THE LOST ART OF SILENCE by Sarah Anderson

This is a celebration of silence in all its forms, written by the woman who founded the Travel Bookshop in Notting Hill. It is wise and erudite but also very approachable. It’s about choosing to be silent, whether as a religious vow of some description or as a result of trauma or hurt. Of course it pays tribute to silence and its healing potential: there is much too much noise out there and it describes how other people have found a fulfilling quietness. She also talks about metaphorical silence, for example silencing the chatter in our heads. She discusses life in monasteries and on retreats and recounts many stories about artists and mystics. It’s a wonderful book that I think will appeal to almost all of us, and while it’s not a self-help book, it will direct all of us to find more quiet in our lives.

304pp, 215 x 140 mm, Paperback, 2023, RRP £16.99