No surprise, but THE LOST OF ART OF SILENCE by Sarah Anderson is like nothing I've ever read before. It's a meditation, wide-ranging discussion, memoir, thought-provoking wonder. My lifelong quest for silence around me, my growing reaction to enforced busyness and nonstop talking, the simplicity of a forest so remote I can sit quietly and feel the forest around me -- all my unspoken, unexpressed yearning is wonderfully described, explored, and written in this book I will cherish forever. I received a copy of this book and these thoughts are my own, unbiased opinions.

No, the irony of my reviewing a book about silence is not lost on me. Sarah Anderson’s “The Lost Art of Silence” was a deep, heavy read. Her comprehensive analysis into silence’s depiction in art, literature, nature, & spirituality throughout history was intriguing, especially when interspersed with social and/or political commentary. Not my usual cup on tea, but not a wasted effort.

The Lost Art of Silence is a book that covers all of the different aspects of silence in different subjects such as art, literature, nature, and spirituality. Each section is packed with famous people's opinions and quotes about silence, its benefits, its powers, and also its negatives. This book read more like a reference guide to silence, including every reference to silence within the subjects I mentioned at the beginning of this review. This is not a scientific book or a historiographical book on silence, but rather, a guide on how to invoke and inspire silence into our lives.

As someone that appreciates peace and quiet, I was pleasantly surprised to learn that some of the greatest thinkers, artists, and minds of our recent past have each appreciated and needed the absence of noise for their own creative, mental, physical, and spiritual well being. There are so many famous works that have explored silence that I need to look up now that were mentioned in this book. The depth and descriptiveness of silence that various individuals articulated throughout time was both poetic and spiritual, capturing the beauty of its power and magic.

This book has helped to re-evaluate my own relationship to silence and why it is valued and needed within my own life.

Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a free arc via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is a profoundly beautiful, and, in my view, important meditation of the importance of silence in life. Written against the backdrop of the lockdown, when all of our lives were quieter, even as much in our world grew noisier, I really treasure the author’s beautifully written exposition on how much we need silence in our lives.

I can see my students and fellow spiritual seekers really appreciating this book. Thank you.