The Art of Listening

The Art of Listening by Les Back

Our culture is one that speaks rather than listens. From reality TV to political rallies, there is a clamour to be heard, to narrate, and to receive attention. It reduces 'reality' to revelation and voyeurism. The Art of Listening argues that this way of life is having severe and damaging consequences in a world that is increasingly globalized and interconnected. It addresses the question: how can we listen more carefully? Social and cultural theory is combined with real stories from the experiences of the desperate stowaways who hide in the undercarriages of jet planes in order to seek asylum, to the young working-class people who use tattooing to commemorate a lost love. The Art of Listening shows how sociology is in a unique position to record 'life passed in living' and to listen to complex experiences with humility and ethical care, providing a resource to understand the contemporary world while pointing to the possibility of a different kind of future. 'This is a wise and human piece of writing, concerned to break out of sociology's academic straitjacket and speak to a wider audience...If anything can recover the somewhat tarnished reputation of sociology amongst the general public, then it is a book like this. ' New Humanist 'The Art of Listening is a rare book in its commitment to vitalize an ethical, global sociology for the twenty-first century. Students are encouraging their parents to read it. Everyone needs this book -- especially jaded academics.' Sanjay Sharma, British Journal of Sociology

This is a wise and humane piece of writing, concerned to break out of sociology's academic straitjacket and speak to a wide audienceStuart Sim, New Humanist The Art of Listening is a rare book in its commitment to vitalize an ethical, global sociology for the twenty-first century. Students are encouraging their parents to read it. Everyone needs this book -- especially jaded academics. Sanjay Sharma, British Journal of Sociology A sparkling, thought-provoking book that challenges many of our assumptions as researchers and students David Bissell, University of Brighton Back has shown us how to produce an applied sociology to examine the everyday and see how it is actually constructed. Andy T. Hanson, Lancaster University His book provides clear examples of his principles that should be interesting and useful to those of us who work in communities. Michele Sexton, Community Development

Les Back is Professor of Sociology at Goldsmiths College, University of London. He is a co-editor of The Auditory Culture Reader.

SKU	Unavailable
ISBN 13	9781845201210
ISBN 10	1845201213
Title	The Art of Listening
Author	Les Back
Condition	Unavailable
Binding Type	Paperback
Publisher	Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Year published	2007-07-01
Number of pages	222
Cover note	Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.
Note	Unavailable