Powerful ideas from top nonfiction
Try Blinkist to get the key ideas from 7,500+ bestselling nonfiction titles and podcasts. Listen or read in just 15 minutes.
Start your free trial
Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
Listen to the Intro
The Stress Code summary
Richard Sutton
From Surviving to Thriving: A Scientific Model
24 mins
Brief summary
The Stress Code by Richard Sutton helps readers understand the science and impact of stress on our bodies and minds. It also provides actionable steps for managing stress and improving our overall wellbeing.
Topics
Table of Contents
The Stress Code
Summary of 8 key ideas
Audio & text in the Blinkist app
Key idea 1 of 8
Our fast-paced world and hunger for success are increasing our stress levels.
We’ve all heard the warnings. Our busy lives are sending us into a spiral of stress. Health experts around the world are telling us to slow down, take time off, and implement more work-life balance. Many of us have taken up yoga and meditation to calm our nerves, or are simply popping pills to help us get some sleep.
All of this raises the question, why are we so stressed?
Here’s the key message: Our fast-paced world and hunger for success are increasing our stress levels.
According to author Richard Sutton, our physical and mental well-being depends on our ability to establish balance in our lives. If we’re balanced, we’re able to move easily between states of arousal and regeneration – or, activity and rest.
The problem is, modern society makes it impossible for us to maintain our balance for several reasons.
For one thing, being constantly connected via technology makes it harder for us to defend our free time. We’re available 24 hours a day to respond to work calls or emails, or reply to friends or family that need our support. As a result, our schedules are brimming with things to do and people to attend to – while time for ourselves is often left off the list.
Another reason is this: admiration of success and an intolerance of failure is fast becoming the norm in our society.
Whether we realize it or not, all of us are pushing ourselves to be bigger and better than ever before. At the same time, our desire to compete, and ultimately succeed, is steadily increasing. Now, longer working hours, extended work weeks, and less annual leave are commonplace in working environments. Is it any wonder that our stress levels are skyrocketing?
The bad news is that it’s only getting worse. According to a study completed by researchers at the Yale University School of Medicine and the University of California, Los Angeles, the average person in developed society experiences between four and five episodes of stress every week.
For many of us, life often feels like walking a tightrope: we try to move forward steadily, but personal and professional pressures always threaten to push us off balance. That’s why learning to manage stress – and even to harness it for our benefit – is crucial. We’ll take a look at this in the following blinks.
Want to see all full key ideas from The Stress Code?
Key ideas in The Stress Code
More knowledge in less time
Read or listen
Get the key ideas from nonfiction bestsellers in minutes, not hours.
Find your next read
Get book lists curated by experts and personalized recommendations.
Shortcasts New
We’ve teamed up with podcast creators to bring you key insights from podcasts.
What is The Stress Code about?
The Stress Code (2018) explores the role that stress plays in our everyday lives. It examines why stress is deadly to our health, and what effects it has on the global economy. Sutton offers science-backed strategies for stress management to help you improve your mental and physical health and to achieve your potential on a personal and professional level.
The Stress Code Review
The Stress Code (2021) by Richard Sutton offers practical strategies for managing stress and improving overall well-being. Here's why you should add this book to your reading list:
- With its research-backed techniques, it provides actionable steps to reduce stress and cultivate resilience in daily life.
- The book explores the connection between stress and various aspects of our health, from sleep and digestion to immunity and mental well-being.
- Through engaging storytelling and relatable examples, it helps readers understand the impact of stress and empowers them to take control of their stress levels.
Best quote from The Stress Code
Stress has become highly prevalent in a world geared towards over-arousal.
—Richard Sutton
Who should read The Stress Code?
- Stressed-out people needing to press pause on their busy lives
- Professionals seeking a better work-life balance
- People recovering from chronic stress
Categories with The Stress Code
Book summaries like The Stress Code
People ❤️ Blinkist
Sven O.
It's highly addictive to get core insights on personally relevant topics without repetition or triviality. Added to that the apps ability to suggest kindred interests opens up a foundation of knowledge.
Thi Viet Quynh N.
Great app. Good selection of book summaries you can read or listen to while commuting. Instead of scrolling through your social media news feed, this is a much better way to spend your spare time in my opinion.
Jonathan A.
Life changing. The concept of being able to grasp a book's main point in such a short time truly opens multiple opportunities to grow every area of your life at a faster rate.
Renee D.
Great app. Addicting. Perfect for wait times, morning coffee, evening before bed. Extremely well written, thorough, easy to use.
People also liked these summaries
4.7 Stars
Average ratings on iOS and Google Play
32 Million
Downloads on all platforms
10+ years
Experience igniting personal growth
The Stress Code FAQs
What is the main message of The Stress Code?
The main message of The Stress Code is understanding and managing stress for a healthier and happier life.
How long does it take to read The Stress Code?
The reading time for The Stress Code varies depending on the reader's speed. However, the Blinkist summary can be read in just 15 minutes.
Is The Stress Code a good book? Is it worth reading?
The Stress Code is a valuable read. It provides practical insights and strategies to help readers navigate and reduce stress.
Who is the author of The Stress Code?
The author of The Stress Code is Richard Sutton.
What to read after The Stress Code?
If you're wondering what to read next after The Stress Code, here are some recommendations we suggest:
- The Upside of Stress by Kelly McGonigal
- Why Zebras Don't Get Ulcers by Robert M. Sapolsky
- When the Body Says No by Gabor Maté
- The Stress Prescription by Elissa Epel
- The Happiness Equation by Neil Pasricha
- Stress – Your Catalyst for Success (single sourced article) by The Blinkist Team
- What I Learned Losing a Million Dollars by Jim Paul
- The Beginning of Infinity by David Deutsch
- The CBT Workbook for Mental Health by Simón Rego & Sarah Fader
- Zero Sugar / One Month by Becky Gillaspy