The Art of Stillness

Adventures in Going Nowhere

Nonfiction, Religion & Spirituality, New Age, Meditation, Health & Well Being, Health, Healthy Living, Self Help, Mental Health, Happiness
Cover of the book The Art of Stillness by Pico Iyer, Simon & Schuster/ TED
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Pico Iyer ISBN: 9781476784731
Publisher: Simon & Schuster/ TED Publication: November 4, 2014
Imprint: Simon & Schuster/ TED Language: English
Author: Pico Iyer
ISBN: 9781476784731
Publisher: Simon & Schuster/ TED
Publication: November 4, 2014
Imprint: Simon & Schuster/ TED
Language: English

A follow up to Pico Iyer’s essay “The Joy of Quiet,” The Art of Stillness considers the unexpected adventure of staying put and reveals a counterintuitive truth: The more ways we have to connect, the more we seem desperate to unplug.

Why might a lifelong traveler like Pico Iyer, who has journeyed from Easter Island to Ethiopia, Cuba to Kathmandu, think that sitting quietly in a room might be the ultimate adventure? Because in our madly accelerating world, our lives are crowded, chaotic and noisy. There’s never been a greater need to slow down, tune out and give ourselves permission to be still.

In The Art of Stillness—a TED Books release—Iyer investigate the lives of people who have made a life seeking stillness: from Matthieu Ricard, a Frenchman with a PhD in molecular biology who left a promising scientific career to become a Tibetan monk, to revered singer-songwriter Leonard Cohen, who traded the pleasures of the senses for several years of living the near-silent life of meditation as a Zen monk. Iyer also draws on his own experiences as a travel writer to explore why advances in technology are making us more likely to retreat. He reflects that this is perhaps the reason why many people—even those with no religious commitment—seem to be turning to yoga, or meditation, or seeking silent retreats. These aren't New Age fads so much as ways to rediscover the wisdom of an earlier age. Growing trends like observing an “Internet Sabbath”—turning off online connections from Friday night to Monday morning—highlight how increasingly desperate many of us are to unplug and bring stillness into our lives.

The Art of Stillness paints a picture of why so many—from Marcel Proust to Mahatma Gandhi to Emily Dickinson—have found richness in stillness. Ultimately, Iyer shows that, in this age of constant movement and connectedness, perhaps staying in one place is a more exciting prospect, and a greater necessity than ever before.

In 2013, Pico Iyer gave a blockbuster TED Talk. This lyrical and inspiring book expands on a new idea, offering a way forward for all those feeling affected by the frenetic pace of our modern world.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

A follow up to Pico Iyer’s essay “The Joy of Quiet,” The Art of Stillness considers the unexpected adventure of staying put and reveals a counterintuitive truth: The more ways we have to connect, the more we seem desperate to unplug.

Why might a lifelong traveler like Pico Iyer, who has journeyed from Easter Island to Ethiopia, Cuba to Kathmandu, think that sitting quietly in a room might be the ultimate adventure? Because in our madly accelerating world, our lives are crowded, chaotic and noisy. There’s never been a greater need to slow down, tune out and give ourselves permission to be still.

In The Art of Stillness—a TED Books release—Iyer investigate the lives of people who have made a life seeking stillness: from Matthieu Ricard, a Frenchman with a PhD in molecular biology who left a promising scientific career to become a Tibetan monk, to revered singer-songwriter Leonard Cohen, who traded the pleasures of the senses for several years of living the near-silent life of meditation as a Zen monk. Iyer also draws on his own experiences as a travel writer to explore why advances in technology are making us more likely to retreat. He reflects that this is perhaps the reason why many people—even those with no religious commitment—seem to be turning to yoga, or meditation, or seeking silent retreats. These aren't New Age fads so much as ways to rediscover the wisdom of an earlier age. Growing trends like observing an “Internet Sabbath”—turning off online connections from Friday night to Monday morning—highlight how increasingly desperate many of us are to unplug and bring stillness into our lives.

The Art of Stillness paints a picture of why so many—from Marcel Proust to Mahatma Gandhi to Emily Dickinson—have found richness in stillness. Ultimately, Iyer shows that, in this age of constant movement and connectedness, perhaps staying in one place is a more exciting prospect, and a greater necessity than ever before.

In 2013, Pico Iyer gave a blockbuster TED Talk. This lyrical and inspiring book expands on a new idea, offering a way forward for all those feeling affected by the frenetic pace of our modern world.

More books from Happiness

Cover of the book Happy Today by Pico Iyer
Cover of the book Glory in the Face by Pico Iyer
Cover of the book Help Yourself by Pico Iyer
Cover of the book Curious? by Pico Iyer
Cover of the book Why Can"t I Just Be Happy? A Realistic Approach To Happiness by Pico Iyer
Cover of the book Everything I Need To Know I Learned From a Little Golden Book by Pico Iyer
Cover of the book Apprendre à manger équilibré by Pico Iyer
Cover of the book Change Your Thoughts Change Your World by Pico Iyer
Cover of the book Achieve Your Goals: Build Self-Discipline, Beat Worrying & Negative Thoughts, Stay Motivated & Achieve Goals by Pico Iyer
Cover of the book 101 Ways to Happiness by Pico Iyer
Cover of the book Libera il Leader in Te by Pico Iyer
Cover of the book When Angels Whisper by Pico Iyer
Cover of the book Thoughtful Answers to Timeless Questions: Decades of Wisdom in Letters by Pico Iyer
Cover of the book The Art Of Happiness by Pico Iyer
Cover of the book Finding Happiness with Aristotle as Your Guide by Pico Iyer
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy