Listening Below The Noise: A Meditation On The Practice Of Silence (2009) - Plot & Excerpts
Beautifully written. I learned much from this slender book, including the importance of slowing down, listening, and tuning out the chatter. LeClaire is a wonderful guide to how one might choose silence, and I loved hearing about how her family reacted. This is a feminist book, make no mistake, even if the author doesn't really "come out" as feminist. Because what she's doing is showing how vital it is for women to tune out, and how angry society gets when we make ourselves unavailable. Overall I really liked this book, but I do have a few quibbles. It may seem minor, but it seriously bothered me that my favorite line from Mary Oliver's poem "Wild Geese" was misquoted. Having said that, I appreciated the author drawing on many other inspirational sources, which in my opinion made the content richer. And while this wasn't really meant as an in depth exploration on the role of silence in life, I did find it a little too pat at times. As a memoir, it was beautifully written in descriptive language that was evocative and drew me in. It certainly made me question the "noise" in my own life, and gave me a place to explore from. She suggests that we ought to ask ourselves three questions prior to speaking: Is it true? Is it necessary? Is it kind? Good advice that may eliminate much chatter. On the whole a satisfying read.
What do You think about Listening Below The Noise: A Meditation On The Practice Of Silence (2009)?
Thought provoking and inspiring to step back and reflect amidst all the demands on one's time.
—Farrux7909000
