A powerful meditation on bringing silence into our lives. Far more powerful than I ever expected. ( )

Love this book! LeClaire speaks frankly about her quest for silence and the longings that prompted her decision in such a way that makes it seem possible to take the same courageous steps toward truth in my own life. ( )

Two Mondays a month, for nine years, Anne LeClaire didn't speak, remaining totally silent by choice. This book is about how that practice came about, how it worked, and what she gleaned from it. Padded with quotations from everyone under the sun who ever said anything about silence, the focus is more on what silence did for her, and what she thinks it might do for others, than anything else. Additional thoughts on the uses of silence through history (good and bad) might have been instructive; she glances off this topic a few times, but then leaves it behind for another walk on the beach or to reiterate how fulfilled she found herself by staying silent for a day (must be nice to have the luxury of doing that if you choose).

At the very end of the book there are hints for others who might want to try this (at some level - she suggests even just an hour or two at a time can be healthy, and I don't doubt it); it just took much too long to get there, and the whole book felt way too self-indulgent for my liking. I'm sure others will delight in it; it just wasn't my cup of tea. ( )