About the Book
Letting Go is a self-help and spiritual psychology book by David R. Hawkins, a psychiatrist and consciousness researcher. The central premise is that most emotional suffering persists because people suppress or avoid feelings rather than allowing them to move through. Hawkins presents a method he calls the surrender technique, a process of identifying and releasing stored emotional states rather than analyzing or managing them intellectually.
The book draws on Hawkins' decades of clinical psychiatric practice and is framed both as a therapeutic guide and a spiritual framework. It covers how suppressed emotions connect to physical health, relationships, motivation, and overall life functioning. Each section tends to address a specific emotional pattern or life domain, walking readers through how the surrender process applies in that context.
This is not a quick-read self-help book with bullet points and exercises. The writing is dense and philosophically grounded, and Hawkins builds an extended argument across the full length of the book. Readers already familiar with his Map of Consciousness or his book Power vs. Force will recognize the underlying framework, but Letting Go is largely self-contained.
Narration & Audio Performance
Peter Lownds, who holds a PhD and has a long association with Hawkins' work, narrates the audiobook. His delivery is measured and unhurried, which suits the subject matter reasonably well. The pacing gives listeners time to process what is being said without feeling rushed, and his voice carries a calm, clinical steadiness that matches the book's tone.
The narration is functional rather than dynamic. Lownds does not vary his delivery much across chapters, which can make long listening sessions feel monotonous. There is no character voice differentiation needed here since this is straight nonfiction, but even within that constraint, the performance stays in a narrow register throughout. Some listeners find this appropriate for meditative material; others find it difficult to stay engaged over extended periods.
Production quality is clean and consistent. There are no notable audio artifacts or distracting background elements. If you are unsure whether Lownds' style will hold your attention, the Audible sample is a reliable preview of what the full audiobook sounds like.
The Audible Verdict
The book itself has a strong following in the self-help and spiritual psychology space, and the audio format is a reasonable way to engage with it, the reflective pacing of the narration suits the material. However, Lownds' delivery is narrow in range, and the book's density means some passages benefit from re-reading rather than re-listening. It earns a free trial credit, but listeners who prefer to annotate or revisit specific sections frequently may get more from the print or ebook version.
Listen on AudibleIs This Book a Good Fit for Audio?
Letting Go has a mostly linear structure, working through emotional patterns and life domains chapter by chapter. There are no charts, diagrams, or footnotes that would be lost in audio. The prose is continuous and argument-driven, which translates well to listening.
That said, this is a book that many readers return to repeatedly, marking passages, revisiting chapters when facing specific challenges, and using it more as a reference than a cover-to-cover read. Audio is less well-suited to that kind of use. If you plan to work through it once start to finish, audio is a fine choice. If you think you will want to flip back to specific sections or highlight passages for ongoing practice, print or ebook may serve you better in the long run.
Listening at a moderate speed works well here. The concepts are layered, and Hawkins takes time building each point. Speeding up too much risks losing the thread of the argument.
Popular Listener Questions
Is this book part of a series?
Letting Go is a standalone book. It shares conceptual overlap with other Hawkins titles like Power vs. Force and The Eye of the I, but no prior reading is required.
Is the narrator someone connected to Hawkins' work?
Yes. Peter Lownds PhD was associated with David Hawkins' work during Hawkins' lifetime, which gives the narration some contextual weight, though it does not significantly change the listening experience.
Is this a practical how-to book or more philosophical?
Both. Hawkins presents a specific technique, surrender of emotional states, and applies it across practical areas of life, but the writing is philosophical and clinical rather than quick-step or workbook-style.
Who is the intended audience for this book?
People interested in the intersection of psychology, emotional processing, and spirituality. It appeals to readers of Wayne Dyer, Eckhart Tolle, and similar authors, as well as those interested in consciousness-based approaches to mental health.
Similar Audiobooks
Power vs. Force
Hawkins' most well-known work introduces the Map of Consciousness framework that underpins much of Letting Go. A natural companion listen for anyone interested in his broader thinking.
Eckhart Tolle's book shares the same broad audience, readers interested in consciousness, presence, and releasing mental and emotional resistance. Similar tone and scope.
Emotional Intelligence
Daniel Goleman's book approaches emotional awareness from a more clinical and research-based angle, making it a useful companion for readers drawn to the psychological side of Hawkins' work.
The Untethered Soul
Michael Singer's book covers similar territory, the idea that emotional suffering comes from resistance and attachment rather than external events. Frequently recommended alongside Letting Go.
Transcending the Levels of Consciousness
Another Hawkins title that expands on the emotional and consciousness framework introduced in his earlier work. Listeners who finish Letting Go often move to this one next.
Audiobook Details
| Title | Letting Go |
|---|---|
| Author | David R. Hawkins, MD/PHD |
| Narrator | Peter Lownds PhD |
| Genre | Spiritual Psychology |
| Year | 2014 |
| Publisher | Hay House, Inc |
| Abridged | Unabridged |
| Cast | Single narrator |
| Author-narrated | No |
Ready to listen?
Letting Go is available on Audible and is a reasonable use of a free trial credit if you want to explore the surrender technique in audio form before committing to the print edition.
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