Silence
14 journalers for this copy...
from amazon.de:
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 experiences and discussing the observations of poets, artists, and explorers, Kagge shows us why silence is essential to sanity and happiness—and how it can open doors to wonder and gratitude.
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 experiences and discussing the observations of poets, artists, and explorers, Kagge shows us why silence is essential to sanity and happiness—and how it can open doors to wonder and gratitude.
This will be my book for the 2023 roundabout. It was my second favorite book. My absolute fav of 2023 was Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (https://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/17078129), but it is too fat to include in the roundabout. "Silence" is probably an unlikely choice for the roundabout, I found it quite different. But I learned a lot about the important things in life and found this book inspiring. Hope you all will enjoy it!
Reading order:
fifna
Andrasthe
Icilia
Mathgirl40
djf1968
echode
39301
valpete
cross-patch
dark-draco
earthcaroleanne
greenbadger
estelle1806
--> I won't need the book back, feel free to pass it on to someone else.
Reading order:
fifna
Andrasthe
Icilia
Mathgirl40
djf1968
echode
39301
valpete
cross-patch
dark-draco
earthcaroleanne
greenbadger
estelle1806
--> I won't need the book back, feel free to pass it on to someone else.
Just dropped the book off at the mailbox. Happy reading!
Arrived safely, thanks grovalskii!
An interesting little book. It's good to think about silence, especially since it's such a scarce commodity these days. I'll certainly be paying more attention to the silences in music from now on! Thanks for sharing!
On its way to Andrasthe.
Journal Entry 8 by Andrasthe at -- Per Post geschickt/ Persönlich weitergegeben --, Kärnten Austria on Friday, February 2, 2024
Released 11 mos ago (2/3/2024 UTC) at -- Per Post geschickt/ Persönlich weitergegeben --, Kärnten Austria
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
Quiet Gravity.
I liked the vignettes and musings, but found them a bit short. The author could have gone a little deeper with his explorations, instead of giving so many names, although some of the ideas presented were fascinating and I feel we all need a little more silence in our lives.
I liked the vignettes and musings, but found them a bit short. The author could have gone a little deeper with his explorations, instead of giving so many names, although some of the ideas presented were fascinating and I feel we all need a little more silence in our lives.
Found in my mailbox, thank you !
Sorry, it didn't work for me. I feel ill at ease in deserts and silence.
On its way across the Atlantic Ocean, have a nice trip !
This book is now with me!
This book seemed to be a somewhat random collection of thoughts on silence, some insightful and thought-provoking and others that were less interesting. I did enjoy reading the book, however. I find that I am surrounded by sound most of the day, and over the past couple of weeks, I'd read another chapter of the book whenever I found a moment of silence. I believe the book has definitely made me appreciate those moments more!
This book is now on its way to djf1968.
It's arrived...a random collection of reflections on silence. I can't think of a more PERFECT book to read as we slide through election season in the United States. Thank you grovalskii... I'm looking forward to reading this.
A fascinating reflection on silence… what it is, what it isn’t, and how its presence and its absence affects our lives – our happiness, even our sanity. It wanders a bit…kind of like silent moments do. It was a quick read for me, and one I’ll probably return to.
My favorite quotes:
“Whenever I am unable to walk, climb or sail away from the world, I have learned to shut it out.”
“A lot of things in daily life boil down to wonder. It is one of the purest forms of joy that I can imagine.”
“Silence in itself is rich. It is exclusive and luxurious. A key to unlock new ways of thinking.”
“You cannot wait for it to get quiet. Not in New York, nor anywhere else. You must create your own silence.”
“Silence is about rediscovering, through pausing, the things that bring us joy.”
My favorite quotes:
“Whenever I am unable to walk, climb or sail away from the world, I have learned to shut it out.”
“A lot of things in daily life boil down to wonder. It is one of the purest forms of joy that I can imagine.”
“Silence in itself is rich. It is exclusive and luxurious. A key to unlock new ways of thinking.”
“You cannot wait for it to get quiet. Not in New York, nor anywhere else. You must create your own silence.”
“Silence is about rediscovering, through pausing, the things that bring us joy.”
Now in my hands...should be a quick turnaround :)
Silence is a topic near and dear to me, as I live and work around so much noise pollution. Case in point: I wore earplugs for one of my 12-hour shifts two days ago. Not ideal as I'm a front-facing employee at a major medical center, but with all the construction, industrial filters, sitting beside a pneumatic tube station, call-lights, alarms, and phones going off... needs must.
I was expecting a contemplative sojourn across the desolate landscape of Antarctica, but it was more a dissection of things that have already been said. The theory of boredom being the cause of some world problems is timeless. As a friend's grandfather once said, "boredom is the sign of an uncreative mind" (he may have been just trying to shut my friend up as a rambunctious child, but hey).
While I found my reading grooves, they'd occasionally be derailed by speedbumps of a personal affront:
-his friend who died while scaling Mt. Everest when he was expecting a child at home
-anything coming out of Elon Musk's mouth (around the time of the book's publishing, a friend was gaining an ulcer working for this tyrant, who would frequently hole up in his office having drug benders).
Ultimately, like silence, the book was everywhere and nowhere.
The Depeche Mode classic was on a mental loop throughout my reading ;)
I was expecting a contemplative sojourn across the desolate landscape of Antarctica, but it was more a dissection of things that have already been said. The theory of boredom being the cause of some world problems is timeless. As a friend's grandfather once said, "boredom is the sign of an uncreative mind" (he may have been just trying to shut my friend up as a rambunctious child, but hey).
While I found my reading grooves, they'd occasionally be derailed by speedbumps of a personal affront:
-his friend who died while scaling Mt. Everest when he was expecting a child at home
-anything coming out of Elon Musk's mouth (around the time of the book's publishing, a friend was gaining an ulcer working for this tyrant, who would frequently hole up in his office having drug benders).
Ultimately, like silence, the book was everywhere and nowhere.
The Depeche Mode classic was on a mental loop throughout my reading ;)
Journal Entry 19 by 
echode
at by hand, to a friend and fellow bookcrosser -- Controlled Releases on Wednesday, May 22, 2024
echode at by hand, to a friend and fellow bookcrosser -- Controlled Releases on Wednesday, May 22, 2024
Released 8 mos ago (5/23/2024 UTC) at by hand, to a friend and fellow bookcrosser -- Controlled Releases
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
Will be handing this to 39301 over a bowl of ramen at Ooink, after perusing Elliott Bay Bookstore.
Received this book from @echode as we enjoyed bowls of delicious ramen noodle for dinner. Afterwards, we attempted to join the Silent Bookclub at the Redhook Brewpub in honor of this book but alas, it turned out to be a large group of 20 somethings talking loudly while holding books in their hands. We didn't observe much silence or reading of books. Perhaps the name of the bookclub is ironic?
I listened to the author read this book from an audiobook borrowed from the library earlier this year.
In short chapters, the author who conquered Earth’s “three poles” (North Pole, South Pole, Mount Everest) reflects on silence and its elusive yet positive effect on our lives. While I wish the author delved more deeply into the subject, because of this book, I did contemplate my personal experience with silence and how it is challenging to find.
Thanks for sharing this book with me! I will send if off to @valpete in a few days!
I listened to the author read this book from an audiobook borrowed from the library earlier this year.
In short chapters, the author who conquered Earth’s “three poles” (North Pole, South Pole, Mount Everest) reflects on silence and its elusive yet positive effect on our lives. While I wish the author delved more deeply into the subject, because of this book, I did contemplate my personal experience with silence and how it is challenging to find.
Thanks for sharing this book with me! I will send if off to @valpete in a few days!
Journal Entry 21 by 
39301
at To the next participant, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Thursday, May 23, 2024
39301 at To the next participant, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Thursday, May 23, 2024
Released 8 mos ago (5/23/2024 UTC) at To the next participant, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
Off to @valpete in California!
USPS tracking # 9549 0148 7911 4144 9828 59
Estimated delivery date 5/29/2024
USPS tracking # 9549 0148 7911 4144 9828 59
Estimated delivery date 5/29/2024
Received. Looking forward to reading this one.
I liked this book on silence. I particularly like my silent times when I'm reading (which is often). In these times with all kinds of noise assaulting the senses, it is a welcome relief to have a little silence in our lives.
Sending it across the pond to the next reader.
Sending it across the pond to the next reader.
Journal Entry 24 by 
Cross-patch
at Leicester, Leicestershire United Kingdom on Wednesday, June 26, 2024
Cross-patch at Leicester, Leicestershire United Kingdom on Wednesday, June 26, 2024
Arrived this afternoon.
Journal Entry 25 by Cross-patch at Leicester, Leicestershire United Kingdom on Thursday, July 25, 2024
Cross-patch at Leicester, Leicestershire United Kingdom on Thursday, July 25, 2024
I had such a reading block on this one. Sorry, I can’t rate it. But thank you all the same for introducing it to me.
Journal Entry 26 by Cross-patch at -- By Post or by Hand--, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- United Kingdom on Thursday, July 25, 2024
Cross-patch at -- By Post or by Hand--, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- United Kingdom on Thursday, July 25, 2024
Released 5 mos ago (7/25/2024 UTC) at -- By Post or by Hand--, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- United Kingdom
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
Off to the next in line
Received… thank you.
Journal Entry 28 by 
dark-draco
at Ledbury, Herefordshire United Kingdom on Saturday, August 24, 2024
dark-draco at Ledbury, Herefordshire United Kingdom on Saturday, August 24, 2024
This isn't a book you can actively dislike, but also not one you can really get into. I did enjoy it, but definitely one to dip in and out of at odd moments, reading and digesting a section before moving onto the next. I found that trying to read too much in one go just made it feel pretentious and a big self-indulgent, but by breaking it down you could enjoy the sentiments that the author is trying to get at.
Journal Entry 29 by dark-draco at Favourite Book of the Year Roundabout, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- United Kingdom on Saturday, September 14, 2024
dark-draco at Favourite Book of the Year Roundabout, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- United Kingdom on Saturday, September 14, 2024
Released 4 mos ago (9/16/2024 UTC) at Favourite Book of the Year Roundabout, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- United Kingdom
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
Off to its next reader
Journal Entry 30 by 
earthcaroleanne
at Falkirk, Scotland United Kingdom on Saturday, October 12, 2024
earthcaroleanne at Falkirk, Scotland United Kingdom on Saturday, October 12, 2024
Arrived today
Journal Entry 31 by earthcaroleanne at Falkirk, Scotland United Kingdom on Saturday, November 16, 2024
earthcaroleanne at Falkirk, Scotland United Kingdom on Saturday, November 16, 2024
I've got to admit I've not got enough reading time at the moment and I'm holding this up. I'll add it to my wishlist in the hope I get a chance to read it another time.
Journal Entry 32 by earthcaroleanne at St Albans, Hertfordshire United Kingdom on Saturday, November 16, 2024
earthcaroleanne at St Albans, Hertfordshire United Kingdom on Saturday, November 16, 2024
Released 2 mos ago (11/20/2024 UTC) at St Albans, Hertfordshire United Kingdom
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
Sending on in the roundabout.
Journal Entry 33 by greenbadger at St Albans, Hertfordshire United Kingdom on Thursday, November 21, 2024
greenbadger at St Albans, Hertfordshire United Kingdom on Thursday, November 21, 2024
It's arrived, thank you!
Journal Entry 34 by greenbadger at St Albans, Hertfordshire United Kingdom on Tuesday, December 3, 2024
greenbadger at St Albans, Hertfordshire United Kingdom on Tuesday, December 3, 2024
I really wanted to like this book, I like the concept of a book about how we engage with silence and I agree with Kagge in many ways: that a return to simple, authentic tasks provides peace; that we should have gratitude for the sunrise and 'reflect on what brings purpose and joy'; and that it's easy to miss all the days and fail to realise that they are what makes up your life. Unfortunately I found myself really disliking the author. He seems contemptuous of his children, he talks about how Antarctica should remain distant and unknown and yet has been there himself, and he seems to think Elon Musk of all people has a special ability to uncover what is fundamentally true, claiming that Musk invented the reusable space shuttle. The first space shuttle flew when Musk was 11 years old. Fundamentally I think Kagge wants to use silence selfishly, to cut himself off, and it's summed up for me when he talks about finding that when he walks to work he has managed to shut out the world: to me, it's the perfect opportunity to engage and see the beauty in it.
Journal Entry 35 by greenbadger at St Albans, Hertfordshire United Kingdom on Thursday, December 5, 2024
greenbadger at St Albans, Hertfordshire United Kingdom on Thursday, December 5, 2024
Released 1 mo ago (12/5/2024 UTC) at St Albans, Hertfordshire United Kingdom
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
Posted to estelle1806, next in the ray.
Received, and thank you also for the christmas card :-)
Whether liking it or not, this book made me stop and think. I did not agree with all his references but the author has a few good points. A bit self-contemplative, though. Thanks for sharing all the same, grovalskii.
I was the last reader on the roundabout, I will keep and share this book again.
I was the last reader on the roundabout, I will keep and share this book again.
