Learning from silence

Pico Air

From the bestselling author of The Art of Stillness, a revelatory exploration of the lasting clarity and calm that can be found in quiet solitude.

Over the past three decades, Pico Iyer has made more than 100 journeys to a small sanctuary high above the sea in Big Sur, California. He is not Christian and does not belong to any religious group, yet his life has been transformed by these periods of silence. In Learning from Silence, Iyer delves into the depths of stillness and inner joy he found during his many seasons at the monastery, even as his life constantly changed: houses burned down, a father died, and a daughter was diagnosed with cancer. He shares his revelations, along with wisdom from non-monks who have learned from adversity and isolation. What makes this book profound is that it demonstrates how solitude can be an exercise in community and companionship. In doing so, it offers a unique outsider's view of monastic life—and of a group of selfless souls who have dedicated their days to ensuring that a space of stillness and remembrance is open to us all. Radiant, intimate, and engaging, Learning from Silence offers timeless advice on the power of silence and what it can teach us about how to live, how to love, and ultimately, how to die.