Conversation―The Sacred Art: Practicing Presence in an Age of Distraction (The Art of Spiritual Living)

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After reading my way into this book, I felt that I had heard too much of stock references to "the heart" and "deep within". Phrasings such as "entering the cave of our heart" sound sincere, but there is a sweetness to them, the sweetness of elevator music, the softness of pastels that to me seem a long way from the demands of truth, demands that are sometimes harsh and truths that are sometimes inconvenient if our spirituality is to be that of mature men and women. Can you imagine sending someone desperate for truth and spiritual grounding to a Hallmark card store? When I read a short, four-sentence paragraph that has "the cave of our heart...deep within our heart...our heart's conversation...move us deeply...reflection of our heart's conversation...conversation deep within...listen deeply," I simply become suspicious of the tone. It is not the tone I cry with or hope with or respond to injustice with or mourn with or hear in the prophets or in the Sermon on the Mount. These are real voices, voices of passion and sorrow. This book feels too sweet for those voices, and that tranquil sweetness seems the real agenda, the medium being the message.

I appreciate the style of writing and the approach that Millis takes with this material. I work as a corporate chaplain in business settings and the points she makes are applicable for leadership development trainings beyond my own personal development. Her final chapter was worth the price of the book for me.

I enjoyed and appreciated this book and plan to use the activities and conversation structures suggested. The author has great quotes from wondrous sources. She covers contemplation, listening, and groups well and I wanted more on speaking and conflict prevention or reduction.

Excellent and thought provoking book. I read this after reading QUIET about introverts -- and the two books are a great study in communications and cultural changes. Useful study and discussion topics presented for a group -- well received. I will look at more books from this publishing house.

Good

Not quite what I expected - but in a good way. Makes you contemplate the power of your words and actions have on others. Very inspiring book.

A very important book for today's conversations--and lack of them.

This is a warmly written and thought-provoking book on the sacredness of all conversation. It encourages us to honour the worth of all people and their points of view, giving respectful attention to them, as well as to discover that all people embody the Sacred. I will heartily recommend this book to all, but especially to anyone who is, or is training to become, a spiritual guide or who journeys with spiritual seekers in any way (not just clergy).