Status
Checked out
Due 13-04-2024
Call number
Genres
Collection
Publication
Viking (2018), 160 pages
Description
"In 1993, Norwegian explorer Erling Kagge spent fifty days walking solo across Antarctica, becoming the first person to reach the South Pole alone, accompanied only by a radio whose batteries he had removed before setting out. In this book, an astonishing and transformative meditation, Kagge explores the silence around us, the silence within us, and the silence we must create. By recounting his own experience and discussing the observations of poets, artists, and explorers, Kagge shows us why silence is essential to our sanity and happiness--and how it can open doors to wonder and gratitude."--Jacket.
User reviews
LibraryThing member DavidWineberg
You don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone
When I first moved to New York, I couldn’t believe the noise (and it’s gotten much worse). I remember walking out the front door and stopping. I counted 26 sources of different noises – that probably no one else even heard (any more). From
Erling Kagge’s tiny opus Silence is the flipside of that record. Dominant silence allows you to hear all kinds of activities you wouldn’t otherwise. From the rustling of your ski jacket to the lapping of water to the flapping of insect wings, there is another universe we have lost contact with. And silence means very different things to different people.
Kagge has learned to appreciate silence. He walked – alone – to the South Pole and back in 50 days, during which time he did not utter a sound. He understands the anxiety of enforced silence. How experiments show people would rather endure pain than prolonged silence. That is why, he says, music is absolutely everywhere. We are so trapped by necessary activity that we can’t endure silence.
Silence is now something you have to make, he says. It is a luxury. Reading Silence brought back a flood of memories, not something I can say about most books.
David Wineberg
When I first moved to New York, I couldn’t believe the noise (and it’s gotten much worse). I remember walking out the front door and stopping. I counted 26 sources of different noises – that probably no one else even heard (any more). From
Show More
the police helicopter parked in the sky above to the squealing brakes of the subway cars under the sidewalk grate, it was difficult to separate them and assign them priorities and values. And of course, no one does that.Erling Kagge’s tiny opus Silence is the flipside of that record. Dominant silence allows you to hear all kinds of activities you wouldn’t otherwise. From the rustling of your ski jacket to the lapping of water to the flapping of insect wings, there is another universe we have lost contact with. And silence means very different things to different people.
Kagge has learned to appreciate silence. He walked – alone – to the South Pole and back in 50 days, during which time he did not utter a sound. He understands the anxiety of enforced silence. How experiments show people would rather endure pain than prolonged silence. That is why, he says, music is absolutely everywhere. We are so trapped by necessary activity that we can’t endure silence.
Silence is now something you have to make, he says. It is a luxury. Reading Silence brought back a flood of memories, not something I can say about most books.
David Wineberg
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LibraryThing member ASKelmore
Best for: Those looking for a quick but insightful read about all the noise in our lives.
In a nutshell: Explorer and writer Erling Kagge offers his poetic thoughts on the importance of silence in our lives.
Worth quoting:
“There are so many noises that we barely hear them all.”
“Silence in
“Noise in the form of anticipating a screen or keyboard is addictive, and that is why we need silence.”
“[Silence] is about getting inside what you are doing. Experiencing rather than over-thinking. Allowing each moment to be big enough. Not living through other people and other things.”
Why I chose it: As evidenced by my last review, I’m trying to find more intentionality and authenticity in my life. This book seemed like a good addition to my list of books to help me in that goal.
Review:
What a lovely book. It starts with a quick introduction, then jumps into 33 short chapters that are meditations on the ideas of noise and of silence. Mr. Kagge — who has been to the North and South poles as well as the top of Mt. Everest — knows a thing or two about silence. He went 50 days without speaking when making his way across Antarctica.
But this book isn’t about figuring out a way to get to a snow-covered, empty continent. It’s more about looking at why silence matters, and what it means to find an escape from the din of our lives. As a writer, I especially appreciated the chapters that spoke to the idea that some experiences don’t translate well into words; we just need to be in them. The example he uses is examining the moss on a rock; I would say that I’ve experienced when traveling and I find myself in parts of the world that have architecture from many hundreds of years ago. Being in the moment, instead of talking or even writing about it, helps me connect to it more than if I tried to find the words.
I read a book many years ago called “Einstein’s Dreams,” and this reminds me a bit of that. I doubt they are actually similar, but the feeling I got from it is comparable. I felt calm, and invested in the writing. I felt peaceful but also motivated.
This book has been translated into 33 languages, and I can see why. I think the message translates well.
In a nutshell: Explorer and writer Erling Kagge offers his poetic thoughts on the importance of silence in our lives.
Worth quoting:
“There are so many noises that we barely hear them all.”
“Silence in
Show More
itself is rich. It is exclusive and luxurious.”“Noise in the form of anticipating a screen or keyboard is addictive, and that is why we need silence.”
“[Silence] is about getting inside what you are doing. Experiencing rather than over-thinking. Allowing each moment to be big enough. Not living through other people and other things.”
Why I chose it: As evidenced by my last review, I’m trying to find more intentionality and authenticity in my life. This book seemed like a good addition to my list of books to help me in that goal.
Review:
What a lovely book. It starts with a quick introduction, then jumps into 33 short chapters that are meditations on the ideas of noise and of silence. Mr. Kagge — who has been to the North and South poles as well as the top of Mt. Everest — knows a thing or two about silence. He went 50 days without speaking when making his way across Antarctica.
But this book isn’t about figuring out a way to get to a snow-covered, empty continent. It’s more about looking at why silence matters, and what it means to find an escape from the din of our lives. As a writer, I especially appreciated the chapters that spoke to the idea that some experiences don’t translate well into words; we just need to be in them. The example he uses is examining the moss on a rock; I would say that I’ve experienced when traveling and I find myself in parts of the world that have architecture from many hundreds of years ago. Being in the moment, instead of talking or even writing about it, helps me connect to it more than if I tried to find the words.
I read a book many years ago called “Einstein’s Dreams,” and this reminds me a bit of that. I doubt they are actually similar, but the feeling I got from it is comparable. I felt calm, and invested in the writing. I felt peaceful but also motivated.
This book has been translated into 33 languages, and I can see why. I think the message translates well.
Show Less
LibraryThing member Beamis12
I usually have a book of short stories or essays that I read at bedtime. These are the only books I read in bed. The title was perfect, called to me, as I too value my silent time, not only value it but need it to keep my mental equilibrium steady. I don't even own a cell phone. I found this book
The author spent fifty days alone in Antarctica, "On the twenty second day I wrote in my journal: At home I only enjoy 'big bites' Down here I am learning to value miniscule joys. The nuanced hues of the snow. The wind abating. Formations of clouds. Silence."
Now I don't see myself running off to Antarctica anytime soon, but I do believe that many of us go through our days, without noticing anything, without time to think and ponder. He talks about the silence in music, how the pauses makes what come after more powerful. I agree. He tells us how to find and notice the silence within ourselves, how to use it to gain a new perspective.
He talks about the silence in art, particularly The Scream by Edvard Munch, "High-pitched noises can have many modes of expression, but the most powerful scream that I have ever experienced is one that is void of sound: The Scream by Munch."
The gorgeous pictures at the beginning of each segment, are breathtaking. If you are an introspective person, as I am, you will find much of value in this wonderful book.
ARC by Edelweiss.
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informative, soothing but alarming as well. The statistics show that the amount of time we are able to concentrate is decreasing, rather drastically in the last ten years. There was an experiment done at a leading institution that showed how many actually find silence so alarming that they would rather apply a painful electrical shock, than continue in the quiet.The author spent fifty days alone in Antarctica, "On the twenty second day I wrote in my journal: At home I only enjoy 'big bites' Down here I am learning to value miniscule joys. The nuanced hues of the snow. The wind abating. Formations of clouds. Silence."
Now I don't see myself running off to Antarctica anytime soon, but I do believe that many of us go through our days, without noticing anything, without time to think and ponder. He talks about the silence in music, how the pauses makes what come after more powerful. I agree. He tells us how to find and notice the silence within ourselves, how to use it to gain a new perspective.
He talks about the silence in art, particularly The Scream by Edvard Munch, "High-pitched noises can have many modes of expression, but the most powerful scream that I have ever experienced is one that is void of sound: The Scream by Munch."
The gorgeous pictures at the beginning of each segment, are breathtaking. If you are an introspective person, as I am, you will find much of value in this wonderful book.
ARC by Edelweiss.
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LibraryThing member hubblegal
Erling Kagge is quite an impressive man. He was the first person in the world to walk alone to the South Pole. He was also the first to surmount the "three poles" – North, South and the summit of Mount Everest. He’s the founder of a publishing house and a well-respected author. I was thrilled
Kagge believes that there is power in silence. Silence is not a negative thing but seems to be something that many of us avoid. We try to keep ourselves constantly distracted through the internet, TV, radio and books. The author shows studies proving that people are often afraid to be alone with their own thoughts. Many would rather endure a painful electric shock than sit in silence for 15 minutes. The author writes of how he has learned to appreciate the little things – a moss covered rock, for example – and of course, silence. But to him silence is not a little thing but something that is essential to our wellbeing. Silence is a luxury that we can’t afford to take for granted.
This is a fascinating look at silence and our world’s essential loss of it. It’s a meditative type of book which I would love to dip into again when my world becomes too noisy for me. My only disappointment was that I had hoped for more tips on how to find silence in this noisy world. Mostly he recommended going out into the woods or find another quiet place to get in touch with silence. I want to be able to block out the noise around me. My ultimate goal, which may be unrealistic, is to sit in Grand Central Station at its busiest time and not hear a thing. I know when I become engrossed in a really good book, sounds around me disappear, but I can’t seem to do it intentionally. But I found this book to be a beautiful one, filled with profound wisdom, as well as gorgeous art and photography.
Recommended.
This book was given to me by the publisher in return for an honest review.
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to read what he had to say about the value of silence in our noisy world.Kagge believes that there is power in silence. Silence is not a negative thing but seems to be something that many of us avoid. We try to keep ourselves constantly distracted through the internet, TV, radio and books. The author shows studies proving that people are often afraid to be alone with their own thoughts. Many would rather endure a painful electric shock than sit in silence for 15 minutes. The author writes of how he has learned to appreciate the little things – a moss covered rock, for example – and of course, silence. But to him silence is not a little thing but something that is essential to our wellbeing. Silence is a luxury that we can’t afford to take for granted.
This is a fascinating look at silence and our world’s essential loss of it. It’s a meditative type of book which I would love to dip into again when my world becomes too noisy for me. My only disappointment was that I had hoped for more tips on how to find silence in this noisy world. Mostly he recommended going out into the woods or find another quiet place to get in touch with silence. I want to be able to block out the noise around me. My ultimate goal, which may be unrealistic, is to sit in Grand Central Station at its busiest time and not hear a thing. I know when I become engrossed in a really good book, sounds around me disappear, but I can’t seem to do it intentionally. But I found this book to be a beautiful one, filled with profound wisdom, as well as gorgeous art and photography.
Recommended.
This book was given to me by the publisher in return for an honest review.
Show Less
LibraryThing member knightlight777
A most enjoyable book that everyone would benefit from reading. In silence of course. Erling Kagge whom I had never before heard of is an interesting fellow who among his many pursuits climbed Mt. Everest and walked to both poles. I believe he was the first to accomplish this, maybe the only.
The
The
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premise of this book which is written in a very philosophical style is about getting away from what which we are all bombarded relentlessly each day of our lives, noise. Kagge takes all kinds of angles on this and delivers a richly designed message that encourages us all to step away for a period and get in touch with the silence that is ourselves alone. Presumably this releases us into a netherworld of which we may have never encountered before, simply ourselves. Show Less
LibraryThing member dele2451
If meditating is one of your 2018 resolutions, reading this book should help you muster the motivation you need to stick with it past January. Brief and beautiful--the contemporary art pieces are a lovely touch as well.
LibraryThing member LivelyLady
A translated long essay on the value of silence and how it could be found anywhere, anytime. The author has spent time alone and in silence as he completed on foot the North Pole, the South Pole, and Mt. Everest. The longest he went without speaking to another person was 50 days. A quick read, but
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philosophical in his views. Show Less
LibraryThing member PDCRead
The perfect review for this book on Silence would be:
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Sadly the modern world isn't like that. We are bombarded by a cacophony of sounds and noise all day long. Our phones squeak for attention every few minutes, the noise from traffic on a road is constant over the course of a day, even most
Erling Kagge once spent almost two months walking solo in Antarctica with a broken radio and whilst I can imagine that this wasn't silent given the way that the winds can howl across that landscape. The lack of radio meant that he was far away from the human generated din of the world. This time alone with the sounds of his internal voices and the natural world gave him time to think about how silence could benefit other people as well as him.
The result of that walk became the contents of this book. In here he explores various elements of silence for example, how it has almost disappeared from modern life in Western cultures and how the absence of noise looms large in our fears. But if you take the time to search it out, you can find silence in all sort of places; places where you enjoy the total absence of any of the noise of the modern world. As there is always some noise somewhere, Kagge argues that this is a skill that we need to relearn for our own calm and for meditative purposes. I really enjoyed this book as it gave me lots to think about with respect to the noise that I encounter every day. As a small aside, it is a beautifully produced book too with lots of pictures of a polar landscape.
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Sadly the modern world isn't like that. We are bombarded by a cacophony of sounds and noise all day long. Our phones squeak for attention every few minutes, the noise from traffic on a road is constant over the course of a day, even most
Show More
modern kitchen appliances make lots of unnecessary beeps even when you turn them on and off now days. Is there anywhere that could be described as silent on our planet? Even in a meadow on an almost still day, there will be the buzz of bees and the sound of grass moving. Erling Kagge once spent almost two months walking solo in Antarctica with a broken radio and whilst I can imagine that this wasn't silent given the way that the winds can howl across that landscape. The lack of radio meant that he was far away from the human generated din of the world. This time alone with the sounds of his internal voices and the natural world gave him time to think about how silence could benefit other people as well as him.
The result of that walk became the contents of this book. In here he explores various elements of silence for example, how it has almost disappeared from modern life in Western cultures and how the absence of noise looms large in our fears. But if you take the time to search it out, you can find silence in all sort of places; places where you enjoy the total absence of any of the noise of the modern world. As there is always some noise somewhere, Kagge argues that this is a skill that we need to relearn for our own calm and for meditative purposes. I really enjoyed this book as it gave me lots to think about with respect to the noise that I encounter every day. As a small aside, it is a beautifully produced book too with lots of pictures of a polar landscape.
Show Less
LibraryThing member archangelsbooks
A book that centers you.
LibraryThing member IonaS
I’ve recently discovered that there are several great Norwegian writers (apart from Hamsun, of course) and Erling Kagge is one of them.
He is an explorer and has travelled to both the North and South Poles, and climbed Everest.
I will be reading some of Kagge’s other books, even if I have to
Erling begins by informing us that after he discovered that he had a primal need for silence, he began to search for it, and found it.
He held a lecture about silence at St. Andrew’s University in Scotland. He talked about the silence around us and the silence within us.
The listening students asked the questions, What is silence,? Where is it? And Why is it more important to us now than ever?
This book is an attempt to answer these questions.
The author walked alone to the South Pole, where he says he could both hear and feel the silence.
He had no radio contact since he deliberately left the batteries in the rubbish bin. He never opened his mouth to speak.
Each time he stopped for a break, if the wind was not blowing, he experienced a deafening silence.
He was alone with his own thoughts and was present in his own life.
He quotes Martin Heidegger as stating: “The world disappears when you go into it”, and tells us that this is what happened to him (Erling).
The most interesting kind of silence is the one that lies within, which each of us must create. It’s possible for everyone to discover this silence within him/herself, even when surrounded by constant noise.
For him, silence in nature is of the highest value. This is where he feels most at home.
When Erling was little and lay in his crib and couldn’t fall asleep, he felt tormented by silence. It felt like a sound, rumbling inside his head.
But silence can also be a friend, a comfort and “a source of deeper riches”.
Shutting out the world is “seeing the world a bit more clearly, staying a course and trying to love your life”.
Silence in itself is rich and “a practical resource for living a richer life”. It is a deeper form of experiencing life than just turning on the TV to watch the news.
Erling says that the basic state of our brain is one of chaos. Whenever he sits quietly in a room alone without any goal, the chaos surfaces.
Blaise Pascal in the 1600s was probably the first to write about man’s inability to sit quietly in a room alone, holding one’s tongue and simply being. He wrote that the present hurts, and our response is to look ceaselessly for fresh purposes that draw our attention outwards away from ourselves.
We live in the age of noise. Silence is almost extinct.
A study has shown that humans are worse at concentrating than a goldfish. Humans today lose their concentration after eight seconds, while in 2000 the goldfish averaged nine.
Another study showed that some people would rather have a self-administered electrical shock than sit in silence.
One person pushed the electric shock button 100 times.
It’s more difficult to value silence than noise.
Erling says: “Silence is about getting inside what you are doing. Experiencing rather than over-thinking. Allowing each moment to be big enough. Not living through other people and other things”.
He tells us that the fear of not having lived is even stronger than the fear of death. You my realize that you haven’t been particularly present, that you’ve lived vicariously through others.
In 2010 the urban explorer Steve Duncan and the author explored New York’s ”mystical system of underground tunnels”.
They climbed to the top of the Williamsburg bridge where below them the traffic thundered past in four lanes and the subway “pounded rhythmically”. Erling shut out the noise. He says “You must create your own silence”.
In the tunnels, Steve and Erling discovered a different world. There is never any silence and they could hardly see what was up ahead. The city never sleeps. “The train, subway and water tunnels brim with ceaseless noise. Silence is absent even deep in the sewer system beneath Soho.”
When you get bored you are experiencing experiential poverty. But instead of seeking more powerful experiences we should pause to breathe deeply, shut out the world and use the time to experience ourselves.
He says the more we try to avoid boredom, the more bored we become.
He informs us that silence is the new luxury. It is more exclusive and long-lasting than other luxuries.
Silence is about taking away, subtracting something. Silence is an experience that can be had for free.
We are told that in Jutland, Denmark, they have built a soundproof hall of silence with double doors that are thirty centimetres apart.
Dozens of people gather here regularly and sit cross-legged on their individual pillows for fifty minutes.
“The goal is for them to be reminded that life is about deep love between people, and to enable them to practise a common empathy.”
He tells us that centres for silence “are popping up everywhere”.
“Silence is about rediscovering through pausing, the things that bring us joy.”
I feel that Erling has a broad definition of silence!
Several philosophers have remarked to Erling that silence is nothing and therefore uninteresting. How can philosophers be so unenlightened, I wonder?
One of his last remarks is that trips into the wild lead to silence. Leave your electronics at home and be alone for three days without talking to anyone. Gradually you will discover other sides of yourself.
I have been so fortunate to have been “programmed” to quiet the mind during a course by the gifted American healer Jo Dunning.
Also, from the books by Frank Kinslow I have learnt how by quieting the mind I can practice Quantum Entrainment and thereby experience what he calls Eufeeling.
Eufeelings are Bliss, Unbounded Love, Peace, Ecstasy and so on, wonderful feelings. But these states of Eufeeling can only be accessed after silencing one’s thoughts
I would say that the goal of meditation is to silence our thoughts and eventually access our inner Christ or God. Silence is important.
I find it strange that the author does not mention the silence we can attain without thoughts. But perhaps he has never experienced this.
He is an explorer and has travelled to both the North and South Poles, and climbed Everest.
I will be reading some of Kagge’s other books, even if I have to
Show More
read them in Norwegian. Erling begins by informing us that after he discovered that he had a primal need for silence, he began to search for it, and found it.
He held a lecture about silence at St. Andrew’s University in Scotland. He talked about the silence around us and the silence within us.
The listening students asked the questions, What is silence,? Where is it? And Why is it more important to us now than ever?
This book is an attempt to answer these questions.
The author walked alone to the South Pole, where he says he could both hear and feel the silence.
He had no radio contact since he deliberately left the batteries in the rubbish bin. He never opened his mouth to speak.
Each time he stopped for a break, if the wind was not blowing, he experienced a deafening silence.
He was alone with his own thoughts and was present in his own life.
He quotes Martin Heidegger as stating: “The world disappears when you go into it”, and tells us that this is what happened to him (Erling).
The most interesting kind of silence is the one that lies within, which each of us must create. It’s possible for everyone to discover this silence within him/herself, even when surrounded by constant noise.
For him, silence in nature is of the highest value. This is where he feels most at home.
When Erling was little and lay in his crib and couldn’t fall asleep, he felt tormented by silence. It felt like a sound, rumbling inside his head.
But silence can also be a friend, a comfort and “a source of deeper riches”.
Shutting out the world is “seeing the world a bit more clearly, staying a course and trying to love your life”.
Silence in itself is rich and “a practical resource for living a richer life”. It is a deeper form of experiencing life than just turning on the TV to watch the news.
Erling says that the basic state of our brain is one of chaos. Whenever he sits quietly in a room alone without any goal, the chaos surfaces.
Blaise Pascal in the 1600s was probably the first to write about man’s inability to sit quietly in a room alone, holding one’s tongue and simply being. He wrote that the present hurts, and our response is to look ceaselessly for fresh purposes that draw our attention outwards away from ourselves.
We live in the age of noise. Silence is almost extinct.
A study has shown that humans are worse at concentrating than a goldfish. Humans today lose their concentration after eight seconds, while in 2000 the goldfish averaged nine.
Another study showed that some people would rather have a self-administered electrical shock than sit in silence.
One person pushed the electric shock button 100 times.
It’s more difficult to value silence than noise.
Erling says: “Silence is about getting inside what you are doing. Experiencing rather than over-thinking. Allowing each moment to be big enough. Not living through other people and other things”.
He tells us that the fear of not having lived is even stronger than the fear of death. You my realize that you haven’t been particularly present, that you’ve lived vicariously through others.
In 2010 the urban explorer Steve Duncan and the author explored New York’s ”mystical system of underground tunnels”.
They climbed to the top of the Williamsburg bridge where below them the traffic thundered past in four lanes and the subway “pounded rhythmically”. Erling shut out the noise. He says “You must create your own silence”.
In the tunnels, Steve and Erling discovered a different world. There is never any silence and they could hardly see what was up ahead. The city never sleeps. “The train, subway and water tunnels brim with ceaseless noise. Silence is absent even deep in the sewer system beneath Soho.”
When you get bored you are experiencing experiential poverty. But instead of seeking more powerful experiences we should pause to breathe deeply, shut out the world and use the time to experience ourselves.
He says the more we try to avoid boredom, the more bored we become.
He informs us that silence is the new luxury. It is more exclusive and long-lasting than other luxuries.
Silence is about taking away, subtracting something. Silence is an experience that can be had for free.
We are told that in Jutland, Denmark, they have built a soundproof hall of silence with double doors that are thirty centimetres apart.
Dozens of people gather here regularly and sit cross-legged on their individual pillows for fifty minutes.
“The goal is for them to be reminded that life is about deep love between people, and to enable them to practise a common empathy.”
He tells us that centres for silence “are popping up everywhere”.
“Silence is about rediscovering through pausing, the things that bring us joy.”
I feel that Erling has a broad definition of silence!
Several philosophers have remarked to Erling that silence is nothing and therefore uninteresting. How can philosophers be so unenlightened, I wonder?
One of his last remarks is that trips into the wild lead to silence. Leave your electronics at home and be alone for three days without talking to anyone. Gradually you will discover other sides of yourself.
I have been so fortunate to have been “programmed” to quiet the mind during a course by the gifted American healer Jo Dunning.
Also, from the books by Frank Kinslow I have learnt how by quieting the mind I can practice Quantum Entrainment and thereby experience what he calls Eufeeling.
Eufeelings are Bliss, Unbounded Love, Peace, Ecstasy and so on, wonderful feelings. But these states of Eufeeling can only be accessed after silencing one’s thoughts
I would say that the goal of meditation is to silence our thoughts and eventually access our inner Christ or God. Silence is important.
I find it strange that the author does not mention the silence we can attain without thoughts. But perhaps he has never experienced this.
Show Less
LibraryThing member ms_rowse
This is the kind of book that asks to be digested slowly--I took a month to read it, and it's not at all very long. Kagge reminded me how important it is to unplug and just listen to the world around me. If you've ever felt a bit lost or unmoored in our world, this book can be an anchor.
Awards
Indies Choice Book Award (Honor Book — Adult Nonfiction — 2018)
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
2016
Physical description
160 p.; 4.92 inches
ISBN
0241309883 / 9780241309889
Similar in this library
DDC/MDS
| 152.1 |