The Ragged Edge of Silence: Finding Peace in a Noisy World

John Francis

National Geographic Books, 2011 - Literary Collections - 269 pages

By the author of Planetwalker, The Ragged Edge of Silence takes us to another level of appreciating, through silence, the beauty of the planet and our place in it. John Francis's real and compelling prose forms a tapestry of questions and answers woven from interviews, stories, personal experience, science, and the power of silence through history, including practice by Native American, Hindu, and Buddhist cultures. Through their time-honored traditions and his own experience of communicating silently for 17 years, Francis's practical exercises lay the groundwork for the reader to build constructive silence into everyday life: to learn more about oneself, to set goals and accomplish dreams, to build strong relationships, and to appreciate and be a steward of the Earth. With its amazing human interest element and first-person expertise, this book is energizing and universally instructive.

Contents

• Introduction: 7
• Before: 27
• Fathers Visit 1974: 51
• Visions: 73
• Walking North: 93
• Shaking the Trees: 113
• Three Educations: 131
• Gathering the Tools: 145
• Studies and Reflections: 165
• Study Silence: 185
• Feathers Oil and Silence: 199
• Thank You for Being Here: 221
• Writing From Silence: 249
• Acknowledgments: 269

Bibliographic information

• Title: The Ragged Edge of Silence: Finding Peace in a Noisy World
• Author: John Francis
• Contributor: National Geographic Society (U.S.)
• Edition: illustrated
• Publisher: National Geographic Books, 2011
• ISBN: 1426207239, 9781426207235
• Length: 269 pages
• Subjects: Body, Mind & Spirit / Inspiration & Personal Growth; LITERARY COLLECTIONS / Essays; Religion / Spirituality; Self-Help / General; Self-Help / Meditations; Self-Help / Personal Growth / General