"It's the unfathomable modern legend that has become a testament to the resilience of the human spirit: the 1972 Andes plane crash and the Uruguayan rugby teammates who suffered seventy-two days among the dead and dying. It was a harrowing test of endurance on a snowbound cordillera that ended in a miraculous rescue. Now comes the unflinching and emotional true story by one of the men who found his way home"--Page 4 of cover
Bill Rush's exceptional journey continues to encourage and inspire all who aspire to live fully and contribute to society. Bill lived with a significant disability of quadriplegic cerebral palsy. He did not have use of his arms, hands or voice. Society's prejudices proved to be a greater obstacle than his disability in attaining his first life's goal of completing college. William (Bill) L. Rush chronicled his extraordinary life from childhood until graduation from the University of Nebraska -Lincoln in Journey Out of Silence, first published in 1986. This second edition brings back into print Bill's original chronicle of his personal "Journey Out of Silence." It also contains an introduction to Our Life Our Way, the sequel.
A personal and cultural exploration of silence and its value in our lives—“[an] artful book, mixing autobiography, travel writing, meditation, and essay” (Independent, UK). In her late forties, after a noisy upbringing as one of six children and adulthood as a vocal feminist and mother, Sara Maitland found herself living alone in the country and, to her surprise, falling in love with silence. In this fascinating, intelligent, and beautifully written book, Maitland describes how she began to explore this new love, spending periods of silence in the Sinai desert, the Scottish hills, and a remote cottage on the Isle of Skye. Maitland also delves deep into the rich cultural history of silence, exploring its significance in fairy tale and myth, its importance to the Western and Eastern religious traditions, and its use in psychoanalysis and artistic expression. Her story culminates in her building a hermitage on an isolated moor in Galloway. “Her book is probably unique in its subject, and timely, because good, healing silence is becoming hard to find, and we may not know we need it” (Guardian, UK).
Points of entry: Spirituality and religion - Part's spiritual reach - The role of text; Out of silence: Music lost to silence - Music found in silence - Excusus: silence in the tradition; Bright sadness: Bright sadness in the tradition - Bright sadness in the music of Arvo Part.
No TV, no cell phone, no social media, no family or friends. Just alone in silence for sixty days. Written from a small cabin in the mountains above Santa Cruz, California, Bok's diary recounts his retreat into solitude and his search for a return to the simplicity of pure being. Without distraction, he has no choice but to face whatever comes—whether it's the incessant chatter of the mind, the arising of overwhelming emotions, or the simple observations of running water and birdsong. We say it's Bok's diary, but he draws us in so intimately that these sixty days become our own. Through this intense and immersive process, both for Bok and the reader, a deeper place is found within, a place of stillness and well being. You may be surprised what Bok finds, or more importantly, what he doesn't find. Alexandra Burda’s illustrations are a perfect compliment to the sparseness, sensitivity and beauty of the text.
Andras Schiff is one of the most important pianists of our time. This stimulating memoir will appeal to a broad readership because of the fluent and accessible way he speaks about music, and of course through his inimitable art of making music out of silence. Far from being well-known just for his brilliant musicianship, Sir Andras has also received international attention by taking a public stand against nationalistic and racist attitudes, and by refusing to perform in Haider's Austria, or Orban's Hungary. In the first part of his book, Schiff discusses with the esteemed author and columnist Martin Meyer his artistic principles, playing techniques, musical interpretations and his professional experiences as a performer and conductor. In the second part, Schiff tells the story of his family and his life, from memories of the Holocaust to his political engagement in the present. He discusses music and politics, including his thoughts on Communism and global capitalism; and his enlightening experiences in Budapest, London and Florence. He also offers his insights into great composers such as Bach and Mozart, and his interpretations of key works for piano. MUSIC COMES OUT OF SILENCE will delight Andras Schiff's multitude of admirers, whilst attracting many readers who are as yet unfamiliar with his genius.
Winner of the Best First Australian Crime Novel, Ned Kelly Crime Awards 2006 I hold Jacky close, fix my eyes on the door and walk as fast as I can. 'Oh, please, don't run away. Think of your child, if you cannot think of yourself.' 'What we are suggesting is nothing,' the man mutters darkly, as I pass through the door and into the brightly lit hall. 'Nothing. Far worse can happen.' Far worse. I have a baby, two shillings, no reputation and nowhere to go, but even so I cannot imagine what far worse might be. Out of the Silence is a stunning debut novel about three women from very different worlds: Maggie Heffernan, a spirited working-class country girl; Elizabeth Hamilton, whose own disappointment in love has served only to strengthen her humanity; and the remarkable Vida Goldstein, the suffragist who was to become the first woman to stand for Parliament. When Maggie's life descends into darkness after a terrible betrayal, the three women's lives collide. Around this tragedy Wendy James has constructed a masterfully drawn and gripping fiction. Based on a true story, it unfolds at the dawn of the twentieth century against the compelling backdrop of the women's suffrage movement and a world on the brink of enormous change. The novel powerfully evokes the plight of women in the early 1900s – not least their limited options, whatever their class and education. However, at its heart this is a story of love – of love gone wrong; of its compromises and disappointments; but ultimately of its extraordinary transformative power. "This is a work of intelligence and talent informed by a deeply humane sensitivity." —Sydney Morning Herald
"Do you have a favorite sound?" little Yoshio asks. The musician answers, "The most beautiful sound is the sound of ma, of silence." But Yoshio lives in Tokyo, Japan: a giant, noisy, busy city. He hears shoes squishing through puddles, trains whooshing, cars beeping, and families laughing. Tokyo is like a symphony hall! Where is silence? Join Yoshio on his journey through the hustle and bustle of the city to find the most beautiful sound of all.
