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30 reviews
16 of 17 people found the following review helpful
"Listening" is a real gem
13 May 2009
Format:Hardcover
Reading Anne LeClaire's latest work, Listening Below The Noise, is a lot like peeking into someone's journal. But instead of having to sneak the read, LeClaire openly invites us to become privy to some of her most intimate thoughts and experiences as she recounts her journey over the past 16 years on the practice of silence. Through LeClaire's writing, the reader is introduced to a simpler, more honest way of noticing, approaching, and interacting with the world around us, the people in our relationships, and our ownselves. This is not a self-help book or how-to book, but rather a friend's perspective on a practice that has enhanced her life so much that she wants to share it with us.
This is a touching memoir of sorts, beautifully written, illustrated with lovely photographs that seem to capture the very essence of the written words. I found the book so provoking, I read it twice and it has quickly become a favorite gift for friends. LeClaire's insights and experiences offer poignant lessons for us all and I would consider it a must read for anyone searching for a path to honesty and simplicity in his or her own life.
This is a touching memoir of sorts, beautifully written, illustrated with lovely photographs that seem to capture the very essence of the written words. I found the book so provoking, I read it twice and it has quickly become a favorite gift for friends. LeClaire's insights and experiences offer poignant lessons for us all and I would consider it a must read for anyone searching for a path to honesty and simplicity in his or her own life.
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Interesting BUT ....
22 April 2011
Format:Paperback
I was intrigued by this book initially because the author decided to observe a silent day twice a month. She has faithfully done this now for seventeen years, occasionally observing longer time periods, even an entire week, in complete silence. The book documents her observations and experiences. Silence has changed her life.
At first, it is difficult for Anne's family and friends to accept that she will not take calls or talk at all on certain days. Then they begin to realize that certain things are not that important, they can wait a day. Anne begins to notice that she is getting calmer and more peaceful. The buzz of modern society begins to feel like an onslaught - the volume in a movie theatre is too much, for example. She begins to turn more and more towards nature, developing deeper appreciation of natural rhythms.
Along the way, she finds inpiration and wisdom among the world's spiritual traditions. After all, solitude and contemplation have been a prerequisite to enlightenment for many religious leaders. I found this aspect of the book a bit trite, because she draws on the usual suspects one would find on a Barnes and Noble religion or philosophy shelf.
In the end, however, I admit to some annoyance. Anne is a writer, her children are grown and away at college, her husband the naturalist is out of the house much of the time. She spends most of her day in solitude anyway. She comes from a certain background - white middle class New Englander - and lives out on Cape Cod year round; there is an inherent insularity already. What she has accomplished is not the big stretch it would be for someone in different circumstances. She is told as much by an Irani author that she meets at a writer's retreat. She dismisses his words initially by assuming he must be "a little drunk." She later realizes that silence has a shadowy side, where it is imposed on someone. But I get the impression she cannot really relate to this other perspective, she has neither the cultural background nor the ability to explore it deeply.
Also I would like to ask the author why she talks about long periods of meditative silence, but doesn't actually meditate. She would get the same benefits (and much more) in a shorter timeframe!
On the whole I enjoyed the book because I am also drawn to periods of quiet. The white spaces in our lives are very important, like pauses between musical notes that contribute to the overall score. Taking the book as merely a private view is the right perspective. It is one woman's personal journey, and a worthy one at that.
At first, it is difficult for Anne's family and friends to accept that she will not take calls or talk at all on certain days. Then they begin to realize that certain things are not that important, they can wait a day. Anne begins to notice that she is getting calmer and more peaceful. The buzz of modern society begins to feel like an onslaught - the volume in a movie theatre is too much, for example. She begins to turn more and more towards nature, developing deeper appreciation of natural rhythms.
Along the way, she finds inpiration and wisdom among the world's spiritual traditions. After all, solitude and contemplation have been a prerequisite to enlightenment for many religious leaders. I found this aspect of the book a bit trite, because she draws on the usual suspects one would find on a Barnes and Noble religion or philosophy shelf.
In the end, however, I admit to some annoyance. Anne is a writer, her children are grown and away at college, her husband the naturalist is out of the house much of the time. She spends most of her day in solitude anyway. She comes from a certain background - white middle class New Englander - and lives out on Cape Cod year round; there is an inherent insularity already. What she has accomplished is not the big stretch it would be for someone in different circumstances. She is told as much by an Irani author that she meets at a writer's retreat. She dismisses his words initially by assuming he must be "a little drunk." She later realizes that silence has a shadowy side, where it is imposed on someone. But I get the impression she cannot really relate to this other perspective, she has neither the cultural background nor the ability to explore it deeply.
Also I would like to ask the author why she talks about long periods of meditative silence, but doesn't actually meditate. She would get the same benefits (and much more) in a shorter timeframe!
On the whole I enjoyed the book because I am also drawn to periods of quiet. The white spaces in our lives are very important, like pauses between musical notes that contribute to the overall score. Taking the book as merely a private view is the right perspective. It is one woman's personal journey, and a worthy one at that.
18 of 21 people found the following review helpful
Listen to this book
3 Oct 2009
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
Mom of two pre-teens and a busy husband. If you are looking for yet another self-help book, this isn't it. This is a friend sharing her story and in turn illuminating the reason for this darkness I can't seem to shake. I have been searching for something more than pills, church services, exercise and all the other advice given to help with this darkness. I truly know the Lord led me to this book. Today is my first day of silence and already...well, I am at a loss for words.
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