are original and unique, and if you suffer from stress or anxiety, I’d fully recommend you learn more about him here. I am honoured to present, my interview with Dr. Mort Orman…

The 14-Day Stress CureThe 14-Day Stress Cure

When someone asks you ‘what do you do for a living?’ – how do you respond?

I help people learn how to eliminate stress from their lives, rather than struggling forever just to manage its symptoms.

What are you reading at the moment?

I am reading Mind Hacking by John Hargrave and Seeing What Others Don’t by Gary Klein.

When you think about your childhood, what book comes to mind?

I didn’t like reading at all, as either a child or teenager.

What did you want to be when you were growing up?

A scientist–biologist or biochemist.

What do you think your school aged self would think of the present day you?

The three things I hated most about school were reading, writing and public speaking. Now I can’t get enough of all three. My school aged self would have been totally unable to comprehend that this type of 180 degree change was even possible.

If you could wrap up a single book and gift it to yourself as you left education – which book would it be?

As above, I didn’t have any favorite books during my school years. But one of the best books I read in college was a mind-changing book on the philosophy of science and how science, as a structured methodology, is fundamentally incapable of proving anything to be true (not many people know this)!

Does your reading have routine? Is there a particular time or place that you like to read?

I like to read in bed, for about 30 minutes each day, first thing when I wake up in the morning.

Which book has had the biggest impact on your career so far?

The Tree Of Knowledge by Humberto Maturana Rumesin, a Chilean biologist — it takes you on a mind-altering journey that leads to an incredible new view of what it means to be human, both biologically and linguistically.

The Tree Of Knowledge by Humberto Maturana RumesinThe Tree Of Knowledge by Humberto Maturana Rumesin

Do you have any books that you strongly associate with someone important in your life?

The Structure Of Scientific Revolutions by Thomas Kuhn — favorite of a brilliant psychiatrist who was one of my teachers and mentors.

The Structure Of Scientific Revolutions by Thomas KuhnThe Structure Of Scientific Revolutions by Thomas Kuhn

What book have you recommended the most to friends and family?

Other than my book, it would be a very tiny black book called How To Lie With Statistics by Darrell Huff.

How To Lie With Statistics by Darrell HuffHow To Lie With Statistics by Darrell Huff

Do you prefer fiction or non-fiction?

Non-fiction, but I also like fiction that brings in lots of historical or technical details, like books by Tom Clancy, Clive Cussler, Dean Koontz and others.

Do you think reading is important?

Absolutely, especially if you are a writer of books, blog posts, articles, etc. But being able to think clearly and deeply about what you read is even more important.

What’s the best book you’ve read in the last 6 months?

It was a tie between Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman and Beyond Blame by Carl Alasko! Also, I like to think outside of the assigned question box.

Do you prefer real books or digital books?

I read digital books occasionally, but I prefer real books, where I can underline, make notes, highlight in them, and then put them on a shelf, so I can view them from time to time (and remember that I consumed each one of them).

Name a book that you feel every human should have to read by law.

The 14-Day Stress Cure by Dr. Mort Orman – my own first, and still best, book on how to think about and deal with stress.

The 14-Day Stress Cure by Dr. Mort OrmanThe 14-Day Stress Cure by Dr. Mort Orman

What is the book that you feel has had the single biggest impact on your life?

Writing and publishing my very first book — which was released 25 years ago this December–it took me four years to get it right — and it helped me launch my career as a knowledgeable and respected stress expert.

Are there any books you haven’t mentioned that you feel would make your reading list?

I would include the following books on my reading list:

mans search for meaningmans search for meaning

What books or subject matter do you plan on reading in the next year?

Whatever strikes my fancy—I have no pre-determined list of books I’ve “got to read”.

If you were to write an autobiography – what would it be called?

How An Uptight, Anxious, And Angry Medical Student Eventually Became A Successful Doctor And America’s Leading Stress Elimination Expert.

You can find out more about Dr. Mort Orman on his website and his Twitter.

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