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Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
What You're Missing and Why It Matters
You're Not Listening by Kate Murphy is a fascinating exploration of the art of listening. It highlights the importance of attentive listening in our personal and professional lives, and offers tips for becoming better listeners.
We’re not really encouraged to listen these days. It’s pretty much the opposite, in fact: we’re encouraged to broadcast ourselves. We train ourselves in public speaking, we constantly announce ourselves to the world on social media, and of course we chat away endlessly on our phones.
But when was the last time you truly felt someone was listening to you? And how about the last time you really listened closely to someone else?
It’s ironic that even though we’re more connected than ever before, we’re also experiencing what some have called an epidemic of loneliness, as the population ages and younger people retreat to their phones and computers. It’s easier to stay in contact with each other, but the quality of all this communication isn’t cutting it; people still feel isolated.
In other words, they're not getting the attention they crave. You won’t be shocked to learn that our attention span has gone down recently, but you might be surprised that – since as recently as 2000, according to research by Microsoft – the average attention span has decreased from twelve seconds to just eight. That actually puts us below the nine-second attention span of a goldfish.
What’s to blame? Our phones certainly play a part, as well as all the other technological devices we’re addicted to. In fact, distractions are everywhere around us – even in the form of the music piped into shops and cafes.
All of which means that there’s something extra special about focusing your attention on what somebody else is saying. A good conversation can cut through all the background noise around us. And you’ll be amazed at the things you’ll learn. Everybody in the world is interesting, the author suggests – you just have to ask them the right questions.
How do you do that, though? The author spoke to some of the best listeners in the world to find out.
You’re Not Listening (2020) casts a spotlight on the undervalued skill of listening. It’s filled with examples of talented professional listeners, as well as practical advice for getting more out of conversations with others – not by saying more yourself, but by listening more closely to others.
You're Not Listening (2020) by Kate Murphy sheds light on the art of listening and why it's essential in our highly distracted world. Here's what makes this book worth reading:
Everybody is interesting if you ask the right questions. If someone is dull or uninteresting, its on you.
It's highly addictive to get core insights on personally relevant topics without repetition or triviality. Added to that the apps ability to suggest kindred interests opens up a foundation of knowledge.
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Life changing. The concept of being able to grasp a book's main point in such a short time truly opens multiple opportunities to grow every area of your life at a faster rate.
Great app. Addicting. Perfect for wait times, morning coffee, evening before bed. Extremely well written, thorough, easy to use.
Try Blinkist to get the key ideas from 7,500+ bestselling nonfiction titles and podcasts. Listen or read in just 15 minutes.
Get startedBlink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
What is the main message of You're Not Listening?
The main message of You're Not Listening is the importance of active listening and its transformative power in our personal and professional lives.
How long does it take to read You're Not Listening?
The reading time for You're Not Listening varies depending on your reading speed, but it typically takes a few hours. The Blinkist summary can be read in just 15 minutes.
Is You're Not Listening a good book? Is it worth reading?
You're Not Listening is a must-read for anyone who wants to improve their communication skills and deepen their understanding of others. It offers valuable insights and practical tips in an engaging manner.
Who is the author of You're Not Listening?
The author of You're Not Listening is Kate Murphy.