Waking Up: Meditation & Wisdom App Reviews

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Appreciate the female teachers!. Thank you for including so many insightful female perspectives - the last three conversations - Jayasāra, Gangaji, Nikki Mirghafori - have been absolute gems. I’m sure I’m not the only one who has gained so much benefit from their conversations, and the other female teachers on this amazing app. All the courses and conversations from the men are wonderful - of course. But it’s so refreshing to see you guys bring in so many powerful women. A friendly suggestion. Maybe Annika could present a course based on her book Conscious: A Brief Guide to the Fundamental Mystery of the Mind? I gather she’d be a bit hesitant to cross pollinate in that way but it is clear her own perspective on her discoveries could benefit and intrigue so many people. Just throwing that idea out there. Either way, I’m so appreciative to everyone at Waking Up who works so hard to create the most essential “mindfulness” app there is. I’ve tried them all and this is the only one I continually use and, although I’m a starving artist, I continue to pay to support such valuable work. My skepticism has sometimes made me try and dislike this app but with Sam at the helm, I know I’m in safe hands and won’t be nudged into the woo-woo vortex and at the same time it’s not some overly sciencey clinical feeling process. You can hear the intelligence but feel the heart. Great, great stuff. Thank you.

Wisdom, practice, and insight for the rational mind. I came to Harris’ app after decades of exploration along this path and a long history of meditation and inquiry, but nothing quite clicked into place until now. Since the early days of development this app has grown from a well organized and clearly presented version of Harris’ own approach and interpretation to an age-old endeavor into what may now be one of the greatest modern collections of wisdom and insight from a diverse set of practitioners and explorers. I come to this as a lifelong adherent to science, proof, and rationality. While it’s true that the core insight explored here is not a directly rational thing, it in no way runs counter to it. The path and practice may not be easy or obvious from the beginning, but there is no metaphysical Woo here. The whole point is that you don’t have to take anyone’s word on it or believe unsubstantiated claims. In fact, the only way is to do it and see for yourself. This is not going to fit everyone’s temperament, but if it fits yours, you may be in for a profound journey that leads right back to where you started, profoundly changed, and yet exactly the same.

Well thought out and structured step by step course on meditation. I have tried meditating for the last 3-4 years, never being able to stick to it for longer than 2 weeks at a time, harvesting initial peace and calm and then digressing to the old ways by stumbling on different mental obstacles, getting hanged on too much or too little narration, focusing on, forcing or anticipating my breath and so on, so i would quit it and restart practice after a while. I tried apps and various teachers , monks guided meditations with the same results. I am a big fan of Sam’s work in general , his books and podcast, and feel that he brought an immense level of detail to this course. It is well thought out and structured, he gradually introduces you to various concepts and ways of thinking/perceiving the meditation. he is filing in blindness spots, that you are not yet aware of, along the way. No day is the same in the app, and each lesson challenges you in a different way. You can also deepen your experience through additional provided exercises. I’m on day 24 so far, which is the longest streak for me, and while many concepts still seem hard to grasp , i look forward to coming lessons. And it does feel incredible already to sense the time slower and your own nature and reactions differently. This is by far the most structured and easy to follow course on meditation I’ve found.

Your Life Is Your Practice. I am not a commenter. I’ve never left a review of anything in a formal sense. This app has utterly transformed my life, even after only two months. It’s difficult to explain exactly how, similar to how it’s difficult to recall the richness of a dream or psychedelic / mystical experience. I’ve tried a half dozen other meditation and mindfulness apps. I was never quite able to find something that felt “right”, rationally or experientially. I am blown away by the massive changes I’ve already experienced in the way I move throughout my day, in my mind. I’m paying close attention to my thoughts as they arise, without judgement. I am pausing before reacting strongly to a comment from a partner or coworker. I find myself noticing what I’m noticing, and viewing things in a more conscious way, yet without great effort. I could go in and on. For skeptics like me who see the thousands of apps out there that claim they will help reduce anxiety and depression and help you sleep better— this is not really that kind of meditation app— but it will help you with those issues, and the impact will be sustainable. Just try it. I’m so eternally grateful for this gift, and I am at peace and humbled knowing this is only the beginning of my practice. Thank you, thank you, thank you, Sam.

Highly recommend (for the benefit of all beings). I have been using a free app for months and was feeling good about having finally gotten into a rhythm of daily meditation. However, each meditation being disconnected and by a different person made me eventually feel drawn to this course after hearing from a friend how helpful she was finding it to be. I’m only five days in and I already can feel how much deeper I’m getting. These practices really do layer and build together in important ways that I was missing before. I really appreciate having a specific meditation to do each morning rather than starting the day scrolling through options trying to choose between too many choices and sometimes changing my mind mid way through. I also have been benefiting a lot from the theory talks that I listen to during moments throughout my day. It helps integrate the practice with daily life and create the scaffolding for deeper understanding. It’s so nice being able to favorite and download these too for offline use. Overall feeling a lot of gratitude for all the thoughtfulness put into this course and all I am receiving from it. I truly believe that each of us doing the inner work to train our minds and respond rather than react to each other and the world around us is crucial to the meeting problems we are collectively facing. Each of us learning to train our minds for the benefit of all beings.

Life altering. First of all, I would like to thank Sam for making this gem of an app available for free to those who can’t afford it. Really appreciate it. I wanted to give meditation a try because of my crippling anxiety. That was how I stumbled upon Waking Up. I wanted a guided meditation app that was properly structured and without the unnecessary religious/mystical elements. I knew that I wouldn’t be able to take the process seriously unless the content was rational. Having followed Sam’s work and career for sometime, I knew this app would be the right fit. I did not set out with high expectations though. But let me tell you, it is one of the best decisions I have taken. Sam guides you through the sessions with such easy flow and subtlety. What he says never gets in the way of the process. I noticed a change in my mood and anxiety levels almost immediately. There was a calmness in my mind, less noise. But be consistent. I made the mistake of not practicing for a couple of months in between due to my busy schedule and fell back into old habits. I was back to square one. Every time I have put it off I have regretted. Make meditation a priority. Set aside 10-15 minutes a day for this. It’s worth it.

Grateful. I am very grateful for this app. I started using it to get my wife and daughter into meditation to help my daughter with her ADHD, but I’ve found myself using the app much more than I anticipated. When I have tried to establish a meditation practice in the past, it has usually ended because it became too ritualistic and boring and then loses value over time. I like that Sam uses a variety of techniques and that he is willing to change the app itself over time. I also really appreciate the conversations and q&a available on the app. Those are worth the price of admission in themselves. That said, I would like to see more conversations with women. It would be interesting to hear conversations with Gangaji and Byron Katie if those could be arranged. They also fit in with the nondual traditions that are being highlighted here. I’m sure there are others. Annaka Harris would be another good guest, but perhaps in a conversation with someone other than Sam. Anyway, I appreciate the value of what’s being done here. Well worth the money. And it’s great that it is offered for free with no questions asked for those who can’t afford it. Highly recommended.

Mindfulness vs. a mantra-based meditation. I’d been practicing Transcendental Meditation (TM) for 20-plus years when I was introduced to Dr. Sam Harris via Hitch. Years later, after reading Sam’s books and enjoying his podcast, his meditation app appeared on the scene, and I wondered what it meant to practice Mindfulness as opposed to TM, a mantra-based meditation. Around this same time, I took a sabbatical from freelance writing in Los Angeles to attend an MFA program at Maharishi University in Fairfield, Iowa (TM’s headquarters), where I quickly discovered that the foundation of TM was being run by a group of perverted old white men who are abusing their power. (And the women and wives of the group are complicit sheep who look the other way.) These men include, but are not limited to, the upper-echelons of the TM organization, the university and its Ayurvedic spa, all located in the little town built by Maharishi and shrouded in secrecy. Thus, and here is my point, when discussing the differences between both practices, I ask you: Why would anyone want to give their money to an organization conceived by someone who groomed a group of people to be, not only sexual predators, but completely devoid of integrity. Isn’t the entire concept of meditation love and honesty and emotional intelligence. Obviously, I immediately switched to learning and practicing Sam’s technique. Mindfulness for the win!

Life changing is no overestimation. This app truly is phenomenal. I’m 17 and began using it about a month ago. First I’d like to thank the Waking Up team for the partial scholarship I was given; the possibility of such grants demonstrate your true intentions. Remarkable. The main way this app has impacted my life thus far is during social interactions. Sam mentioned in a theory section of the introductory course that the only thing that is truly real to oneself is what one pays attention to. If you are hanging out with friends but being absent minded, for example, you might as well be anywhere. This has proven to be a profoundly applicable idea. Combined with some “last time” and “dream life” mediations I learned in the stoic course on the app (which 1000% recommend), I feel much more present when interacting with others, and I value this presence far more. It is also slowly mending a major problem I have: chronic procrastination ;). Building a better relationship with desires, future self, and presents self is beginning to help. Much progress is still to be made on this front and many others, but I can say with certainly that this app has put my life on a better trajectory. Thank you to the waking up team and Sam Harris.

This App Changed My Life. I’ve tried other meditation apps in the past, but they never really kept me practicing. I understood what I was supposed to do (focus on the breath, not attach myself to thoughts), but I didn’t understand WHY I was doing these specific things. This app is completely different. It delves fully into the theory behind meditation. Not just it’s measurable benefits, like improved focus or reduced stress, but it also goes into the higher-level purpose of the practice, like realizing the illusion of the ego and giving yourself a whole new perspective on every situation you encounter in life. If one was not interested in this kind of theory, he/she could definitely just use the app for practice alone, but the theory section of the app as well as the little bits of theory interspersed throughout the guided sessions help me TREMENDOUSLY. This really keeps me motivated, because it shows me that if I commit to spending time with the practice, my outlook on life is going to change in so many positive ways. And it has! I’ve been meditating for almost 2 months now and I feel less stressed, less reactive to negative emotions and inconvenient events in life, and more positive overall. That being said, I can tell I still have SO much more room to grow with the practice, and I hope to continue on for a lifetime. Thank you so much for waking me up, Sam Harris. I am infinitely grateful.

I never thought I would be a regular meditator. I’ve been using Waking Up for 6 months now and Sam Harris’ meditation teaching style is the best I’ve encountered. The way he explains meditation as a radical transformation of your experience is exactly what I’ve found to be true in my practice with Waking Up. I have not been able to get to practicing every day as of yet, but the way this app is designed, I don’t feel guilty after missing one or more days, and then completely fall off. As Sam says, practicing once in a while has profound effects. I NEVER imagined that I would enjoy meditation, despite listening to Sam’s podcast for years and reading of the benefits elsewhere. But through the initial 30 day course, I found myself looking forward to the next session and finding out what the next part of the exploration process was. I recommend this to everybody and I truly think that Waking Up’s technique can reach more people than other meditation apps. Thanks to Waking Up, I find myself more calm, less reactive, more able to control my negative emotions and thoughts, and generally feel more engaged in my life.

Powerful and effective. I practiced Vipassana meditation for over three years. Upon discovering this app, I downloaded and tried it. Prior to using the app, my knowledge of Sam Harris was limited compared to his understanding of philosophy and neuroscience. While he explored Eastern philosophy and meditation, I perceived him more as an atheist consistently speaking against religion. In 2017, I read his book, "The End of the Faith," but found it less wise and rational than works by other renowned philosophers like Russell or David Hume. My initial impression was that his approach to meditation wasn't exceptional. However, my perspective changed when I tried meditation with the Waking Up app. I found Sam Harris's work to be powerful and effective. The app introduced variety and effectiveness into my meditation routine. I have a suggestion: Sam engages in numerous conversations about meditation and other related topics with scholars and instructors, yet there seems to be a gap in discussions with Islamic mysticism scholars. I hope he collaborates with esteemed Islamic thinkers, such as Abdul Karim Soroush, to explore mysticism, Sufism, and their relevance in today's context. I believe this could contribute to spiritual growth.😊

Truly not just another meditation app. Thank you to Sam, the other teachers, and the whole waking up team. This app makes deep wisdom from multiple traditions accesible and approachable. It does not just teach “McMindfulness”. Not that other more superficial introductions to meditation aren’t helpful. They are. But there is much beyond the first simple instructions to follow your breath etc and Sam really tries to be providing that greater depth. It’s clearly a labor of love and a gift to the world. Looking forward to what’s to come. Would appreciate more advice on how to do longer unguided meditations (eg how to work with issues that come up in that context). Would maybe also just like more developed sections about how to deal with the obstacles in general that arise in mediation practice (I for example often find I consistently get caught up in my thoughts for extended periods despite repeated the advice Sam gives to “notice the thought itself - valuable advice that works sometimes but I just need more specific advice about this issue in my practice). Maybe that exists somewhere in the app that I’m not aware of.

Unlike any other meditation app. This is the best meditation app I’ve ever tried (eg headspace, insight timer, calm). The intro course brilliantly introduces users to the types of meditation offered on the app, keeping it simple at the start and growing incrementally in complexity. Daily meditations are cohesive and build on one another, while maintaining instruction so you never feel lost or behind. There are a variety of courses which delve deeper into different practices, such as Metta, Douglas Harding’s headlessness, mindfulness, meditation for children, and more. There is a section for Q&As and conversations (basically podcasts) with practiced meditators to provide even more information on the practice. They even offer the option to have reminders pop up on your phone throughout the day to listen to a brief note from Sam to keep you grounded and aware of your practice while not sitting. This definitely helps me carry my practice through the day. I love this app and recommend it to all my friends and family. It has truly connected me to the power of meditation. I can’t thank Sam Harris enough for its existence.

Mindfulness is my drug and Sam is my therapist.. Sam is a good friend of mine. At first, I kept him at an arm’s length, only doing a session of the waking up course once every other day. I applied his teachings to every moment I could, starting with every bite of food. On day 27, I was having a bit of a mind-blowing psychedelic experience. 8 hours in, I got a tad bit lost... in thought. Wait! I need Sam! I exclaimed. And so I did my guided meditation practice with my friend Sam, who was there for me. He instructed me to, upon his snapping, look inward at the meditator. I kept drawing a blank at this concept. “Ah I see what you’re doing Sam, I get it!” I said to him. He continued to snap, which quite literally snapped me back into reality. “C’mon Sam!” I said, reluctant to return to reality. Eventually, I accepted it, went along, and returned to the present moment, where I would rest peacefully and happily. The next day, my sister and my grandmother recognized me as an adult, and noticed that my already few symptoms of Asperger’s Syndrome stopped presenting themselves in the ways that my family recognized them. I then went on to complete the waking up course the next day, and I think I’ll keep coming back so long as there’s internet! Thanks Sam! You’re a good friend. P.S. The Stoic Path is an amazing practice, highly recommend that once you finish the course!

a tool to sanity and much more. It takes a certain state or point in life for someone to seek a meditation practice. Call it struggle, call it suffering, call it purposelessness. This app has helped me in myriad ways I can’t seem to encapsulate! Given me a purpose to keep plugging along and recognize that states of despair are self imposed narratives, almost so I find myself laughing at some of my minds tricks now. After using the app quite diligently over about 183 days, i sense a deepness in understanding the states of my mind. Practically one thing I’d love to see is talks about addiction and stepping past the cycle of craving, there’s a profoundly consistent narrative of awareness and of the thought of craving itself embedded into every practice almost. The practice of recognizing the impermanence of it and finding freedom from it. Although, desire and addiction to cycles of desire could be a dedicated topic worth exploring to educate the waking up audience with. Maybe it’s inherently already there and this is a personal struggle but I thought it’s a point worth bringing up and I hope someone’s reading this. Regardless, from the deepest part of my conscious existence. Thank you !

Beyond concepts. Two years ago, when I first started practicing meditation using the Waking Up app, I did not know anything about meditation. Now, after learning how to meditate, I am surprised by the power of meditation. When I meditate, I am able to be in the present moment, not worrying about the past or the future, not wanting anything, fully content and enjoying a sense of freedom. This experience often brings tears to my eyes. This experience is possible because I have a clear understanding of meditation now. I understand centerlessness. I have learned to be the prior condition of consciousness where everything else appears as a part of it. I understand the impermanent nature of appearances in consciousness. I have learned to accept life as it is without judgement. I am practicing awareness outside formal meditation sessions also. Being mindful helps to control how I react to life. For the first year of my practice using the Waking Up app, everything I learned and understood was just a concept. The beauty of meditation becomes evident when you start experiencing what was a concept until then. I was able to achieve this experience thanks to the Waking Up app.

Sobriety. I’m a former heroin addict. I have been in recovery and remained sober for just over 6 1/2 years. Prayer and meditation have been foundational practices instilled in me since I first attended Alcoholics/Narcotics Anonymous groups. Though I’ve considered myself an Atheist/Agnostic since I first began to contemplate spirituality, prayer was defined for me as simply becoming mindful of/identifying the things that most bothered me about the present state of affairs in my life. Meditation was always presented to me as an attempt to quiet the mind or achieve a state of peace by focusing on breathing. So I have always approached it from the angle of trying to achieve that aforementioned goal of inner peace. And I’d more often than not fall short of that goal. Which in turn, would discourage me from maintaining the practice. This app helped me to realize that inner peace is not something that should be sought rigorously through meditation, because the two states of striving for a goal and inner peace are juxtaposed. This app help me identify “inner peace” as, simply, a possible byproduct of mindfulness, not something that should be sought with diligence. Which brought new meaning to, and a greater understanding of, my processes for meditation and mindfulness. Thanks Sam, I’m huge fan, by the way! Keep up the good work!

Current Day Streak. Hello, I’ve noticed that if I start a meditation at 11:55 and it ends after 12 o’clock (Into the next day) the “current day streak“ I had returns to 0. This isn’t particularly important but I know that routine can be incentivize greatly by reward. Seeing those day streaks is a form of a reward, a reminder of ones dedication to the practice and can help to get someone practicing even if they don’t feel up to it that day. I have a job that eats most of my day, usually I don’t mediate until late at night/early in the morning. Though I meditate nearly every day my streaks get broken on a regular basis. I’d like to say I’m above caring about my streaks but I’d be lying if I didn’t admit I feel a bit bummed when they get reset to 0. Maybe to avoid this reset the app can log a “day” from the start time of the practice rather then the finish time, or maybe the clock can be Individualized to each user giving the user a 24 hour window to practice their next day in relation to the previous days practice. Personally I think the first example of logging a day based on the start is a better idea. Either way I’m grateful for the app, it’s a wonderful tool and has introduced me to the practice of mediation. Keep up the great work.

Thank you Sam & the Waking Up team.. “Occasionally, if for only a moment or two relinquish your reaction to experience, by simply noticing experience.” I heard Sam say this in one of his talks in the “Lessons” section of the app. After using WAKING UP consistently now since 2018, I find myself noticing and being more in tune to my experiences much more frequently now. Simple things like sensations in the body and noises around me are so simple and fleeting, but a lot more interesting. They are like small anchors tossed throughout the day that keep me from drifting too far away in thought. Plus, I’m aware of thoughts now (which I didn’t even know was a thing) and can remind myself that I don’t have to identify with them ALL OF THE TIME. I thoroughly enjoy all of the guest teachers and conversations Sam has with them, as well as the different meditation techniques that they also offer. I can’t recommend this app enough, whether your brand new to meditation or you have been practicing for a while now. I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised to learn and re-learn some of the things you’ll come across on this app. Cheers!

One of a kind. It’s hard to explain how much this app has helped me “wake up”. The best way I can describe it is that I feel that I am more able to notice my thoughts and feelings in the present moment. How I suddenly find myself playing in a drama in the theater of my mind. Sam Harris is able to teach you how to notice the dramas, rather than getting lost in them for long periods of time. As I become more observant of my mind, I feel Iike I have more control over my mind. Sam Harris explains his insights in a way that challenges you. But when you come to understand it what he’s saying, you feel like you “wake up” from tendencies that we’re holding you back. Like lucid dreaming feels (gaining control during a dream) waking up has made me feel like I am gradually lucid living. I find myself enjoying the moment more, short circuiting thoughts and feelings but feeling them more powerfully, and ultimately appreciating my life so much more. I initially was skeptical of mediation but Sam Harris does such an excellent job of explaining his message in a way that you eventually understand. The effects of this practice are indescribably priceless. I’m achieving things I didn’t think I could achieve. I enjoy everything about my life more and more as I continue to wake up. Thanks for helping me grow Sam. Everyone that understands what I’m talking about and feels the same way is grateful for what you’re doing.

Exactly what I’ve been looking for. I’ve been practicing meditation on and off for quite a while. While I’ve had some wonderful experiences, I could never shake the feeling that I wasn’t on a path to deeper awareness. Most of the resources I d used have been organized by category, for example a meditation on anger or stress. While this approach can be useful and I still return to them when my feelings are particularly acute and I want to explore them more deeply, I don’t just want to learn meditation as a remedy to a stressful work day, I want to explore the nature of my mind. I’ve been searching for a more systemic approach to learning mindfulness and the theory behind it. I also want to understand more deeply the intent of a variety of types of meditation and the nuanced differences between them. This app explores all of that and more. It is a simple way to practice meditation while continually deepening my understanding. It is also updated often to add more content. It feels like a living and breathing thing that continues to be useful as I grow in my understanding and I will not outgrow its usefulness. I am so happy to have this resource and grateful for the change it brings to my life.

Mostly love this app. I have one suggestion - when referring to other people, such as in a loving-kindness meditation when we are asked to imagine another person, it would be helpful to use gender neutral pronouns. Sam Harris seems to have a particular problem with transgender people and with the use of they/them and other alternative pronouns for people who are outside of the gender binary. It is very distracting when I am trying to picture someone I love to only be offered the option of imagining “him or her.” Many of my loved ones use they/them pronouns. It’s so simple to use they, or just don’t use pronouns by saying “that person” rather than “him or her.” I think I have gathered from Sam’s podcast that he seems to have an issue with this way of thinking. I am very interested in all of Sam’s conversations and his views, and have learned so much from the app and from the podcast. I have not yet found the podcast(s) where his clearly strong position on trans people and pronouns is talked about, so I don’t fully understand his perspective, but wanted to mention that for at least one person, me, it is very distracting when I hear “he or she” in a loving-kindness meditation. I can of course get over this and it doesn’t diminish the usefulness of the app or the practice. I thought this was worth mentioning in case it matters to anyone.

I AM IN LOVE WITH THIS APP. I don’t usually review apps. But I want to say that I didn’t find this app. I think Sam found me. And he did in the perfect moment of my life. I just graduated from the waking up course :) so I am feeling like I just graduated from PK and going to first grade. I love everything. About it. Sam voice is pleasant and relaxing. But it also makes you feel like you are talking to your smart friend that has all the insights and the more he talks, the more you want to hear. I don’t know him (Or I didn’t know about him until I bumped into the app) and I have to tell you that he has blown my mind. I just started the journey into meditation this year. I suffer from a mental illness and looked into meditation as a tool to help and it helps. Most guided meditations are awesome. But waking up has something that other ones don’t. And it is the brain (mind) approach as opposed to spiritual approach. I LOVE THAT. I love everything about the mind, how it works, why it does what it does...etc. this app has given me the tools to meditate or learn how to meditate but also to get inside my mind and learn about it. I am grateful that I found you Sam :))) thank you for sharing your knowledge with me

Love & Compassion at its finest…. I’m writing this simple review as tears of gratitude fall slowly down my face. A wise friend of mine suggested this app and sent me a 30 day trial to use it. As I approach the end of my trial fear started to creep in. Why? Because the app costs $ and I knew I wouldn’t be able to afford it any time soon. What has happened inside of me with the practices and sessions over the last 25+ days has been revolutionary. To be quite honest I can’t put my experience into words strong enough to truly express it. So I wrote an email to the app, Sam Harris, and all the amazing people who make Waking Up the amazing tool that it is. To my amazement, I received a response MAYBE, 10 minutes later. They granted me a FREE 6 MONTH SCHOLARSHIP to allow me to continue my growth and development, stating that my more examined life is far more important than a few dollars. I’m so beyond blessed and grateful for this kind gesture and example of true love and compassion. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. If you’re looking for a little guidance in your meditation and the reason we do it. Do not go any further…. THIS APP IS THE ONE FOR YOU. Thank you ALL!!! - The absence of I thanks you deeply.

Finding Sam’s instructions confusing. My original review seems to have been deleted for some reason, so I’m re-posting it. I've been trying to build a meditation practice, on and off, for several years now. Unfortunately, I've never managed to stay consistent with it, and lately it has mostly been off. I'm fully sold on the benefits of regular meditation, but practicing on a daily basis is easier said than done, and I feel like I still haven't really progressed beyond the stage of mostly "thinking with my eyes closed." I've also been a fan of Sam's work for a long time, so I was eagerly awaiting the release of this app in the hope that it would get me "hooked" and teach me the techniques I need to progress. Unfortunately, after spending a few weeks with it, I'm a bit disappointed so far. I have to agree with Voletric's review; I find Sam's method of trying to disprove the existence of "the self" rather confusing. Many of Sam's instructions in this vein feel to me more like Zen koans than straightforward guidance, and they tend to leave me stuck in my thoughts, struggling to interpret them and understand what I'm supposed to take away from them. Perhaps I'm just too literal-minded, but this methodology does not seem to be working for me. I've had much more success with other apps like Calm and 10% Happier, even if their approaches are perhaps more surface-level.

Nurture Yourself. Waking Up was recommended to me by a friend. Although I’m very open to alternative approaches to most things, I’m usually disappointed by these sorts of tools. However, I was already a Sam Harris fan for other reasons so, with some skepticism, I tried it. I can honestly say that using Waking Up on a regular basis is one of the best decisions I’ve made in the past few years. I’m still a novice at it and am not always certain I’m doing it properly but, I derive great benefits each day I use it. It’s as if I reground myself in what’s essential, what’s important, what’s real, even if only for a short period each day. Each time I do a daily meditation, or practice while going about my day, I feel like I’ve taken a quick mental shower and washed away the incessant distractions, even if just for a while. I also like the extensive library of other teachers and modes of thought. I’ve learned, after suspecting for a long time, that Stoicism strongly resonates with me, and is the way I’ve approached my life for as long as I can remember. Now, I can learn to hone those skills on my path to a more enjoyable life. Let me end by saying that I rarely take the time to write reviews but, this is a tool that almost anyone will benefit from, and it’s there, just waiting for you to apply it.

Wake up!. I’ve been using this app for over 3 years now, though I’ve had a meditation practice for longer. The app has grown in that time, and now has many different teachers, discussions and lessons. The regular guided meditation by Sam Harris is diverse, and instructive. Sometimes the concepts seem esoteric at first, but once you’re able to find the intended insight, it’s incredible. There’s plenty of advanced level concepts utilized, and Sam does a great job building up the practice for beginners through the introductory program. There is an option for a free membership for those who cannot afford it, and though I’ve been in dire straits financially at times, I’ve always paid for this app because it has such a meaningful and profound impact on my everyday life. This app truly has something to offer for anyone who’s interested in developing a meditation practice. Whether you’re interested in zen, meta, vipassana, or any other form of meditation, this app has what you’re looking for with world class guidance. Cannot recommend this app strongly enough. Thank you to Sam Harris, and the Waking Up team.

Bless you Sam Harris, and this app you’ve created!!. I have always been into self improvement and went as far as pursuing my Bachelors in Psychology and recently I have been accepted to a Masters in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program. In all the years of striving for a healthier mental state I have to say this app helped me get closer to my goals than anything else I’ve tried. Along with this I also believe it will be extremely useful to use the mindfulness tips I’ve learned in my counseling practice, because I have already seen it help me become a much more empathetic person. I have only used this app for 30 days and I know I still have a ways to go but from an honest opinion I noticed change the first day. Sam Harris does a great job explaining how to implement each of his mindfulness tips into your daily routine. I also love all the different features included in this app and am excited to share the “children’s guided meditation courses” with my younger brothers. Everyone needs this app. Especially now with all the distractions we have in our daily routines that make it easy for us to fall into a negative thinking pattern!

What to do?. I’ve meditated off and on throughout my life. Nothing ever really stuck. I never developed a meaningful and lasting practice. And I’ve realized this was due to the fact that I didn’t really know what I was doing. I didn’t really understand what exactly it was I was supposed to be practicing or practicing for. I knew to focus on breath, or a sound, and many other things that don’t really give any context to what the practice is. Well I’ve been using it for about a year now, every day, and it’s something that has changed my life forever, a realization I first had only about a month in. Sam has shown me through the course, lessons, conversations, and all the content what it is I’m doing when meditating and how to apply it not only on the cushion but in my life. He focuses on a few specific kinds of meditation in the course, but this app has opened me up to meditation in general and has given me a curiosity to study its many forms and seek out the many teachings and teachers who teach it. I have started a lifelong practice, and though it’s me who put in the effort, it was this app that helped guide me in getting to this wonderful place. Thank you Sam Harris and whoever else worked to make this app what it is and continues to grow it.

What I was missing in my practice. I really appreciate (and fully subscribe to) Sam’s approach of combining traditional mindfulness teaching (eg attention on the breath) with a more active searching and investigation of the idea of non-self. I find that this intellectual side of meditation complements and supports my ability to stay mindful both while sitting and in real life. The talks following each meditation I also find immensely helpful, the mind is much more ready for dharma study after meditation and this combination is the next best thing to having access to a teacher in front of you. I have just started to explore other app content, but have already found Sam’s conversations extremely supportive of the practice. I try to weave them into my practice often after sitting and search for content related to whatever concept I am struggling with (eg self compassion). I don’t think Sam’s approach to teaching is for everyone, and some in dharma circles will actively disagree with it. But for me, being an engineer especially with an analytical and logical mind, it is what I was missing from my previous practice - and it helps bring me back to the cushion day after day. If you have a similar mind, even non-beginners will find a lot of value in this app.

Something real out of this virtual. It appears that many of us are beginning to notice that we increasingly are absent from our lives, even more so than we have been in the past. And this is saying a lot, considering the knee jerk reactions to daily life which nearly all of us consistently trip over, time and time again. This increase in absense mostly takes the form of our phone hypnosis, even amongst those of us who have noticed that putting our phone away while eating, or spending time with family, or friends, is “polite”, and necessary to being present. Despite this, how useful, really, is our time spent staring into the screen? And how often do we do this? I have found this meditation course one of increasing utility, wisdom, and sense making, amazingly packaged within the very device which blankets and obscures these positive aforementioned qualities. One of the few times in my day when picking up my phone increases the quality of my life, truly. And it’s quite likely because as soon as I pick my phone up, and start the next lesson, I just as quickly put it down, close my eyes, and begin browsing, or becoming mindful of the unceasing browsing in the one actual reality that actually matters most. Thanks Sam. Though I love podcasts, and opinions, and moral and political and psychological debate; talk, really, is cheap. Silence is golden.

Helped me build a meditation practice. Very helpful, really appreciate the structure and all the thought and planning that went into this app. Teaches fundamental lessons for living in a new way. Meditation is the pathway toward big change. And - One of my difficulties with this whole program is that almost all the people involved are men and mostly white. Meditation is practiced around the world by all kinds of people. Women have been excluded from spiritual hierarchies for thousands of years and thus not developed as much leadership. But there are many many women teachers and people of color who have very important perspectives on meditation practice. I would love to see their perspectives and voices included here. I think the app would reach a wider range of people. I believe that the intention is to spread the word and that would really help. That's not to say that this one app has to be all things to all people. But my understanding is that the intention is to help more people discover who they really are and change how they are in the world. In some ways this app is very accessible and in other ways very exclusionary. That kind of hurts… But I am getting a lot out of it and trying to work around that limitation.

The most important thing I’ve ever used. This app is an astonishing tool and a brilliant compendium of Sam’s insights into the nature of mind and the ethical implications therein. I simply cannot overstate how transformative this has been in my life. Not only have I gained a tremendous ability to “get off that ride” of negative emotions and reactions, but I have experienced deep insights into the non-duality of consciousness which has absolutely transformed my way of being in the world. To recognize everything as merely an appearance in consciousness and to be able to truly experience this centerless condition of awareness is the most important experience I’ve ever had. Sam not only masterfully points you to this understanding but his lessons and conversations help you make these insights operational in your life. I have had multiple family members and friends actually tell me (without knowing I am using this app) they notice that I am far more patient and engaged in our everyday interactions. To have an app transform my understanding of my own mind and drastically improve the manner in which I show up in the world for my loved ones is an incredible thing.

I could cry at how much Sam Harris and this app has changed my life. I first discovered Sam Harris through his podcast, Making Sense, which is still my favorite podcast of all time. And I remember when he announced he’d be coming out with this app and at first, I didn’t use it. I was already using Headspace for over a year and didn’t feel the need. Then I tried it once and felt this immediate click, this light: “This is the kind of practice I’ve been looking for.” I’ve been using Waking Up ever since. I remember trying the first-offered longer introductory course and after each session, I swear I said “whoa.” Not because I felt like I was in another state, but I felt closer to “myself” and others, bit by bit, each session. I felt less insecure, less anxious, less angry, less anticipatory, less critical, bit by bit, each session. And this continues to be true. Sam, I wish I could look you in the eyes and tell you this in person: This app and your podcast have made me a better person. My interactions feel lighter. I am less self critical. I am less reactive. I am a better critical thinker. Your work pushes those who listen over and through the walls we put up, the walls created by childhood, by fear, by habit, by politics, by culture. I don’t know how to thank you and don’t think I ever will. I will end with this: This app is for everyone. Even if this way of thinking and practicing is totally new to you, try it. Just try it. Give it a shot. You won’t regret it.

Life-Changing. In the 2 years i have been using this App, I feel I have transcended my previous “normal” and am enjoying the best years of my life. There are many factors that have gotten me here and I credit my practice with the Waking Up app as being central among them. I no longer feel like I am largely bouncing between competing interests vying for my attention. I find it easier to relate to others and form productive, honest and satisfying partnerships with the people in my life. I more greatly appreciate how tenuous and subjective my understanding of reality is (very useful). I no longer obsess about who I am “supposed” to be or worry so much that I will not accomplish enough in my lifetime. I find more joy in helping other people and watching them flourish. I no longer feel routinely held hostage by my own fear. I don’t stress so much about “wasting time”. I don’t feel the need to hold power over others or feel automatically and debilitatingly threatened by situations where I am powerless. Most importantly, I feel well-equipped to take care of myself when I’m feeling out of control and make reasonably good decisions to navigate through those times. Chief strategy among them: not automatically overreacting to fear.

Real Meditation Instruction. If you are new, or even just still trying to figure out what meditation is all about, get this app. I have tried them all, from calm to headspace, 10% happier, mindfulness, etc. It took me over 3 years of poking around with books and apps, then finally retreats to get to the heart of what meditation is really about, and I think this app goes right at it, right from the beginning, especially with the help of the lessons, which is unique to this app. Many of the apps, focus on more superficial and I would say, short sighted goals, like stress relief etc. which will come with meditation naturally, but this app really aims its sights at the deepest truths of consciousness, in a clear, direct, secular way. It is excellent. I am sure some more features to come as this app evolves. I would recommend deeper, long format meditations with guidance that you can choose the length, like 15, 20, 30 mins or more, for those times you have more time you want to practice with light guidance. Anyways, great job Sam, keep it up. It was worth the wait. Sending this one to all my meditators and those that are interested in learning about meditation.

A tool to sharpen your mind. This is the first time I’m truly happy to pay the subscription fee for a service. I’ve tried many meditation app and found many of their lessons/exercises helpful. However, I didn’t find any of these apps put together as a whole package that will lead me to understand meditation in its true meaning. Maybe I’m wrong but there was no indication that these apps were developed with such a purpose. I practice some of their lessons that were offered for free and thought the rest of the course will be the same so I can practice on my own. What Sam Harris does in this app is different from other apps. Meditation sessions are accompanied by lessons that illustrate the course agenda as well as offering new concepts to think about. This combination motivates you practice meditation in a more regular basis. It also makes your understand what you are going to get from meditation. So far this app has been a great influence in my life and I’m happy that made this decision-not with free of will of course-to subscribe to this app. I totally recommend it to anyone who wants to improve their lives. *Sorry if the structures of the sentences above don’t match proper English grammar. English is my second language.

This app has measurably improved my quality of life. As soon as I started using the Waking Up app, I began noticing some very welcome changes in my thought patterns. I had been been spending way too much time on the internet, social media and news/infotainment. After I started meditating with the app, my interest in these diversions waned dramatically. I attribute this to the fact that paying attention to what's happening in my mind is actually far more interesting than what's "out there" on the internet. Spending less time distracted and lost in thought has given me more time and energy for my important relationships. I don't habitually reach for my phone when I'm spending time with my kids. I've also reduced my caffeine intake, not as an ascetic effort, but because I found I didn't need so much caffeine to feel focused. I've been using the app for four months, and my life is much better than when I started. It's already paid for itself in reduced outlay for coffee, and the improvements to the way I feel and the quality of my relationships is worth far more. It's the best $100 purchase I ever made.

The Best App to Learn How to Meditate. I've tried a few different meditation apps and each are different and have their own benefits and I have found that meditation truly needs to be learned. Those other apps sparked my interest as to the benefits of meditation but when it came time to really dig in and learn what it is and why we do it and how to just be in a moment (I'm still learning :)), Waking Up has proven the most beneficial for me in that way. Further, I believe in the mission of the company and believe they are sincere - the scholarship program alone breathes from a place of selflessness, the very existence in which one hopes to live. I encourage any who are looking for a challenge and a desire to stretch and grow to go through the introductory course lessons in this app, then make up their mind about it. I was frantically chasing a solution to combat and control my anxiety, when all along what I needed was to redirect my focus toward sitting in a moment of selflessness every day, thereby taking the energy away from the anxiety and self-important worries. Thanks, Sam and everyone at Waking Up.

Thank you! This is not a meditation App.. We live in despondent times, or so it seems. In these times more than any, there is an tendency to look inwards and when this inward seeking is constantly interrupted by our small self, which assures us there is no there-there and to get on with your life. A lot of my forays in to this enquiry had this character, leaving me more jaded for the effort. Many have wondered and tried to come up with a way of illuminating this path. There seems to me a fundamental problem with using traditional communication, for what it communicated is not for the conceptual mind. Hence when we grasp these ideas through this small mind, there is just exasperation. The aim of true teaching is to awaken the teacher in each one of us. Plant a seed of curiosity in one’ mind and be there to help guide with the subsequent unraveling. If someone suggested this can be achieved with a digital medium in the form of a smart phone app, literally everyone in the world will find it silly. Sam Harris thankfully is not one of them and for that I Thank him(I wish there is a way to express the amplitude behind that Thanks, but my grasp of English is sadly inadequate). My hope for writing this review is to see it can help to make this tool available for few or at least one other explorer, who has the character of not willing to surrender his/her intellect, but still willing to explore the idea of non-dualism which rings true to him/her.

Transformative & Revelatory. I don’t have the proper capacity of language to fully capture how the information contained in this app has completely transformed my life. I have been living on the outer edges of my existence, as a passenger who felt she lacked any agency to change course. I’m filled with such profound gratitude for those of you who have kept a torch lit for all who are asleep. Awakening, like everything in the universe, is twofold. Characterized by joy and gratitude as you realize the power you wield with your discerning attention and overwhelmed with compassion, helplessness and sorrow for the suffering of so many around you. All I want to do is share what I know with everyone I meet, but I’ve learned that all I can do is continue to deepen my practice, live what I know and be ready when those around me are ready to listen. I just applied to UCB get my science teaching credential. The best thing I can do right now from my current vantage point is to help teach this generation how to effectively direct their attention and to inquire about the nature of their reality. They won’t find it in the virtual or augmented reality that they are becoming increasingly entrapped in. While I know there are many who make this app possible, I must offer special thanks to David Whyte, Joseph Goldstein and you Sam. It is important now more than ever to start waking up and I’m so humbled to have made it to the other side.

The most important piece of software available. Sam Harris’s refreshing take on spirituality and his novel approach to meditation are invaluable resources for beginner, novice, and advanced meditators alike. Whether you have been meditating for years or simply have a passing interest in the subject, the Waking Up app offers unparalleled instruction, which make mindfulness accessible in its most raw form. You may be a pious, religious devotee (of any faith or creed) or a secular, scientific atheist; it doesn’t matter. Sam Harris masterfully exports timeless truths and life-changing lessons which require no specific belief system or dogma to enjoy. If you have an interest in probing the nature of your own conscious experience in each moment, that is sufficient. You may even become a more attentive, comfortable, and compassionate version of yourself in the process. The value of this app surpasses its cost by orders of magnitude. In fact, I struggle to think of a more effective, meaningful way to spend $15/month. Every dollar you put towards this app will be paid back tenfold (or more) as a direct increase to your wellbeing and quality of life. It is difficult to stress enough how important the lessons of meditation and mindful living are in an increasingly distracted world. And there is no better teacher than Sam.

Life changing. I’m grateful to have been given a free month trial of this app. My original plan was to listen to as much content as I could and then go on to something else. A few days before the end of my trial I heard Sam’s interview with Mingyur Rinpoche. I can’t really describe the effect of this interview except that it immediately changed the course of my meditation practice and my life. I’ve meditated for decades and while I’ve always loved practicing, it never quite connected with my whole self Perhaps it was more me trying to get away from myself. Long story short, I subscribed; and did Sam’s introductory course which was incredibly helpful and gave me a much clearer roadmap. My approach to practice has shifted considerably. Former obstacles are now opportunities for mindfulness. I don’t have that disconnected feeling from myself and my practice anymore. I’ve been on the app for about 6 months now and use it several times a day. The content is outstanding and new things are added weekly to the point that I can’t keep up. (A good problem) I’ve been introduced to teachers I never would have encountered, such as James Low. Some other favorites are Kelly Boys’ deep rest yoga nidra series, meditation series with Loch Kelly, Adyashanti and many more that I’m looking forward to exploring. Thank you, Sam Harris and team, for giving us such a profound tool for exploration and discovery.

It finally stuck!. Like so many, I tried books, programs, workshops, and other DIY meditation programs. Either the tone (too cutesy or too “new agey”) or the lack of depth would eventually turn me off. Sam’s app strikes the perfect balance between providing depth of understanding and the sense that you have a trusted guide through a simple but immensely challenging practice. I found myself coming back to the app not because I had to (out of some obligation to myself) but because it was such a peaceful, fascinating place where I always learned something new. Sam has this uncanny ability to provide just the guidance needed to grasp the significance of what’s happening from moment to moment in your meditation. A lot of it has to do with his calming voice. The remarkable thing is that even though there is such depth and insight throughout his teachings (and those of the guests he interviews...fantastic content), he cuts through to the essence of the matter. It’s as though he hands you the end of a rope, tells you how to hang on, and then pulls you into the amazing world of your self (or more precisely, non self). This is more than an app, it’s a community and a way of life. Thank you for all you’ve done.

Amazing app, even better people behind the scenes. This app is an incredible app that goes a lot farther than just helping you meditate. It can change the way you think and process the world. The guided meditation courses will teach you all you need to know to meditate on your own but the conversation topics are what really blew me away and challenged my thinking the most. The things I’ve learned from Sam Harris have helped me manage my anxiety during very uncertain times. But beyond the benefits of the app itself, I was moved immensely by the kindness of the people on the Waking Up support team. When my app needed to be renewed I didn’t have extra funds at the time but the global news was incredibly bleak and I could feel my anxiety creeping back in with scary force. I reached out in hopes of getting a trial that I could use for a month or two to bring mindfulness back into my life and they responded in a matter of moments saying that they added a full year to my account for free. I have truly never had a company think about my well-being over their own profit. It blew me away and I’m still quite shocked. This isn’t just a business for them, it’s a way of life and they are walking the walk not just talking the talk. If you’re on the fence, just download it and watch how it changes your life.

The app that will change your life. My brother recommended this app and I had little expectations for it because I’ve come across a lot of meditation apps that are frankly a huge let down. What I’ve experienced with other meditation apps is the content is stale, there’s not enough variety, they don’t go deep enough, etc. One week in to using waking up and I knew I would be using this app for as long as it’s around. The design of the interface is so seamless and easy to use and not to mention just beautiful! Whatever designer they have designing the art cards for each session does a fantastic job. But beyond that, the content is exactly what I’ve been looking for. It’s simple but also incredibly profound and has really deepened my practice in such a great way. I came to waking up for the daily meditation practices but have found so much benefit in the philosophy sessions and all the other wonderful surrounding content they create. This is a yearly expense I look forward to paying for because I believe in the content so much and want to keep supporting them.

So thankful. I just want to thank Sam from the bottom of my heart for this app. The fact that you have made it free or at a reduced cost for those who can’t afford it says a lot about the kind of person you are. This app has been so helpful and transformative for the way that I think about myself, my thoughts and gave me a new understanding of my brain. I was blown away by one thing you said which was that “thoughts just appear” I have all my life identified with my thoughts as “me”, and have suffered greatly because of that. Having the ability to notice my thoughts in the middle of an angry rumination or just pausing to be aware and notice the sensations in my body have been HUGE. I’ve only done about 20 days of meditations and even that has changed the way that I think about myself and the world. I am a huge fan of your podcast and this app. The app is so well made, so thoroughly thought out, is user friendly and is even appealing to look at. I’ve done many guided meditations before but none have explained the fundamentals as well as you have. I feel like I actually understand the point of meditation and how to do it correctly, and only want to keep learning more. Thank you again and again.

DAY 23 - TEARS OF AWE & REVERENCE. I’m 49, have experimented with all kinds of spiritual practices to varying effect but my scientific nature always rejected the munbo-jumbo knowing there was a simpler truth and practice. I invested in this app because I love Sam Harris but upon practicing I found immediate fascination and curious results. Today on day 23 of the 50 day introduction I found myself wishing Sam would shut up because he was interrupting my peace ... I was already meditating “on my own” flawlessly !!! Thoughts came up ... I merely observed. Birds chirped outside and they were inseparable from the sensation of my own breath and heartbeat. I became hyper-aware of my being the observer and not my often ‘warring’ thoughts and judgments. It felt so good and so profound and I became so grateful emotions began to well in my heart and tears in my eyes. I opened my eyes to see a hummingbird in the bush just outside my kitchen window, mere feet away as it delicately tweeted with glee as it sipped nectar. Post meditation I calculated the time it took to have this breakthrough in consciousness ... 23 days of practice at ten minutes each is about four hours of practice ... imagine that... four hours of working out to achieve something so spectacularly beautiful and beneficial ... (level one ?) THANK YOU SAM !!

Low experience user review. Sam, this is great. I’ve done maybe a few dozen hours of pure meditation over all. Ranging from 5 minute sessions to upwards of 2 hours at a time. I’ve read probably more than the average amount of material on meditation in general with no specific method at the forefront and the way you explain the experience and how to get there is identical to the lane I found best as I was figuring it out on my own. You’ve both reassured my current understanding of at least the begging stages of meditation and it’s always comforting to hear that we’re not trying to stop our thoughts more so recognize them and experiences them while not losing track of ourselves. I have some thoughts and questions on the breath being the forefront of meditation but ultimately have my doubts that it’s the perfect tool that most practicing meditators use. I think we can do better and I have to assume you take us there in this corse because if I have to spend one more second concentrating on my breath I’m going to phyciclyy implode. Again, thank you. Just a special note: I’ve followed your career and your work over the years, I’ve read your books, and listen to your podcast religiously. I can’t help but consider you a friend in spirit. And I’d like to offer my thanks to you for being a source of reason in the times of my life that I could find none face to face. You’ve helped me tremendously...just in case you needed reminding that you are helping people.

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Developers with Integrity. **No need to cancel free trial** Usually when I download a subscription based app the “free trial” offer requires you to remember to cancel it before the trial period ends or it will “auto renew” a full price subscription (I’ve been charged full price for a full years worth before for an app which I didn’t like or even use) Surprisingly tho, on first use of this app the “free trial” offer came up - and to my delight, rather than saying ‘cancel before it ends or we’ll sting ya for it’ in fine writing at the bottom of the page - it actually said ‘don’t sweat it, we’ll give ya the free trial without needing to worry bout cancelling it, and if ya do like it - just come back here and click on the paid subscription you want’ (or words to that effect). So for that alone I give it five stars (I haven’t even used it yet) I’ve never seen an app do this before, and it actually gives me great confidence that this app is going to worthwhile subscribing to because they aren’t trying to trap you from the start. An app with integrity- I dig it!

Life Sustaining. Through listening to Waking Up, I’ve come to realise the sustaining value of meditation and living ‘an examined life’. I have never felt comfortable with the entry-ways to meditation that I have previously explored: too bohemian, too intense and commitment-heavy, too cultish or too hard to access. Sam’s clear, science-supported and gentle approach was the style I needed to respond to and the app is so simply and neatly put together that that it was just the ticket to get my practice going. I also adore the conversations he has with erudite thinkers and have found them to be both a source of knowledge and simply great company, especially during isolated pandemic moments. I could not more earnestly recommend Waking Up as a go-to meditation and mind-expanding app.

Clearing Out the Attic. I have been a meditator for many years and a reader of Sam Harris for not so many years. In that time I have tried and used a range of meditation apps. Most I have found to be poorly presented and insufficiently user focused, although Headspace and 10% Happier are better. This app by Sam Harris is in a different league. It is accessible and very well presented. The lessons are helpful. But more significantly it shows respect to the user by taking as given an intelligent interlocutor. Together let’s go see what is knocking around up top. Let’s shine a torch in the dark recesses of our thinking. Let’s together challenge unthinking ways of engaging with light. Let’s shine the light of rational analysis and shoo away some shibboleths of sloppy consciousness. In short, it’s excellent. I highly recommend it.

Amazing!!. I am so thankful for the waking up team and all that the app provides! I have been subscribed to the app for 3 years while finishing my PhD and I am still in awe at how much the practice truly makes a difference in my life. Particularly, I love the way that Sam breaks it down methodically, and from a spiritual but also scientific perspective. So far, I have ‘graduated’ in the guided meditation course and am doing guided mediations daily whilst listening to the courses and conversations. The new ‘moments’ feature is also an incredibly useful tool for integrating the practice into your daily life. It’s actually life-changing, and if you are seeing a therapist for Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, guided meditation with Sam is the best partner to it.. the two marry perfectly, and my experience with both the latter - and life in general- has strongly improved with help of meditation. I will forever be grateful to Sam and the team for granting me access (free whilst I couldn’t afford it), and significantly improving my mental health with this amazing app. I’ve told all my friends and family about this app, and likewise, I strongly encourage anyone who wishes to learn mediation- not only the practice but the theory and science behind it- to download this app, it truly is worth it! ☺️ ✌🏼

A great source of guidance. I encourage the use of this app for everyone, but especially for those who are interested in meditation but have struggled to form a consistent habit around it. I had been interested in meditation for a few years before using the app but was unable to maintain a habit. This was partly due to lacking a proper understanding of the practice and not having a particular approach to follow. Since listening to Sam’s podcast in which he often discusses and explains meditation with his guests (some episodes of which are included in the app) I finally found a source of meditation guidance that aligned with my intentions and interests. Hearing these conversations prompted me to get the app and commit to a daily meditation that I have maintained for about six months, so far. This practice alongside Sam’s guidance has facilitated a number of healthy changes in my life, improving my physical and mental health, and has also expanded my understanding of the nature of consciousness.

Our Favorite Meditation App!. Waking Up app is our favorite meditation app by far. We have done various types of meditation in the past, including Vipassana, and tried different apps that are available. This app offers different styles of meditation, philosophy, interesting discussions, and so much more. We loved the short lessons, conversations and the 10 minute practices which we are doing daily. Sam's techniques have been very helpful in so many ways, especially during the challenging times. His guidance and perspective is valuable and there is just so much more to learn from this app. It is truly life changing! The app is very user friendly, has so much useful content and is beautifully designed.

Thank you Sam Harris!!. I have been subscribed to waking up for almost 2 years now and I’ve got to say it’s a truly amazing app. I won’t go on about the benefits and why it’s good (even though I totally could) because other reviews describe it perfectly. If you’ve had issues with other meditation apps and methods in the past, or have never tried it before, this app will surely not disappoint. I love that there is a theory section so you can really understand how to implement the practice of meditation into your everyday life. This app has helped me deal with so much in my life, its just a beautiful escape and such a great tool I use often (although not as much as I should these days). Thank you so so much Sam for making this amazing resource and for having a system where you can pay a reduced amount for the subscription if you don’t have the funds to pay the full amount. I really appreciate that. Anyways, if you’re on the fence... get the app! You have nothing to lose and everything to gain from this beauty of a meditation course.

So grateful. I downloaded the Waking Up app on the day I was diagnosed with cancer to get on top of my anxiety. Two courses of chemotherapy and a double mastectomy later, I can honestly say it was worth having cancer for the benefits that meditation has brought me. I would never have believed how much of human suffering is caused by our own thinking rather than our circumstances, or how many truly beautiful moments of our life we never notice passing. I am so grateful to Sam and all the amazing teachers who have contributed to Waking Up for more and more moments of being free from the treadmill of thought and enjoying my life to the fullest.

Excellent app!. I have tried several meditation apps and this one is the best for me in terms of quality content and production. It is a fairly high monthly cost for an app, but the 50 day course provides an excellent introduction and the daily meditations are great for keeping things fresh. The lessons are often fascinating too, opening up a different perspective on our minds and how we perceive reality. I have not delved too much into the children’s section with my own kids yet, but think it is a great addition to the app. There is a lot of content here, and it is constantly expanding. The people involved in this app really care about their users too. My interactions with them have been very positive and I think it is a noble gesture that they offer access to the app for free to those that might need it. I highly recommend giving this course a try!

Potentially life-changing. I’ve only been doing the meditations for a few days but already I feel o much more peaceful, so much happier and more connected to my environment when I finish each one. I have been going to the Botanic Gardens or my own garden to meditate and I feel this helps to appreciate the difference in the way I feel as I open my eyes after focusing on my breath and allowing sensations to come and go for 10 minutes. The reason I’m writing this review now though, is because I just listened to the Lesson on Gratitude after my meditation and as I sat here listening I found tears rolling down my face and for the first time in years I realised I am in fact lucky despite all the health and other issues I’ve been experiencing. I’m grateful for the poignant reminder and for this app. I will come back to review again once I’ve used it for longer but so far it’s already been potentially life-changing. Thank you.

One of the best applications I have ever come across!. I honestly haven’t experienced such a great app in a long time. I tried many other meditation apps all of them being money hungry and pretty much a rip off. Waking up is on another level. The teachings I have gained are exceptional lessons in life that have allowed me to see the world and myself inclusive through a different lens. I have learnt many exercise techniques that allow me to focus far more in my day to day tasks than I have ever felt. Waking up teaches mindfulness to its users, as an individual, mindfulness has allowed me to love and feel far more contempt about myself than I have ever felt. That’s why I highly recommend the waking up application to anyone from all walks of life.

Exceeded all expectations. I became interested in meditation after reading he Tim Ferris book, Tools of the Titans and seeing all this successful people swearing by meditation as having a profound effect on their lives. Serendipitously, around the same time I heard Sam talking on the Joe Rogan podcast about this app, so I thought “what the hell.” A little over twelve months later, I’m not a millionaire, but I have given up smoking, I’ve got my problem drinking under control, my temper is almost non existent and I’ve gained a better insight into what is important in my life. I would recommend this app to anyone with the advice to not expect results overnight. I was around twenty days into the beginners course before I had any inkling that I may be gaining any benefit from the course and it wasn’t until I’d made a streak of fifty days or more until I saw the real “magic” happen. The clarity, focus and outright peace of mind are worth the price of admission alone.

Amazing for beginners. This app is legit - i've tried a few mediation apps out over the last couple of years and never really stucknwith any. After doing a trial run wjth Waking Up so much thought has gone into brraking down the barriers to using it regularly and removing the pressure / knowledge barrier for a beginner that its easy to start building a daily habit... i actually look forward to it every day, which i never thought i'd say as i usually find it a chore I have to force myself to do. The waking up team also put their money where there mouth is and offer a free extended subscription to people who's lives and income have been affected during covid. That goes above and beyond the call of duty and shows they really believe in what they're doing. Well done guys

Lose the Monkey, Enjoy the Banana. I wasn’t really prepared for the impact ten minutes of meditation a day could have as previously I’ve missed the meaning/thrill/insight that others talked about when discussing the benefits of this practice. But it’s Day 12 and I’m hooked - I’ve never made it this far with previous attempts to incorporate meditation into my day. The course is designed to feel like a journey of discovery and it delivers - I’ve had several breakthroughs already relating to 1) What it means when people say “the self is an illusion”, 2) the concept of feeling as if you are in your head or behind your face, 3) the landscape of consciousness and the link between dreams and reality (suddenly season 3 of Twin Peaks is making more sense but that’s a different story). I’m definitely not clear on these topics but where before they made no sense at all, they now have a vague and appealing shape to consider. It’s so fun to discover new and challenging concepts. The additional lessons are very helpful too - I got a lot out of Lose the Monkey and Lessons of Death. Thank you, Sam! This is a positive and much needed contribution to our wonderful, crazy world.

Best app I’ve ever owned. This app has transformed my understanding and practice of meditation, both from a practical, daily point of view as well as a deeper philosophical understanding. It is an excellent tool both for the experienced meditator and the new wishing to dip their toe. The cost is minimal compared to what is taken from it. After 18 months of using this app I can confidently say that the programs here had some more for me than any other meditation course or book. It’s also springboarded me into deeper philosophical learning which is helping me grow in ways I didn’t know I wanted to. An outstanding app, part of my daily life and, hopefully soon, part of yours.

Life changing. Sam’s “version” of mindfulness and meditation is unlike all the others I’ve experienced in life. My understanding of the course so far is that the objective of mindfulness is not on shutting out the world but on how to navigate through life in a mindful way. Learning not to be controlled by your thoughts by being aware of the mind and it’s tendencies. My mind is clearer than ever, I am no longer in a state of jumping from thought to thought and catch myself out sooner and sooner when I find myself lost in thought. I am the calmest I have ever been and discovering Sam’s podcast and app has been truly life changing. The app is flawless too, I haven’t experienced any technical issues.

LOVE IT. I have been meditating for years trialing various styles and courses and apps and have found Sam’s Waking Up app to be by far my favourite. A short insightful lesson followed by a 10 min meditation really does a great job tying it all together in a way that really makes sense to me. As a musician I spend my day wracking my brain trying to be as creative and productive as possible and in doing so you often hit a wall. I have found no better of braking through these creative barriers than to have a break from the studio and sit and do one of Sam’s lessons and mediations. It’s like a reset button, then I can hit the studio with fresh ears and a new perspective. I have recommended this app to all my friends and family who also all love it.

OUTSTANDING. Wow! Where do I start? I have suffered from chronic anxiety for sometime now and I have tried everything to manage it. Including psychedelics, antidepressants. Hypnotherapy, naturopaths, Neural Emotional Technique and many other things. While some of these have really helped me, nothing comes close to what Sam’s work and meditation has offered me. This is seriously saved my life. I have been practicing now for over 6 weeks every single day and the relief from psychological suffering I have obtained is immeasurable. To know that thoughts are just appearances in consciousness and to be the observer of these thoughts as appose to getting lost in them and becoming your thoughts has changed my life. The recognise emotions and feelings as just energy and sensation in your body and to be willing to just feel them as appose to identifying with the thoughts around these emotions and feelings is amazing. Sam has seriously saved my life. Meditation is now something I look forward to every single day and i’m confident that the more I practice, the more peace and freedom from psychological suffering I will experience.

JOY IN THE MAKING, JUST DO IT.. This is exactly what this western society has been waiting for even if they don’t know it. An intellectual understanding intertwined with a deeper experiential feeling of the benefits of mindfulness. I started meditating over twenty years ago as a means to find peace in my-self to deal with lost loved ones. Of course the benefits went far beyond my expectations and expanded into every aspect of my life and it has all been positive as far as the benefits of meditating. Life still offers me the chance to live the mind lead life of the next thing etc yet even when these do occur this deeper feeling of peace and stillness is there to help them pass with grace instead of my thinking wall of possibilities and outcomes. Thank you to all involved with the waking up app and of course all who participate in this search for a better way to be human. Shine on with loves light. 🙏

Loving the Waking Up App. I have just finished the 50 Day Meditation Course. It was a real pleasure to practice the 10 min meditations every day. I found that it was easiest if you just did it first thing in the morning. It was a great start to the day. The only thing you need to do is be able to sit for 10 mins per day. Whether your mind was busy or comparatively quiet didn’t matter as long as you practiced every day. I found after a week or two that I was calmer, slightly more focussed and was able to sometimes be less reactive. I am really looking forward to continuing my daily practice and hopefully seeing even more benefits in my daily life. I have tried to meditate for years and the Waking Up App is the only regular practice that I have been able to stick to. Thank you Sam Harris 🙏 Kate from Australia

With conscious gratitude. To Sam and team in every language available I thank you This app has weekend me to a process I have not experienced before even though I have been meditating for many years Your thoughtful approach and your intention to help others and me be mindful through the Whole of the Waking Up app is supreme I can feel your intention in your conversations within the app to open up conversations and then you share with us more and more. I am grateful to you for your gift of generosity that keeps giving. Always additional information then new meditations then tweaking the app the. Tweaking the introductory meditation the. More content and more open minded and open hearted conversations more conscious awareness coaching It goes on and on and I am forever grateful to you for helping me continue my journey with mindfulness. I am a better person better mother better wife better friend better grandmother better daughter because if your thoughtfulness. 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻 Namaste Sam Namaste

Wow!. I cannot recommend this app enough. I’m three days in to the beginners course and the epiphanies keep coming. I thought I was an established meditator and started the beginners course as a refresher thinking what could it hurt, I know everything anyway! Ah, no, I know nothing and that is the best part of this app. Sam Harris’ practical approach to teaching mindfulness as well as each meditation’s accompanying theory email and audio is like no other app out there. I can’t believe this app doesn’t receive the accolades that calm does, it’s way better than calm in my opinion and worth every cent. I can’t wait to keep learning. Namaste.

More diverse voices needed. I have wondered why Sam predominately talks to CIS white straight men from the USA in his QandA section. While listening to his conversation with Tara Bracht, I realised that Sam has yet to recognise how structural racism and his own racist attitudes are intertwined. This chilled me to the core given the power he yields in the online mediation space and after everything we’ve been through in 2020. This was my introduction to the work of Tara Bracht and the inclusive space she has created to ensure everyone feels welcome by acknowledging the very real barriers to participation and uncomfortable work required to truly welcome the full spectrum of humanity to meditation. I’ll be redirecting my money to the work of Tara Bracht. Sam, I wish you well on your journey to actively educate yourself of the inequalities that marginalised communities face, choose to expand your friendship group to be more representative of the communities you live within and most importantly share this important platform you have with diverse voices.

Insightful and Packed Full of Content. Waking Up is an intuitive App to use for mindfulness. The daily meditations (or whatever title you prefer) are engaging but also complex. I started practicing a few years ago and have used Waking up for about half that time. Some of the other Apps I tried were simpler, and I enjoyed using them for that reason. Using those Apps I gained an okay understanding how to return to an anchor, i.e. the breath. In contrast, Waking up focusing on a wide range of different Anchors and other objects of mindfulness. For this reason I have found it engaging, but also at times I feel like I am doing it wrong. Hence, I gave it four stars but I will persist. If that sounds like something you would do, than I think you should try this App. I feel like the only way for me to continue progressing is to receive formal schooling or training. Which this App does try to give!

Thank you, Sam. The meditations and lessons are simple, clear, and free of dogma. The power in this practice lies in its stripped back simplicity...it’s like a map into your mind and consciousness with a guide to help you along the way. But you have to do the work yourself... that’s what I like about it the most. Not because I’m a masochist, but because this seems to be a vital part of waking up. Exploring consciousness is unfamiliar and challenging, and we get distracted, but with regular practice this changes. And these changes start to affect the rest of your life. It reminds me of vipassana in many ways. It’s a slow burn, and some days will be better than others, turn up anyway, even if your mind is all over the place..that’s part of the practice. Set a reminder on the app, keep at it, things will shift.

Actual improvement. Against my normal instincts I paid for the yearly subscription. I’ve found that in contrast with other free trials that I’ve tried with meditation apps, the psychological effect of parting with my money for the material has helped me take it far more seriously than if I’d paid nothing, and it’s genuinely improving my life as a result. If you work out the daily cost of the yearly subscription, and compare that with the benefits of this practice, it’s obvious that the material is actually worth much more than what you will be paying. No one likes paying for something that is in infinite supply, but this is one of the unusual cases where the investment actually adds value to the service if you’re like me and have had trouble sticking with things in the past. This app is therefore worth your time and worth the subscription. Give it a try.

Changed my life. This mindfulness series of reflection and meditation has truly changed my life. When I stick to the 10 minute per day that I try to, my life is immeasurably better...when I lapse, so does the quality of my life. I started mindfulness with the 50-day “challenge”...it was a challenge that took me the best part of 90 days to complete, in part cause I wasn’t being religious (in the definitive manner) about it and in part cause I would often repeat days I particularly enjoyed. I’m now on to daily meditations. Sam strikes a solid balance between the required repetition and keeping things interesting with variety. I’ve encouraged so many of my friends to use the Waking Up app and over a dozen have taken up paid subscriptions...without exception they all say that, not only are they happy paying, but it is the best value investment they have made. Thanks for creating a quality product that is improving the world...what an amazing legacy.

Fantastic. I’ve used a few meditation apps but this is the first one that I have been able to stick with easily and that I’ve seen significant improvement in my day to day life because of. This course is helping me slow down my thoughts, approach situations and my anxieties differently, and further appreciate each moment of connection and wonder in my day. I just had a short stint in hospital and being able to use the practises I’ve gained already through the course helped calm and centre me in ways I didn’t think would be possible. I am very excited to see where this course leads me and would recommend it to any person who wants to gain more insight into their now.

Profound. Waking Up is by far the best meditation app I have tried so far. Not only is there extensive content from so many respected teachers but there is a good variety of content that runs from just a few minutes to over an hour, so it’s up to you to choose based on how much time you have available. I listened to one of the conversation pieces from Joseph Goldstein and learnt more in the first 30 minutes about ‘thought’ than I have learnt from reading many books and having listened to dozens of podcasts. Sam Harris is also profoundly skilled at presenting points with the greatest simplicity and clarity. Whilst the app is not cheap it definitely provides value for money. Highly recommended!

Just everything. Wow, so happy I found this. On pension and was able to pay what I could afford. It’s really helping me manage my anxious thoughts and I feel so much more positivity about my future and ability to cope going forward. I feel it’s actually changing me, even though I hardly understand things sometimes, I feel encouraged to just work it into my life without feeling guilty if I forget to practice for a few weeks. Each session gives me something that challenges my ideas and thoughts and as an atheist and cynical person I think it helps me fill the gap that others would use spirituality for. It feels genuinely real and personal for me, not like the ocean of spiritual tokenism on social media. It’s my private practice and I look forward to continuing to learn or probably more like unlearn more.

Incredible. Sam Harris has created something special here. This is an excellent introduction to mindfulness, and then so much more. Thank you Sam for all the effort you’ve put into this app ☺️ I’ve experienced anxiety and depression for my entire life. Thanks to the meditation practices i’ve developed through this app, I’ve been able to live a life that I never thought was possible. Free from the near constant assault of self doubt and hopelessness that my life used to involve. I’m able to enjoy and be present in my life like never before. I highly recommend this app, and the annual subscription represents amazing value for the amount of quality content it brings. 10/10

Harris & Irvine, better than coffee. Having read several books written by Sam Harris, I decided to tune in to his podcast Waking Up, in the belief that what I was likely to hear would be as intellectually stimulating as what I had read. Wrong. It was better. Let me explain. I listened to each of the 24 original episodes as the sun came up, sitting on a garden chair facing our uncovered pool which daily reflects the beautiful 35m tall eucalyptus citriadora on the ever changing surface caressed by rain drops and zephyrs. So, the calm inspired by mindful breathing exercises and thoughtful reflections perfectly complemented - lucky me. Luckier still to now have listened to all of William B Irvine's episodes on Stoicism which had led to my reading all his books too! Highly recommended listening.

Excellent progress even for experienced meditators. Prior to starting the waking up course I had been meditating for a bit over three years, learnt through a mix of other apps, books and some weekend retreats. I found the way Sam introduces and frames meditation in this app to be noticeably different and extremely helpful compared to most other mindfulness practices I’d come across, as it’s done with a degree of logical rigour that is seldom found elsewhere. Both the lessons and guided meditations have enabled me to make the same amount of progress in 3 months that had previously taken me years to cultivate. I would highly recommend the app to anyone interested in starting meditation, or improving their current practice, particularly those who get turned off by how meditation is typically taught.

Helped me expand my horizons. Waking Up has been my first introduction into meditation and now my exploration or eastern philosophy and other topics too. Truly the Sam Harris and the team have made a existentially important resource, one that has helped me to uncover some of the deepest assumptions I’ve held about society, who I am and the universe. I’m not as consistent with the daily meditations as I’d like to be, but unlike other apps, which make meditation like a sport exercise Waking Up emphasises how meditation isn’t some special state of mind, but actually our mind always. I’ve found myself taking a more mindful approach in everyday moments, savouring and deeply enjoying every experience and sensation in the world, and refocusing in on life and meaning. In a world where science has failed to replace the direction religion provides us, it seems one way to find meaning and guidance may be to turn to non Western cultures and practices such as Eastern religions and stoicism. While meditation and mindfulness have become buzz words in todays society for finding peace and relaxation, so far I’ve found Waking up to be the only app which actually gives these practices their due, as fundamental mind exercises, inquiries on reality and consciousness which everyone must do. My deepest gratitude and appreciation to all of the teachers and waking up staff, your work is truly life changing, and you’ve helped to redirect and change mine too Stay safe and well

Easy, effective and mind expanding. My meditation practice lapsed over a decade ago. I learned transcendent meditation as a teenager and practiced for years. I came to the realisation that the method was constantly promoting memories of past trauma leaving me feeling anxious and emotionally hyper sensitive. I found no support in dealing with this aspect of the practice from my TM teachers. I’m now 20days into the waking up course, I noticed a change in my awareness of daily life after only a few sessions. Whilst my past is still present when I practice, the method allows me to observe these feelings without judgment and I often feel relieved after a 10 minute session rather than overwhelmed. I recommend you give it a go. I’m very grateful to have the Waking Up app in my life.

Sharing The Joy. I've been using the Waking Up ap for nearly 2 years and the calm, insights and joy it gives me is not easy to share. I have 3 boys 30, 22 and 20 years old whom I've sometimes tortured with my enthusiasm and hope that they will follow it as delightedly as I do. The benefits to them in this insane world would be infinitely more important. But other than the "moments" which I regularly send them; I can't share the "conversations" like the one with Tara which I listened to twice this New Year's Eve; & the daily meditations which sometimes are particularly relevant to their present state in the world... I dearly wish I could share specific parts, like only that Tara conversation specifically today as we all contemplate how to make 2021 better for the world and each other. It could be game changing for them after a Covid lockdown in Melbourne for the better part of 2020!!!I Please make a "share" link for the individual parts of your wonderful Ap Sam, for some, being able to share a month of the whole thing is still too much to bite off! Thank you for all the great work you do. Molly in Oz

A HEAVY HITTER. Learning to meditate through this app has been quite life-altering. Having been at the mercy of a dissociative disorder for decades, in this app I found the antidote. Despite years of inquiry I was not truly aware that the obstacle to healing my mental health was my thoughts. They had taken me prisoner and I didn’t know it. I am now able to short-circuit anxiety, anger, irritability and so on. The introductory course coaxes you through the practice and offerings of mindfulness, making it easy to take the ten minutes each day to take one step further. There is also the scope for deepening your practice via the lessons feature of the app. Try it. I can’t imagine how anyone would regret it.

Genuinely mind blowing.. The amount of practical (and profound) content available on this app is astounding. Don’t let that scare you, though; organisation and categorisation are just two of this apps strengths. At any point in your day, I would highly encourage listening to everything in the ‘theory’ category -- the term trims the fat is not wasted here; this section will help you understand why you’re about to meditate and how you can do it for the rest of your life. Additionally, if you can’t afford the app, for whatever reason, Sam will give you an account free of charge for some time, and given the quality of content provided within this app, it is a true testament to his character and his filtering style. My one request is that there is a housekeeping meditation; oh boy, I love it when Sam takes stock and addresses the housekeeping.

Thank you!. Thank you Sam and team for this truly wonderful app. I have gained so much from Sam’s reflections, his conversations with others, and the series presented by leading teachers and writers. I feel like I have grown more in the past 6 months of using the app and listening to Sam’s Making Sense podcast than I did in many years before. There are two things I find particularly striking. The first is the quality of the app. Every aspect is of the highest calibre. It’s like each detail has been filtered through Sam’s perfectly ordered mind. Even the artwork seems to have been selected or created with the utmost care. The second thing is integrity - Sam’s integrity and the coherence of the whole thing. I can tell that he is authentic - that everything he is doing is coming from a deep place. I trust him for that reason. I truly hope that he is never discouraged from continuing this work. It is a profound contribution to humanity.

Changed my Life. I wrote a review about a year ago praising this app and I thought a year later I’d write an updated one. It is very difficult to articulate how big of an impact this app has had on my life. Three years ago my friend said to me “you want to know the most important app on my phone” he said every app could be deleted but this one and he would be okay with that. I thought this was far fetched but I now share this opinion. The consistency of new and exciting content is amazing, the range of perspectives and experiences provided is broad and in-depth. Can’t recommend this app more highly - open you mind and try it, it’s transformed me for the better in so many ways. Much love to the whole waking up team, congratulations on creating the best meditation app 10 fold.

Such a positive changes for my life. This app is excellent in terms of its structure and layout. It’s so approachable and has small, manageable lessons, which really help as someone who struggles with motivation. The conversations and theory are again suburb. The recent reconfiguration of the lessons to 20something from 50, I was initially cautious about, as I was really enjoying my way through the previous setup, and still have a few to go. However I was not disappointed! The re-hashed lessons are fabulous, and I got straight into them. They are more succinct, but for a part of the learning process I think it’s important and works really well. The new lesson 23 was a game changer in my practice, and is my favourite lesson Sam has done. Strongly recommend! Enjoy!

Not your usual meditation app. Waking up has completely changed my way of thinking, my outlook on life and as Douglas Harding points out so well in his book, I have really realised the all and blatantly obvious of having no head and living headless and mindful. But after completing the introduction course and now in the daily meditation formal practice, It has helped me like you wouldn't believe. I came into thinking that it was just going to be some standard "religious spiritual" type practice where you're supposed to get into a certain state and whatnot. But it's all just recognising everything that already was, and is, in consciousness and that has really opened up my world and now becoming aware of any thought sensation and sound, that arises in the space. It's in my daily routine and I really look forward to it every day as I'm able to embed it into everyday life. Highly Reccomend

Life changing. After having dabbled in mindfulness through therapy for about 12 months, a friend suggested this app. I’d heard Sam Harris’ talk on free will, and was open to his ideas around meditation. And let me tell you, this has been the single most useful app for me this year. I can not recommend it enough. I am astounded by how much calmer I am, how much easier life is to manage, and how positive I’ve been despite COVID-19, losing work, experiencing domestic violence, financial insecurity - challenges will always arrive in life, and with Sam’s guidance I’ve been able to meet the challenges with a clear mind, resulting in better (and more timely) outcomes. I’m so appreciative for the work that has gone into this app, and if you’re curious I say give it ago - you’ve nothing to lose, and everything to gain.

The ONLY meditation app that works!. I’ve been dabbling with meditation for years. With no clear guidance I was simply “winging it” and hoping for the best. I’ve tried numerous apps, courses & teachers (both online and in person). I’ve been desperately trying to make it a habit for all these years, and failing... until now. I LOVE my 20 mins of daily stillness, it’s non-negotiable - and my family practically beg me to keep it up 😁 I now take time to view the sky and be in awe of it’s beauty, to hear my kids and truly be present whenever I can (still working on it!) thank you Sam, you gifted me this opportunity. As a yoga teacher I well and truly lost my income and will be forever in your debt for your generosity ❤️😘

First app that could build the habit. This is the first mindfulness app I’ve tried that could build the habit and help me see the underlying value of mindfulness. It mixes in a bit of a theory and some ‘dangerous ideas’ into the daily meditation which has been able to give me a bit of perspective on my day-to-day and help me really engage with the present moment. I’m only a few months in but I’m really enjoying the journey so far. I think my only advice is don’t look to mindfulness to solve a problem, I joined waking up when my life was great and built a habit from that space that I can now carry with me to some more challenging times.

Hard to overstate. It is hard to overstate how good the content of this app is. My friend said to me, “it’s like having the wisdom & teachings of the greatest philosopher’s & meditation/mindfulness teachers distilled wonderfully into these bite sized chunks that let you see the world in a new & wonderful way”. it’s absolutely true. If every human was taught this at school the world would be a different place. It teaches you about how your thoughts work. It discusses what makes a good life. The daily moments are so thought provoking & grounding. It is truly excellent. Grab the app, do the introductory course (I did most of it during the trial period, & you will notice a change that you do not want to ever undo)

Like moving from high school to university. I have used other apps for about 4 years before this one. The one I used was great and got me into a good practice. Recently I thought I would branch out and use Sams app after being a big fan of his for some time. Well the best way to describe it is as if I just stepped up another level and moved from high school (my other app) and into college so to speak. This app isn’t for everyone (I’m not sure how I would have gone if I started with this app) but if you want to deepen your practice then I can’t think of anything better. It has expanded my view of reality and given me a full body calmness. I genuinely approach the world differently now. As a bonus his conversations and teachings are brilliant. If I could give this app 6 stars I would. Thankyou Sam Harris

So so close to 5 stars. Why not 5 stars?. Sam’s commitment to this is extraordinary. I give Sam 5 stars. He truly believes that the benefits of daily mindfulness meditation has is really necessary and after using the app through a very difficult part of my life I would agree. The fact that he offers it free to those who are genuinely can’t afford it just shows you how much Sam believes in it. It is a wonderful legacy. Ok, why not 5 stars. There are pros and cons with everything and though the pros far outweigh the cons by a country mile I must say that some of the content simply doesn’t appeal to me. There are some guests I really just cannot listen to but for me it the headless way is the prime issue. I learned of it in the original training. I ordered and read the book. I listened to different people discuss it and I felt that I understood the concept of it, that the world/universe is all one and you are part of it but there was never a lightbulb moment for me. I understand that thinking we are all one and connected is a lovely thought and is even scientifically true but in my experience of believing this for many years is that the reality of the world we live in, our ‘nature’ as I call it, doesn’t truly reflect it. The world can be mighty cruel and feel like almost every one in it is selfishly in survival mode. But that’s why I enjoy the meditations, to calm my mind from thinking these sorts of negative thoughts.

The perfect step-by-step meditation programme. This is the best meditation app that I’ve used. I was previously a user of Headspace, Calm and Insight Timer, and while all of them had their benefits, Waking Up met me needs the best. The 50 day programme (although I haven’t completed it yet) is so meticulously thought out that it removes much of the effort required when actually meditating. You’ll be given bite-size lessons in a logical and consistent order that slowly builds on the progress you made during the last meditation session. It’s scientific, logical and non-judgemental. The customer service is also incredible and extremely prompt. I couldn’t be happier with the app. Now I just need to focus on actually meditating consistently!

Life changing. My brother recommended this app to me at the beginning of 2021, I was sceptical of the benefits of meditation and certainly didn’t consider myself a spiritual person. However, since using the app for a couple months I now practice for minimum 20 minutes a day and find myself more compassionate and aware of myself and others. In this time I’ve also begun reading more including some of Sam’s books which I’ve also been enjoying as well as podcasts between him and Joe Rogan. I really into lots of Sams concepts and grateful that we have this resource to help better ourselves and our relationships with others. I highly recommend trying this app.

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The best app on my phone. I use it a lot and very happy to be able to meditate and get so much valuable information

Absolutely wonderful!. I want to thank Sam Harris and his team for creating this extraordinary app. It has been a constant friend and companion. From the wonderful Moments which give me pause every time they appear, through Sam’s wonderful meditation guidance to such features as the Reflection and other sections, I cannot speak highly enough of this wonderful collection. Sam has always said that his main concern is to help us all. He is definitely walking the talk in every way. Thank you so much.

Very helpful. Cannot recommend this app (or the Making Sense podcast) highly enough!

Life changer. Been using the app for 3 years. It’s helped my focus so much, reduced my anxiety, and aided my appreciation for the little moments in life.

I couldn’t stand any other meditation app. I tried a lot of other meditation applications including the big one like headspace and calm. In my opinion, waking up is by far the best. I hesitated a long time considering the price which is about twice as other but I don’t regret my purchase. It’s the first time in my life that I do 4 consecutive months of meditation each morning and it’s because of Sam harriss and his totally different approach which is totally not woo woo like others.

Amazing support. Thank you 💗

Enlighten yourself!. The venerable and generous Sam Harris has condensed years of research into this app. Lend yourself a few minutes for a better outlook on life. 15minutes on a lesson or meditation will give you so much. Thank you Sam.

Speedy, caring, and supportive customer service. I recently requested a refund after being charged when I thought I had ended my auto renewal and to my surprise, the Waking up team fulfilled my request right away.

Best in store. Well built with tons of content, best meditation app I’ve seen on here with tons of other things to do.

Zionist founder. After spending nearing $250 for this app, I was horrified to discover that its founder, Sam Harris has Zionist, dehumanizing and racist views particularly of Muslims. It’s sickened me to my core and I can no longer listen to any of the guided meditation with his voice as it is a major mental distraction. Since I paid for this year already, I’m using it to research the guest speakers whom are excellent and trying to find their work elsewhere. It’s a huge let down for me.

Karmit. I have been a subscriber since 2020. I love Sam Harris , I am thanking this app for helping getting through the difficult Covid years . I continue to meditate for at list 10min a day. Thank you

So helpful. This past year has been one of the difficult years of my life. I was introduced to this app by a friend and without any prior experience with formal meditation. although I am still on the path, using the app has been incredibly helpful.

Overpriced - should not be subscription based. Should you do it? YES Annual subscription? NO, unless you see the app as a way to sponsor Sam’s work. I am a big fan of Sam Harris. I have many of his books, listen regularly to his podcast and first found him on YouTube. I think the work he is doing is very important but I also think this app is not for a subscription based model. I have some experience meditating and have used (and continue to use) some.excellent free apps that combine timers and guided meditations. Sam’s course is good. It gave me a new perspective on the approach and purpose of my practice. However, the course is better suited for a flat-fee model. In my opinion there is not enough value in it for a yearly subscription or for a subscription beyond the time it takes to complete the 50 lessons. The monologs are great but once you complete the course and listen to the monologs there is little (if any) new content to justify a subscription based model. I hope Sam recognize this and drops the subscription model. It seems just the right thing to do. It would be aligned with a “right intention, right action” perspective. The current model seems to be driven by greed...

Shame on Sam. Loved the app for years until it became clear what and who Sam supports (he is a z10n1st). My review won’t post if I go into detail because apple is also ra€i5t. DO NOT PAY THIS MAN. DO NOT ALLOW THIS M0NSTER TO SPEAK INTO YOUR EARS WHEN YOUR GUARD IS DOWN AND MEDITATING. He pretends to be woke but demonizes and dehumanizes arabs and Muslims like no other. Typical YT man privilege with no scope and no compassion. He talks the talk BUT it is a veil over his true intentions which are as ra€i5t and myopic as they come. I am disgusted and beyond disappointed. I honestly feel like I’ve wasted and poisoned thousands of minutes of my life. Shame on Sam and I hope I’m not the only one to delete this app and never look back.

Issue with Notifications. I’ve only been using this for a few days but this issue with the notifications of the “moment” you’re supposed to be doing just disappearing is pretty annoying. I have all the notifications turned on for it but if I forget to swipe on it before unlocking my phone to access it I can’t find it anywhere. Usually if you have an email or message notification on a locked screen and unlock your phone you can then go to each app, open them and see whatever message, email etc. There’s nothing like that in this meditation app. When I open the app there is no *in app* message for your moment....so it’s just lost. If you’re on the phone, having a late supper, whatever...too bad! No moment for you! There’s a ton of stuff in this app but if you’re like me right now, feeling pretty overwhelmed with life, I just close it again because my brain can’t get past the *sort out the order yourself* aspect. I know people might think “just start with *the basics*!” But you’d really think an app that purports to be able to explain your brain to you would have some understanding about what people who are really trying to rescue their brain from the abyss are dealing with. So I’d say for real beginners this notification issue is related to the lack of a good introductory template for bringing people into a regular use of the app.

Grateful for this app. Best meditation app I’ve came across. Thank you Sam Harris

Life Changing App. I have used waking up since 2020 and have been doing the daily meditations somewhat consistently since then. It has taught me what meditation is all about and become much more aware of my emotions and wellbeing. I would highly recommend this app to anyone interested in learning about meditation and introspection.

Waking Ip with Sam Harris. Love this app!!

Love it!. Waking Up meditations are a transformative experience that seamlessly blends mindfulness and wisdom. The guided meditations are both calming and insightful, offering a profound journey into self-awareness.

The absolute best meditation app. I tried a lot of health apps over the year and this is by far the best one, wether you’re a casual user that wants to get into it (especially with the introductory class) or you wanna get DEEP into concepts, Waking Up is the best.

Your mind is the greatest place to invest in.. We’ll worth the money. Easily one of the best investments you can make for yourself. Very well put together.

Best Meditation App. Nothing else even comes close. If you’re seeking a genuinely transformative experience, this is the app. 100% worth it and can change your life drastically for the better.

Closest thing to Guided Vipassana. I did the SN Goenka vipassana meditation course for 10 days I was trying to continue my practice, I wanted the same guidance. This app, while providing only short meditations in the introductory course, still provides more value than not having any guidance at all. Sam Harris understood the core principles of SN Goenkas technique

Waking up everyday. Yes, I am everyday waking up after a trauma that I though I was not going to get through, however, here I am just go through life with its ups and downs, accepting what it is and learning to be more present when I consciously do so, and it is a fantastic and rewarding experience. It is a lifetime commitment to live life the way it is. Thankful with Sam and the waking up team for developing this program and all the tools, for teaching us with wise humbleness!

Best meditation app imo. I used the waking up app for a good period of time and it proved to be invaluable in my journey to enlightenment. Couldn’t recommend anymore!!

2 Years after subscribing, Still my favorite. I have been a subscriber since December 2018. I love Sam Harris, I love his approach to meditation and that is why I subscribe. The “moments” have been added lately which I LOVE!! It’s true that there are a few glitches with this feature at the moment, sometimes I click on the notification and the app opens but nothing happens & the “moment” never plays, but that’s a technical glitch that I have no doubt will be rectified in no time. The idea of the “moment” is wonderful, just like everything else in the app. Absolutely recommend!

Having unexpected technical issues. Audio won’t play unless screen is on and app is open.

Beautiful App. Really impressed by the polish and content of this app. Like all things coming from Sam Harris, there's quality information here. I also love the layout and ease of use. Thank you!

Peace of mind. I have been using this app for a couple of weeks now, and I really enjoy it. I can feel and understand the way meditation works with his classes. And his voice is very beautiful and relaxing. I have been struggling with my studies for the past 3 years, but his teachings helped me to focus and feel the present moment, without overthinking everything thought that goes though my mind. He helps me to just let go and meditate, without avoiding my fears or my anxieties.

Essential. Crucial to the foundation of my new life. Thank you for this app!

The best app to meditate. I love this app; you can learn amazing things and definitely relax.

Like it!. Like the way Sam is teaching in an effortless way.

Fantastic app. Day 3 in this course and I’m already loving it. Just wish Sam would stop going on unhinged political rants on podcast.

The app is great but..... I’ve been using this app daily for almost two years and it’s been incredibly useful in introducing me to non-dualistic practice which I will continue. However, I’m not renewing my subscription again. Sam Harris seems to be increasingly forceful in his tone deaf “anti-antiracist” views, this seems to be his central message on other platforms and since the interview with Tara Brach, this has contaminated this app as well. I don’t disagree with the points he’s making but find his insistence and persistence around this issue off putting and lacking in emotional intelligence. I appreciate what I’ve learned so far and will continue building my nondualistic practice regardless. Thanks for being a bridge:)

Ploy to buy in to SH brand. $165 a year! This guy has already figured out the way to siphon your money and data through podcasts, blogs and YouTube vids, now his media company wants you to spend a family grocery trip’s worth of money on an annual subscription to more prerecorded interviews. Look at all the data (in the app description, thank you Apple) you forfeit by participating! It’s just greedy and completely unaligned with the intent. I was guided here by another paid service that said they recommended this app over another but it’s yet another example of the kickback-based self-promotion internet economy.

Blessing. This app is like a gift from God himself, whether it’s for a beginner or an experienced meditator like me. This definitely sounds like I was paid to write it but this app really just improves the quality of my meditation so much, as well as expanding my knowledge on it. However, I’m broke as heck so I reinstall it every week for a free trial.

Masterfully curated wisdom in my back pocket. This app is so immensely valuable for me, that it not only helps me live a better day, day to day; but it helps me understand how to better help others do the same. It is such a relief and it makes me so very happy just knowing I have a collection of a variety of masterfully curated wisdom in my back pocket. Thanks Sam and team for making this possible for me and I’m sure many others. I can’t thank you enough for changing how I perceive my life and the world we live on.

Wonderful app even for advanced meditators. I love this app and all it has to offer so much! There are so many practices to listen to, so much wisdom! Highly recommend to anyone who wants to deepening their mindfulness practice.

do it. before i say how this app(or me using this app) makes me feel, i want you to know that i never wrote a review on the app store(or not since 2011, at barely 13 lol) with the team of workers, philosopher and inspirational livings, this app show you that you are truly never alone(while being always alone in your mind at the same time) maybe you already knew that, but do you need help to put that thinking on a daily or always basis? this is how, it is not the only way, but i know you can try to test a few ways. this is one of them. do it.

Thank you Sam Harris. This app has been a game changer! 💝🙏

It stuck with me. So off and on I have attempted meditation throughout my life, say the last 20 years or so. Well, nothing stuck with me until now. Maybe its because of the stars or moons, or Sam's voice, or how the meditation unfolds. It may be because I am just at the time when I am fully committed and just happen to listen to Huberman and he recommended this. Whatever the reason, it stuck with me and I have completed 28 days in row and will continue. I am now even branching out and listening to other conversations on the app. I listen to each reflection which I find just as important as the meditation. Anyways, give it a go and maybe it will get stuck with you.

Fantastic Meditation App. I don’t usually leave reviews but the team behind this app is truly phenomenal. Not only is the app very useful, their philosophy behind providing the app for free to people that can’t afford it is something you don’t usually see.

Best and most useful app I have ever downloaded. Great meditation app with guided meditations and excellent lessons to go along with them. Would recommend this to all of my friends.

Amazing resource. This is such a valuable service. I’m grateful to the creators.

It’s expensive. The app is great but I have 2 points of contention: 1) I was transitioning from an apo called insight timer which was an optimum meditation timer with a variety of bells, background noises and it tracks your days in a row and how much meditation is done per day rather than total minutes. To say the least, the Waking Up timer is very sub par. 2) This app is really expensive. I find it rather annoying that my choices are to ask for this for free or pay 19 dollars a month, that price is ridiculous, my netflix account isn’t as expensive. As a responsible and well meaning adult there is no reason I should ask for handouts, I don’t mind paying some money for a quality app like this one, but 19 dollars is just too much. It would make sense to pay a higher fee for the course once, and perhaps a small fee going forward for updates and daily meditations, but for what I am getting out of this app 19 dollars a month is just too much.

Many thanks to Sam! Im waking up!. I have been using this meditation app for a year now. When i started it was really tough to quiet the mind and i could not sit still for more than 2mins. I kept on practicing with the guidance of a great teacher. Now im more mindful and much more calmer, kinder even. Theres no doubt this app made a huge impact in my life and continue to do so. The little things we do daily compounds greatly. So give this meditation app a try and keep an open mind..Im grateful to Sam Harris for doing this.🙏

In a sea of meditation apps - this is the best. I’ve been using meditation apps for 8 years and this is by far the best one. Doing the 30 day course taught me more about meditation that I’ve learned in 8 years doing it consistently on other platforms. I really like Sam’s approach to meditation and the new perspectives he gives you on consciousness are really transformational. Totally recommend!

Best Meditation App. I have been trying to do meditation for years using different apps, but nothing could get me into a routine as Waking Up. There is a lot more than meditation in the app. Also Sam Harris’ voice is so calming.

Best drug I’ve ever had. I think this is rewiring me in a very position way... it’s trippy 🦋

Not enough bang for my buck. There are 50 meditations and 37 lessons provided with the purchase. They remain available on the app for listening as many times as you like. After I listened to them I was then provided with a shorter daily meditation - only available to listen to on that day. The 50 meditations and 37 lessons are beautifully constructed and executed by Sam Harris. Both provided me with a new understanding of meditation and took me to new heights in my personal meditation practice. However the daily mediations that follow are on repeat. After a few weeks of completing the daily meditations I realized there was not much new provided here - he is simply reinforcing the same old same old .. like it’s on a loop. The app is way over priced to the point many will not be able to buy in. And those who do are not getting good value. Sam’s rationale for the cost of his app (as heard on a podcast) did not help. I felt it showed he was arrogant, cocky and it turned me off. Given the ridiculous price of the app for one year I expected more bang for my buck in content. The cost is waaaaay too much for 50 meditations and 37 lessons (though well done) and the looped daily meditations that continue (not so good).

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Life changing/saving. Waking Up is more than simply a meditation app. It has the potential to completely change your life, and in my opinion, for the better. Having struggled with severe mental illness throughout my life, it is surprising that something as simple as daily mindfulness and introspection can benefit me so much. Of course my negative thoughts and feelings don’t go away, but what I have learned through this app is that that is fine. And more than anything I can accept the emotions and thoughts and not give them more weight than they already have. Medications, therapy, support systems: they are all helpful. But I truly do believe that the waking up app was the biggest catalyst for me to return to a meaningful life and find a desire to live again. I know that Sam Harris is somewhat aversive to spiritual superstition, but for me this app is a very spiritual practice. There’s no superstition about it. I feel more connected to myself, the universe and the people in my life, simply by putting into practice mindfulness daily. It truly has saved my life.

Best money spent!!!. I heard about Sam Harris, while listening to the Andrew Huberman podcast. Dr. Huberman did a podcast on meditation and mentioned the waking up app. It sparked my interest so of course I had to investigate further. I searched the web about Sam Harris, and listened to his podcast. I was not a fan, so I decided not to download the app. Fast forward 2023. He actually interviews Sam Harris, so with the respect and admiration that I have for Andrew Huberman, I had to give Sam Harris a chance and am I glad I did!!!! For the last 28 days, Sam and I have spent our mornings together meditating. During the day I spend as much of my free time as I can just absorbing all the material that he offers on his app so many people that are experts in the fields of meditation and eastern philosophy. Plus, he is always adding new material…. Whether you are an experienced meditator or new to meditation I feel the app has something to offer everyone!!! Thank you Samuel Benjamin Harris job well done!!!

Only guided meditation I’ve used and much more. I’m a huge fan of Sam through his waking up podcast (give it a listen if you haven’t). I tried headspace and just couldn’t stand the voice for some reason. Sam’s I can listen to all day and have: literally 4 hour interviews with some guests. And I’ll keep going. Try the free trial and you won’t be disappointed if you’re into it: He not only has the meditation intro for those of us who’ve struggled practicing solo but a lot of other content on neuroscience, philosophy, and other stuff he doesn’t post on waking up. 10% of proceeds also go to the most effective charities he’s talked about on the podcast with multiple guests. At the very least try the waking up free podcast and see if you enjoy his content: it does cut off halfway through many of his long form discussions but is a good intro to see if you enjoy his content enough to subscribe to the full one. He doesn’t take sponsors like many podcasters so that his content is completely unbiased. He is the most rational, morally sound, and open minded individual who takes guests he might not agree with fully on everything but can have open minded conversations with them so long as they are also open minded thinkers themselves and not worthless to argue with like say, Jordan Peterson. Like I said the app offers even more of his content than just meditation so if you enjoy his content then give it a try.

Best meditation app. No nonsense.. This is, by far, the highest quality meditation app. The content is curated so the exercises on the introductory course are progressively building your practice. Each day, the practice seems relatively easy to follow and the concepts are not hard, yet the actual practice is complex as one gets distracted by thoughts. Sam has a very pragmatic way to guide you through this. I completed the introductory course, one day at a time, and suggest you do the same. Then I have been practicing the daily meditation. The app is very intuitive, elegantly designed and updates daily, making it easier for you to just get on meditation and avoid swimming through countless authors and tracks as in other apps. I am very satisfied with the evolution of my practice and I only have Sam and the wake up app to thank for. Lastly, there is a lot of good theoretical content in the app. And there is no spookiness here. If you are a follower of Sam's work, this app is aligned with it: no nonsense, backed by science, and logical reasoning. Also, no self affirmations or weird connections with uber entities. Just you and your mind.

Life changing. The Waking Up app provided an amazing introduction to a way of looking at and understanding consciousness and the mind, that never clicked with any of my attempts at meditating. With Sam's vast experience with a number of traditions and ways of understanding consciouness, he truly is able to provide hia knowledge to help the listener understand the ways in which we can really come to understand the mind and view our thought, emotions, and our whole world in a new and much healthier way. This app helped me not only finally establish a daily habit, but also helped me find the peace and enjoyment that is possible when observing the mind. Additionally, with his number of conversations with meditation instructors from various traditions, it provides different perspectives that provide extra context to Sam's own teaching that helped me better understand what is possible. Needless to say, I am eternally grateful for having discovered this app and hope anyone who comes across it finds it as helpful and as life changing as I did.

A no-go for me. I must dissent from the almost unanimous 5-star reviews of this app. I don’t think that Sam Harris is a very good teacher at all. He is obtuse, enigmatic, and his ephemeral style appears purposeful. His direction is filled with psychological or philosophical babble and jargon that only the most committed philosophy students may recognize or find accessible. I’m through all 50 of the initial meditations in this series, and most of the lessons, and I am disappointed, frustrated and angry. (I’m going to try to work through these emotions through some more helpful mindfulness meditation app.) I understand that you’re not supposed to be able to reach nirvana in 50 days, but Sam should be providing some explanation of techniques, some “how to” tips, some explanation of “why.” Instead, he relies on one-sentence directions, with no further explanation of what he means. No supplemental alternative statements or explanations. Either you get it or you don’t. If you don’t, too bad. I don’t and I didn’t. Tip: start with Day #50 of the meditations and work backward through 49 and 48. It will at least give you brief one-sentence snapshots of the aspects that the sessions are designed to touch on, rather than waiting for the end of the program for a simple guide.

It’s the app I didn’t know I needed. I have had a longtime interest in meditation, but always thought it was a bit too esoteric for me to grasp. Not only do I feel like I understand the process, this app makes it a breeze to do it. I look forward every day to seeing my continued progress, and I expect to renew it yearly, it’s awesome. *Update: After nearly 21 months of daily use, this app has become much more useful and interesting than a daily meditation app. For someone into minimalism and maybe a little OCD, it already scratched a nice itch. Now with the added lessons and guest series, it has become something far more resourceful than I expected it would, while also becoming increasingly beautiful to look at. I save all the art from the daily sessions in their own folder, it’s that good. More importantly, I like the changes I’m seeing in my life, having had some time to soak up the app. It’s been challenging and sometimes emotional, but also rewarding, and it’s exactly what I didn’t know I was hoping to find by using it.

Great Meditation App: Honesty and Theory. I’ve spent years trying out Calm, InsightTimer, and Headspace, and Waking Up is the first one that really clicked for me. I think it’s because Sam Harris (the creator and narrator) has a refreshing honesty about how difficult and gradual progress in meditation can be (whereas I felt like Calm and Headspace’s guided meditations are overly cheerful), and because of the app’s focuson meditation theory. On the meditation theory, Sam’s background is in neuroscience and he talks about the potential meditation has for improving the brain, and I think there’s a lot more depth to this than what Calm or Headspace offer. It felt like on those apps, I saw meditation as “a tool to make me happier” as opposed to, on Waking Up, “something that can dramatically reshape my life and how I view it.” I think if you’re on the fence but you’ve struggled with meditation in the past, the best reason to try out Waking Up is that it’s different and (refreshingly) it doesn’t feel like it promises quick progress.

Not your typical meditation app. By far the most favorite app in my phone (and the only meditation practice that I was actually able to stick to for longer than a few weeks - have been doing it for over 2 years). I find it very helpful that while Sam is very knowledgeable in the eastern teachings domain, he is also very much grounded in the western science, and is very much down to earth. It makes my experience way more grounding, real, and fun than with any other teacher I’ve encountered in the past. Plus the app contains so much more aside from the daily meditation practices. Sam brings in other scientists, psychologists, and spiritual teachers for really interesting conversations. There are also many mindfulness practices that I find quite eye-opening. Love the daily moment feature. Highly recommend his Making Sense podcast too for anyone who is interested in well… making sense of what is going on around us as opposed to succumbing to the rabid mobs on either the extreme left or the extreme right.

Truly a Great Meditation App. The experience of using this app on a daily basis is extremely enjoyable and rewarding. It has completely rejuvenated my interest in meditation and began positively influencing my daily life more or less from the get-go. Being presented as a “course” this app puts you clearly in the student mindset and from there it’s all about learning new skills and improving them through practice. I feel I’ve learned more about meditation (and my own mind) after three weeks of using this app compared to years of using other apps or practicing myself. The meditations are also supported very well by the “lessons” which color the teachings with helpful context, explanation and additional exercises. Sam truly helps you to come at meditation and understand it from a number of different angles and is always very articulate in helping you understand why you are doing what you are doing. I appreciate this part very much. These meditations and lessons are really a joy to follow. I look forward to it every day.

Best meditation app I’ve used. I have experience with headspace, Calm, insight timer, mindfulness app, and The Waking up app blows them all away in my option. The strength of the app lies in the daily approach. Each lesson is unique (even if many are similar) and Sam introduces new methods and techniques throughout the course so the user has a sense of progress, and one that’s easy to measure As a neuroscientist Sam takes a very clear, secular route that’s based in the illusion of the self. That might sound like nonsense, but what Sam is teaching you to do is much more than simply calm your mind, or lower your blood pressure. You may get those benefits as a result, but what truly separates this course from the others is that Sam will lead you into the deep end of the pool, and teach you how to swim there with very clear and concise instructions. It’s hard to talk about or describe this. But if you have any interest in paying for a meditation app I recommend starting here and doing it for 30 days. What I’ve said should make more sense at that point

Less about meditation, more about “dispelling the illusion of self”. This app has some strong features and content, but will not be my long term solution for mediation/mindfulness. App starts with a 30 day introduction course, which is strong for the first half, teaching different mediation techniques. I think Sam’s narration is great for this. However, the 2nd half of the introduction focuses exclusively on “dispelling the illusion of self,” which, for me, ruined a practice I was beginning to enjoy. Those sessions are pretty much all the same: begin to meditate, pay attention to your thoughts, look for the thinker, then notice that there is none (at least that’s the goal). To me, these session become lectures rather than meditation. It annoys me during the session (I know, Sam, that’s a thought too), but I don’t want to be reacting to you during every meditation. Give me a few seconds to observe my thoughts and the world around me i.e., be mindful. I would have given the app a 2, but the conversations are excellent and overall I’m a pretty big fan of Sam, his books, and podcast.

Very useful!!. I had been interested in learning to meditate for a short while and tried multiple free versions of various apps, just to eventually burn out and lose interest. I came across a podcast with sam Harris and decided to give “waking up” a try. I started with their 5day trial and afterwards, decided to give it a try for 1-month starting with their 50day intro course. I really enjoyed the structure of that course knowing that it was the best chance for me to develop the habit of meditating regularly on a daily basis. I definitely developed a habit where I now feel awkward if I didn’t get my “10min”/ day in. After keeping my membership for 3 months, I decided to go at it alone to save money. I reached out to their staff to let them know I enjoyed their product but couldn’t afford the $15/month fee. I asked instead if I could ipay $5/month to still support them. I had a reply within hours offering me a complimentary year membership. It was a shock and I was very happy to receive it. I’m very happy I came across this app and recommended for anyone who interested, especially new comers like myself.

It’s currently changing my life.. I started this app after trial and error of practicing mindfulness here and there, to help with my mental health. My loved ones had bought me books that continue to sit on a shelf, I had taken CBT as well, and Xanax was my only fix. Sam Harris is truly amazing, and my life has been forever changed. Do not get me wrong, but since I started this app, my anxieties and panic stricken state seem like small potatoes. I desire to study theology, and as much as my mind needs much more training, I feel the difference. I see the difference. Although I don’t have all the answers to my questions? For the first time, I’m asking the questions. Which is monumental from the scared little girl I was a few months back. I still struggle fully getting to a meditative state so I’m starting the beginning steps over again. Thank you so much Sam, and all the other people over at waking up. You’ve given me a gift that makes me be able to have a gratitude words can not express

So grateful for this!. I'm a transgender woman who struggles with depression, and this app has helped me tremendously. It made an almost immediate difference to my quality of life, which is a lot to ask of a meditation app, but something that this one managed to do with relative ease. I learned to meditate years ago but had fallen out of the habit. The type of practice I used to do was primordial sound meditation, so I came into mindfulness as a complete novice. There's something very gentle and yet extremely powerful about it. Sam has a great voice, filled with kindness, and there's a soothing quality to the lessons. The meditations in the course, though short, have quickly become one of the best parts of my day. I look forward to them, and I find myself feeling much calmer and less caught up in my own thoughts afterwards. There's a timer included, and I usually do an additional ten minutes of meditation after I finish one of the lessons, just because it feels so good. I can't recommend this app and the Waking Up course enough! It's been immensely beneficial to me, and I'm deeply grateful.

A lasting cure for depressive behavior. After battling with depression for over a decade, a therapist had recommended meditation, specifically mindfulness meditation. I found it initially helpful, but meditating in an unstructured way to a timer wasn’t offering me many benefits. Keeping up with a regular meditation routine was extremely difficult, especially because the benefits were reaching a point of diminished returns. Enter the Waking Up app, and my life has genuinely changed for the better. 6 months ago it was hard for me to grasp the idea that one could get better at meditating, the nuisance and skill set was lost on me. This app offers an amazing structure, 50 days of guided meditation that actually teaches you how to meditate, and most importantly, how to transfer the benefits of meditation sessions to the rest of waking life. I could go on and on about how much this app has benefited my life, the ways in which it has surely haven’t even been entirely realized yet. Please, if you are struggling with depression and anxiety, try this app for all 50 days of the course. You can get better.

Waking up. I’ve been meditating on and off for years. I even went to a week long meditation retreat. Despite this, I never actually understood meditation. That is, until I began using the app. The app is a comprehensive guide to learn fundamental and advanced meditation practices. The app begins with a 50 day introductory course then continues teaching through providing talks on theory, interviews with leading meditation teachers, prominent guest teacher instructions, guided meditations, daily meditations, and a traditional timer. Through using the app with a dedicated meditation practice, I’ve had small glimpses Into the things Sam talks about. But more than becoming a good meditator, it has made significant changes in how I show up in my daily life. It’s not easy, being on an honest spiritual path is not easy. But through learning the techniques Sam teaches, opening myself and my heart, and having experiences that were eye opening, it has sustained my practice. It is worth it. I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity that is life and the opportunity and fortune to use this app and have Sam as a teacher.

Priceless. After using the App Store almost since it’s inception, I can honestly say that this app is the first one I have encountered that I would consider priceless. There is no monetary value that can be placed on this app, or what it’s done for me personally. The fact that Sam Harris offers it for free to those who are unable to afford the asking price speaks volumes about the man, and if it weren’t for that, I would have never been able to experience it in the first place. I often find the need to defend against those who disagree with some of his perspectives, but like every other issue in life, there are no two individuals alive who will be in complete agreement on every subject. If you happen to hold a different belief than what Sam has on any subject (I find religion to be the main one that some from the “holier than thou crowd” tend to use), don’t let that deter you from utilizing this app, because there is so much good to be obtained from what is within. I truly question where I would be today without Sam Harris’s influence…

The Most Useful Option. I’m an experienced meditator and an avid follower of Sam Harris’s podcast. This app is by far the most accessible, profound and useful option for new and experienced meditators. I recommend it as the first and best option to anyone I meet who wants to begin the practice in earnest. And Sam literally makes it impossible to come up with a good excuse for not trying it. He’ll give you a refund if you don’t find it useful (you do actually have to try it, though — no half-assing it) and if you can’t afford the app, he’ll give it to you for free. If you are finding yourself being run around by your thoughts and emotions (and you’re committed to ceasing that activity), this app is well worth the investment. The problem, you will find, is not your thoughts, but rather your attachment to them. Sam will guide you in the process of slowing down, noticing your thoughts as they arise, and letting them go. When we realize that we are not our thoughts, and are merely the space in which they arise, our worlds can shift in profound and subtle ways. Give it a shot. I believe you’ll be glad you did. Thank you, Sam!

thank you, thank you, thank you. I have been out of the game for a while. Meditated for a good chunk of time, got married, a decade later had twin daughters, marriage fell apart and now I'm back at it. It's not easy but that's the fun part. It's truly fun, like an intensive workout or working away at something that has true value in your life and feeling good about the effort and the outcome. I've tried many apps and they are good. This is the best in my book. It has everything. If you put in the time (which I didn't for my first 20 years on this planet and then did for a spell and promptly tucked away for another 20 years) you will see and feel the reward. But unlike working out or pushing through a goal to the end with meditation and this course you will be able to do this indefinitely. To everyone involved from before the inception of this app right through tomorrow I just want to say thanks for all your hard work. It's been the most helpful of all the meditation apps I've tried or read about. Keep it up!

One of the most important apps to download. Although this is my first encounter with a meditation app, I still feel it is a top tier one. Sam Harris has a great voice which you don’t tire of, which is important in a daily meditation app. He challenges you from day one but gently reminds you, exactly when you need it, not to judge yourself when feeling frustrated. The intro course is set up well and the options for daily meditations are a plenty thereafter. The theories and conversations are very helpful to the practice and are nice excuses for going out with a pair of headphones for secluded walks and hikes in this lockdown. His education in neuroscience makes him, to me, someone very much not spiritual, a credible and helpful source to comprehending the non-tangible and difficult to grasp topic of consciousness. Like he says, even if unable to reach non-dual awareness for a while or ever, it’s a goal where the process of trying to attain it provides your lifestyle a great many benefits, so why not give it a try. Ask someone you know who uses it for a free month.

A tuning fork. Other meditation practices have just been one more thing to fail at. After day 5, I broke through. I noticed my heart racing but realized It had no meaning. I wasn’t automatically rehearsing negative ideas around it. Immediately I felt calm. I’d call it a miracle but don’t believe in such things. But that’s what it felt like. I have bipolar depression. I’m tired, tired of the medications, tired of swinging from anxiety to crippling depression. Most of all, I’m tired of talk therapy. None of it addresses the root of the problem—that your own mind weaponizes your thoughts and emotions against you always finding a way to circumvent treatment. They work for a time, but the mind fights hard to stay sick. A war rages within and at the end of the day, no by afternoon, you’ve lost the battle— time to watch TV. It’s all that you’re good for. Because it’s only 10 minutes, because of the lessons, this app is teaching me that I am not my disease. I’ve been fighting it and losing. With this app I’ve begun a new journey toward balance. This morning I was angry, after meditation, I’m calm.

So educational. I’ve been using Headspace for a couple of years, but I felt like I’d kind of hit a plateau with it. Even though the app had all these different courses, they were all pretty much the same, and I felt I wasn’t really learning anymore. This app really helps you UNDERSTAND mindfulness and understand WHY you’re doing what you do. I feel like I’ve learned so much more from it than I did from Headspace, and I just started the app. It seems to be filling in the holes in my understanding. I’m looking forward to going further with it. Only one thing I’d suggest. It would be really nice if the audios for the lessons (not the meditations, but just the theory lessons) would have captions or transcripts. I have ADHD and autism, which comes with audio processing difficulties. Being able to read the lessons would really help. But I know this would only apply to a minuscule percentage of users, so I can understand if this wouldn’t be practical. It’s still a great app, and I can make do.

Opening to Life. This app is the best guide I've ever encountered to learning to experience the nondual nature of consciousness, which I'm slowly learning to experience for short moments throughout my day, as I integrate it into daily living. It's the only way to live! I'm just an ordinary person, like most of us, not a saint nor a bad person, but this has helped me be a better person to my family, friends and myself. It has helped me to stop fighting life, like unclenching a fist I didn't know I was clenching a whole lot of the time, to use an analogy from Sam Harris. I've been meditating for decades, at home, and with a small group of fellow mediators weekly, and attending the occasional weekend retreat. In other words, I'm not a marathon mediator, but I've appreciated Vipassana practice from the first moment I started it years ago. But I never really understood, at an experiential level, what terms like emptiness and non-duality meant until I started using Waking Up. This app is a priceless gift to the world. Try it!

Dynamic content, always fresh, a favorite app!. I use this app daily, and only because I enjoy it, not because I think I should! It's a very comprehensive and down to earth introduction to meditation and mindfulness that skips the idea that you have to labor for decades before having any meaningful insight or opening. Sam is always adding new content, literally every day, and puts himself in very interesting conversations that challenge his own perspectives as well as those of his guests and listeners. I love the 'Practice' section for the deeper introduction you get to many different approaches to practice, from Zen Koan to Stoic Philosphy to Poetry - all roads that Sam finds lead to Rome, or waking up. As someone with a long meditation history, I appreciate his skepticism, and that he doesn't go into the guru/teacher mode, even while being a conduit for lots of people to wake up. Sam's well curated smorgasbord of philosophy and technique offer a wide variety of ways to re-meet yourself at deeper and deeper levels, all while steering clear of the breathy/spoon bending/wu wu side of spirituality.

Great app but disagree with Sam Harris’s lesson. The lesson “Solving Problems” has a part that says something like “you *will* suffer a knee injury and have to go into the doctor”, “you *will* get the common cold”. I see the point Sam was trying to make that we should embrace what seem like failures but I dislike the way he taught it. If I adopted the mindset he spoke of and repeated his words I believe I’d be manifesting and believing that bad things will happen, which I don't think is Sam’s intended goal. I definitely feel Sam’s philosophy isn’t as deep and nuanced as it could be, especially with something like that standing out in the first handful of lessons. Although, I appreciate the app a lot! Thanks developers, looks and works beautifully. Many other things about Sam Harris I deeply appreciate, like making this available in part for free. I just wanted to give feedback, because it was that lesson that turned me from a potential customer to the payed service to someone who’s not going to pay for the app. Hoping that lesson gets updated because I definitely will go back and listen! I’ve listened to the Logic of Practice three times already (one of the best simple meditation lessons I’ve ever heard btw).

Beautiful simplicity. I chose the Waking Up app after a long phase of exploring options, as I have many challenges with meditating. So far the course has become a welcome and portable tool for me and I am grateful to be noting moments of renewed mental energy. Waking Up strikes a good balance between offering a useful structure and the adaptability of its parts. Also, listening to some of the development of this app and reading Sam Harris’s book allows me to trust that I’m part of something thoughtful and even ethical, rather than a headlong crash into the mindfulness complex. I feel like it’s the beginning of a sustained effort to both increase and share a deeper wellbeing. As a psychotherapist, I really appreciate a direct and clean approach driven by knowledge and a commitment to practice. I just don’t think you can go wrong with this app if your goal is to gently shake off the circus in your mind. I literally want to ‘wake up’ from that braindrain and I’m glad to find an app that has a succinct and elegant way to support me in that.

Outstanding tool to learn how to and about meditation. I have 2.3 thousand mindful minutes spread over 210 sessions across 144 days. I have benefited greatly in terms of stress relief, mood stability, ability to sustain focus, and in my relationships. The subscription can be pricey and yet I have paid nothing for access. Perhaps the most beautiful thing about the WakingUp! organization is a belief that mindfulness is for everyone, regardless of means. They offer a process to request a scholarship, either a reduced rate or entirely free. As an unemployed student in a graduate program, I go further into debt each month and cannot justify the price tag at this time. However, mindfulness has been shown to be important in my success in my future career (counseling), to treat my depression, and to improve my adhd symptoms. Everything in my life has been pointing me towards a mindfulness practice. I cannot thank Sam and the others who contribute to WakingUp! enough for the values guided approach to this service. Thank you from the bottom of my heart! ❤️

Real deal meditation app & a masterclass in mindfulness content. Real deal meditation and mindfulness app. A key app for cultivating a holistic integrative healthy lifestyle - because it helps you set time to get to know your own mind and examine the nature of experience. This app is a master class in quality content, dare I say the highest I have experienced on a meditation/mindfulness app. It is well coded and has a great user experience. I find that this is an important app for me for rediscovering and maintaining the anchor in the turbulent flow of modern day life. It is a tremendous companion on your journey of the human condition and sets the occasion for implementing this powerful habit to cultivate - meditation. I’m grateful for Sam Harris, his advisory team, recruiters, contributors, writers, coders, user design experts, and everyone involved with this project. It had made an impact with me and I believe this can make an impact with you. It can change your life… Or more accurately help you set the occasion for you to change your life.

Thank you & goodbye. I would like to terminate my subscription to Sam Harris’s waking up meditation app. While I enjoyed the app itself I have sadly lost respect for Mr. Harris as a teacher who leads by example. Some of his recent commentary regarding the information shared by Brett Weinstein has left me wondering if “being right” is more important to him than this practice he teaches that has attempts to bring us more into a state of graciousness and neutrality. My disappointment is not around political issues, rather, “conduct”, that reflects what we are trying to learn every day on this meditation app in a time where the world needs more leaders that are bringing us together rather than continuing a tribalistic & divisive narrative. Isn’t publicly insisting that a group of people are right and another are wrong in contradiction to our practice of seeing everything (thoughts, sounds, visual input & emotions/feelings) simply as consciousness arising and falling and a rising again? I am grateful for what I have learned through this app and prefer to move on through a different platform. Thank you.

When the student is ready, the teacher appears :). Thank you Sam for making the Waking Up app. I have tried many meditation apps, but I couldn’t seem to commit any of them into my long term daily routine. My practice would take an initial leap but they would gradually fade away, not due to any fault of those apps. But, The Waking Up app has become part of my long term daily routine that I look forward to, like a cup of coffee in the morning. I look forward to my practice because I have seen it make me a better person in all aspects of my life. The difference for me with Waking Up is the unbiased care and precision of Sam’s instruction. It is the thing which helped me get to a more effective space in my meditation. And this, in turn, has kept me coming back for more. I am so grateful for all of the education and experiences Sam has gone through in life, as these have undoubtedly made the Waking Up app what it is to me. I highly recommend Waking Up to anyone reading this. When the student is ready, the teacher appears.

Out of this world experience. Sam Harris has that “meditation “ voice, ya know? I’ve listened to a lot of guided meditations the past few years and I’ve grown to really like “Wake Up”! Besides the intelligence of how he speaks, he has brilliant ideas about how our mind works. The Wake Up App also presents interviews with people from all over the world bringing us exclusive data of how one’s Mind/behavior/thoughts come together in and outside of ourselves! I think it’s Mind-blowing information that will get you to think outside of yourself!! It’s kinda hard to explain what AppWake Up ,has done to my brain! It’s opening up parts of me that I didn’t know even think of and it’s definitely for bettering myself! The last 3-4 years practicing Meditation has been a struggle to sit and follow instructions. Dude, Wake Up offered me a FREE YEAR to listen to ALL the content on App! Super Blessed my counselor suggested this App to me in August 2020! I been listening about every day sometimes 2-3 times a day since then!! I could go on but DOWNLOAD THE APP and see for yourself! I suggest to give it 10, 15 or 30days before you decide if it interests you or not!!! ENJOY!

Use this app to change your mind. I have used several of the most popular meditation apps for years, and this is not like any of them. Sam Harris makes it clear that this app is not designed to help you relax and manage stress. That may happen as a side effect, but it’s not the point. What he and other teachers do in this app is teach you to explore the nature of consciousness itself. These are skilled instructors with decades of experience in Buddhist and other non-dualistic contemplative traditions, providing excellent guidance that goes deep, fast, without any religious dogma. That may not be what you’re looking for, but it was exactly what I needed, and it has changed my life. It helped me break through a plateau in my meditation practice and to enter the stream, as the Buddhists call it- to understand the the nature of consciousness and the illusion of the self. It’s now the most important app on my phone, and I use it daily. If you’re curious and you have an open mind, I highly recommend giving it a try. If you can’t afford a subscription, Sam Harris offers it free to those who can’t afford to pay. I consider it one of the most important investments I have ever made, and will be keeping my subscription as long as he and the other teachers on this app keep it going. Sam, thank you for the service you are providing to people who want to understand their own mind and to live a spiritual life without religion.

Great Meditation Guide. I’ve been using the app since it was first available a few days ago, and I’m really enjoying it. The layout of the app is very user friendly and professionally done. The content of the app is divided between lessons and guided meditations. The lessons consist of distillations of many of the concepts Sam has discussed in his books and podcasts into ~10 minute expositions that relate those concepts to the practice of meditation. The guided meditations are audio recordings (also ~10 minutes) in which Sam talks the listener through the practice of mindfulness meditation. So far, between the lessons and the guided meditations it takes less than 20 minutes a day to do, and even in just the last few days of going through the course I’ve noticed a difference in my day-to-day life in terms of my overall mood and ability to cope with everyday challenges. It might seem ridiculous that a few minutes a day could really have that big of an impact, but I’ve been pleasantly surprised at the level of mental clarity and focus that I’ve come out of each session with.

How to Develop the Skill to Awaken. I will never forget what got me to the Waking Up app. In 2018, as a new listener to a Sam Harris interview with a guy he was supposedly “arch enemies”, I was amazed by his patience and humility. The other guy (someone who originally thought meditation hokey) had written a book about how he now thought buddhism was true. They talked about the challenge of a meditation breath technique where you focus on the breath going in and out. That’s it. And RW thought it was hard. Well, as an almost 20 year meditation veteran, I was sure they were making a big deal out of nothing. So I tried it the next morning for AM practice. Wow. Major eye opener! Here I am 2 years later still stretching out how many seconds I can stay “in the now”. Wonderful skill practice without the distracting “info fluff” (as someone put it) to get in the way. Thank you Sam Harris for ALL efforts to get this out there. AND, even though I ALMOST had my streak all the way back up to 111 again, thanks for taking that out. Yet another- Wake Up call.

Life changing!. I’ve been using the waking up app for a year now. It’s changed my life, for the better. It can be challenging to let go. It takes time to grow awareness. But I’m here to tell you that it does come, with practice and patience. I suffer from GAD, clinical depression, OCD, and panic disorder. Last year I couldn’t just sit still with my eyes closed for 30 seconds, let alone 10 to 20 minutes. I was constantly controlled by my thoughts and thought patterns. I’m here to tell you that I’m better, because of the app! My med have not changed. They give me a bandaid, that I’m not ready to give up yet. Therapy has never worked for me, although I’m going to give it another try. But meditation, through Sam Harris and the waking up app has prevented debilitating needless suffering. More often than not I’m able to catch myself and my thoughts, and before I act on them, I become greatly aware. And that’s freedom my friends! The realization that we are not our thoughts! That you are able to mirror and reflect before you act out. Thank you Sam, and to the waking up staff and community! Nothing but love an gratitude.

Completely life changing. I have had depression and anxiety for many many years. I have tried everything from medications, therapies, holistic practices, changing my diet, you name it I have tried it. Things would work for a little bit but I always ended up hitting another wall. I have tried and tried every meditation app out there, but after the second day of using Waking Up I knew it was going to be life changing. It’s not your traditional meditation and it has made me really dig down and find out who I really am. I am obsessed!! I recommend this app to anyone who is looking or searching for questions about yourself you have always wanted answered. I am really passionate about continuing this and finding out how else it’s going to help me discover my true self and so much more!! I have struggled to continue other apps day to day, but I look forward to opening this one to see what new material I can find. DON’T HESITATE!! GET IT NOW!!

Extremely helpful. I had no idea Sam Harris had this course available and a friend sent me his Making Sense podcast episode of regarding the importance of meditation during an emergency. In it he mentions this opportunity to use this app and course. I was a part of a lay-off during this pandemic and my work in the laboratory only strengthened my concerns regarding covid. I found myself at a loss with my brain and my emotions were spiraling out of control. It was affecting my relationships even if those closest to me understood why I expressed myself in this certain manner. I used to practice meditation, but in recent years had neglected it as a “practice”. I have been using this app now for a month and it has provided the tools I’ve so desperately needed. In fact, I am not sure what state I would find myself in during quarantine without it. I highly suggest giving this a try. In the past, I had doubts regarding the use of apps or technology regarding meditation, but this has proven me wrong. I can’t thank Sam and his staff enough for presenting this to the world for use. I never want the lessons or discussions to end.

Excellent and simple design; clean performance and writing. I'm 5 days into the course, and wanted to give my impressions. This is a very clean and simple design, so I'm pleased with all that. The main thrust of what there is to review is the content of Sam's performance. I'm more or less a novice practitioner, except having had experience related to meditation in having performed an extended retreat observing Christian monastic practice in my early twenties. My experience in that included some overlapping practice with meditation. I greatly appreciate the secular and scientific context that Sam approaches this, although it is not really about that at all; this course can easily be appreciated by anyone regardless of religious background. And also I feel that the content suits an app like this, in that I feel the content here is pretty evergreen and clean in it's writing. I can imagine these sessions being weighed down with content that might not age well or feel flowery or superfluous, but that is not the case in to what I've listened so far.

Life Centering. I am heading into my fourth month of using the app. As someone who has meditated independently on and off for a decade, what the app has helped solidify for me in deepening my meditations has been remarkable. A major thing the app has helped me realize is that consistency of these short 10 minute meditations has a significantly stronger affect on overall mindfulness then the 2 to 3 longer meditations I would have normally done over the course of a week. Where Sam helps you explore in consciousness is invaluable. I have never touched this concept of witnessing my own emotions rather than simply being my emotions so deeply. I consider myself someone who already had their life together before using the app with my own business and loyalty to my family but through the help of this guided practice, my connections with all people around me and optimism of future goals has all been expanded to a new level. The funnest part is understanding how many more levels I could still go in becoming the best person I possibly can. Thank you Sam Harris for your wonderful life contribution.

Life is better when you’re awake. I’ve been using this app daily since it launched. Words will never express the full value of this app, it can only be directly experienced. If you desire to be a better human in this life, and want to spread light instead of darkness, this is the way. It has improved every facet of existence for me. I am a better husband, son, friend, athlete, and employee because of my daily practice on waking up. As a veteran with PTSD, depression, and ADHD, mindfulness provides the tools to thrive in this life despite it all. I’ve had wild hallucinations similar to an LSD experience while meditating (eyes open) and leagues of other fantastic experiences and insights while using this app. If you’re looking for healing, direction, clarity, and insight into the human condition, look no further. In fact, look for what’s looking instead. It is critical to point out that it can take months of daily practice before you can detect shifts in perception, but once you’re there, you can enter this sacred space of raw experience at any time. What a gift. Enjoy the journey.

Extraordinary. I’ve been meditating since 1990, and been taught via various teachers and on a variety of retreats using TM, Vipassana, Dzgchen, and Zen. This app strips away the dogma and the cultural iconography and leaves us with a distilled approach that, initially can seem a bit perplexing but opens up a doorway to wholly new way to view our world. In my experience the work then begins when I ask, “what does it mean to live from/as this view?” Sam, and the intriguing cast of guests/teachers provide a massive spectrum of perspectives, teachings, and insights to help see that view and then begin the shift to live and love as that view. I cannot express the gratitude I feel for what this app has given me. Through some very severe depression and anxiety I’ve been utilizing the daily sitting and as Sam often says, “There’s a place to stand” in the pain and difficulty that I couldn’t even imagine. Three deep bows of respect and thanks to Sam and the extraordinary team of folks who have made this happen. 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼

More Metaphysical & Less Practical. I’m generally disappointed with Sam’s attempt to prove metaphysically there is no self. He constantly makes statements that have no real explanation. He insists to trust his method but without any clear explanations along the way or if he does attempt to explain its highly obtuse . We are often told to “look for the looker” and “observe the observer” and that what we sense is merely “content in our consciousness.” These are strange statements without simple and clear explanations or why it even matters. In short his instruction suffers from being un-relatable. He is typically so skillful in articulating concepts that I’m baffled by his approach here. The app has no subjects or categories for reference. Like other apps there is no clear instruction on Anxiety, Anger, Sleep, etc. It’s just unnamed/untitled days that supposedly follows a method he has in mind that he VERY slowly and repetitively shares. He clearly wants you to come to terms with having no self or the truth of non-duality. In fact, he seems far more bent on proving metaphysically that you have no center of consciousness or self that I’m not sure one will gain the fruits of concentrative meditation through his method.

This app is a boys club. You don’t need to look much further than the drawings of the interviewees and the names of the series authors to see that this is a boys club. I personally wonder deep down if Sam just doesn’t think the plethora of female teachers have much to offer. There is wisdom in Sam’s teachings, and the app is a hub of great teachings in general, yet I have a real sadness participating in some thing I — as a woman – seem to be intentionally excluded from. When I hear Sam ask interviewees one of his predictable questions (“ how do people call themselves gurus yet commit abuse?”) I simply cannot fathom how Sam doesn’t see how his meaningful contribution to the continued co-creation of patriarchy in modern Buddhism feels for his female listeners. Particularly egregious is the fact that all the series are led by men, except for the one for kids by Annika Harris. The men talk to the adults, and the woman talks to the children. I have reached out and raised this to the Waking Up folks in the past. A few interviews with women were added after my commentary, but no real change has been made. I chose to share my sadness about all of this in case there are other women who feel the same way, or who may not want to join Waking Up as a result of this reality.

Favorite App on Smartphone. I have been using this app for over a year now and I continue to be impressed by the polish and content provided. At first I just used it to do the guided meditations, but I’ve been recently getting into the theory and conversations as well as leveraging the moment feature. This app truly is well thought out and useful in so many ways. Having come to Sam Harris through his various books, it’s no surprise really that Waking Up is so well made. It’s also pleasant to see the continued support here, after only a little over a year of use there have been a couple of refreshes or redesigns to improve the experience. If I had to offer any suggestions: For Apple Watch users I would enjoy being able to download the conversations to my watch or at least have more app functionality from just the watch. As it stands the watch app is really just a timer and inferior currently to the Apple Mindfulness app. Being able to have the daily meditation and a conversation or theory available natively on the watch would be awesome for those of us that don’t like to be tethered to our phones. Conversations: while I appreciate the talks Sam Harris has on the Making Sense podcast relevant to meditation practice being available in the conversations on the app. It would be nice to have the rest of the podcast episodes available to Waking Up subscribers. Subscription fatigue is a real thing, and I just can’t justify another monthly/annual commitment.

Incredibly useful and overwhelmingly helpful. This app has really helped me begin to understand my thought processes and the way in which my attention is focused. Sam Harris provides such a powerful source of guidance and insight into understanding how to improve the mind which alternatively has resulted in me gaining a greater understanding of my mental state. I feel more in control of my life every day particularly after every lesson and meditation. The app provides such valuable and thought provoking insights, and this information is delivered in a way that I feel anyone from any walk of life can consume. I’m incredibly grateful for the purpose of this app and even more appreciative of the time and commitment Sam Harris has put forth in aiming to help me, and everyone at large, in gaining a more conscious understanding of our awareness and consciousness. I would absolutely recommend this app to everyone and feel as though every person who makes time to download and support the app will see incredible personal benefits and gains.

Realized Society Misled Me About Meditation. I’m a long term pessimist and still am. I have chronic mental health issues and was always opposed to the suggestion of meditation. From my perspective, why would I want to dive deeper into my mind? And the people who talked of meditation appeared so pretentious about it. It only took a few of the introductory courses with Sam Harris for me to realize I had misunderstood what meditation is about. Meditation is not going to fix my problems, but it’s absolutely making me analyze the way in which my consciousness works. I can’t think of an argument for why an individual who cares about interacting positively in the world wouldn’t want to analyze how they interface with that world. At first it could be hard to bring myself to do the meditation, but really only trying for 10 minutes, sporadically over 6 months, I can get into the mindset easier now. I’m very excited to continue using the app. The app itself is also super nice, it has a great flow, a similar feel to the built-in iOS apps.

Great Meditation App. I’ve only ever used headspace before this app, but I enjoy using the Waking Up app because of the focus on both theory (which I found missing from headspace) and practice (which is much more directed and to the point). It is my daily use Meditation app, and is possibly one of the reasons I have been able to maintain a consistent practice for over a year at this point. That being said, I believe my time with headspace was still valuable as I learned a few techniques in terms of body scan and breath focus that I still use while meditating with Waking Up, and I could see how having some background in meditation and some fundamental practice might be necessary to utilize Waking Up to the fullest. Overall though, it is a great app, there’s access to various techniques taught by different teachers, conversations with those same teachers and others, discussions of the theory behind meditation, a great intro course that exposes you to the techniques and their purpose, daily guided meditations of 10 or 20 minutes, a timer for non-guided meditations, and the list goes on.

2020 to ?? Going 3 years strong!!!. Fell into WAKING UP in the heart of 2020 covid. The world was in a disarray state, and a lot of personal growth was happening literally in the home-front. Sam and his beautiful team have done nothing but bring creative insights to myself and ways to shape my personal journey into learning the fundamentals of mindfulness. The insights and courses that are given have giving me to many ways to view not only the world, but myself as-well. I’m constantly intrigued to try to ways to add-on to myself. Interested in listening to the collections to Alan Watts? Or The Stoic Path by William B. Irvine? They got you more than covered. Just two of many courses to check out! Having financial trouble or can’t really fully commit? That’s okay. Sam & his team are fully committed to allowing full access to their program. Which was a big help to me when I was going through financial and work trouble. Their scholarship programs offer a way to do their courses that’s fitting for you if you don’t want to do the full year out of pocket. Still iffy? Give the 7-day free trial a chance. Check out the content they have to offer. It’s genuinely worth it. I hope I was some help. Please take care, and the best to you on your mindfulness journey!!! *Also shout out to Karl from Waking Up Support for adding my scholarship! Thanks Sam Harris, Karl and The Waking Up Team!!! Y’all have brought insight to my life everyday since!!!

Wowed on day 3. I’ve dabbled in meditation for about 2 years now. I’ve read 10% Happier (would recommend) and have also tried other meditation apps. I haven’t been able to stick with the practice, however. I’m only on day 3 of this course, but I just had an amazing experience that I’m not sure I’ve had before using other apps or practicing solo. I felt like my body just melted away and I was only sensation. It was amazing and powerful. I listen to Sam’s podcast and trust him intellectually. I absolutely think that this has something to do with the effectiveness of this app for me. I find that the medium of podcasting makes you feel like you sort of “know” the host after listening to their voice in your ear for hours and hours cumulatively. This has the effect of seeming like I have my own personal mediation teacher! It does not feel like it has been recorded for the world and played by thousands. Can’t wait to see what else is in store and how this helps me to grow my practice.