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Consolations: The Solace, Nourishment and Underlying Meaning of Everyday Words by David Whyte
inthecommonhours's review against another edition
5.0
I believe I heard about this title on Katrina Kenison's blog, but I can't remember. I was delighted when a professor at Mines chose it for their reading group. Whyte chooses 50 some words and writes a short essay on each that merges poetry and philosophy into...a meditation? I don't know how to describe it but it works. I thought it might veer toward fluff or repetition but each essay was brilliant in its own way. Definitely a nightstand book to read through slowly.
Some of my favorites---the essays on Pain, Work, Friendship and Alone. All of them call for attentiveness to our life, to the present moment.
Some of my favorites---the essays on Pain, Work, Friendship and Alone. All of them call for attentiveness to our life, to the present moment.
kateraed's review against another edition
4.0
Lovely reflections. I kept it on my bedside and read an entry each morning (well, most mornings) as a way to start each day for a few months. Whyte's prose reads like poetry. Each entry is an extended definitions-turned-reflections on concepts and emotions that are sometimes mundane, sometimes lofty ideals and emotions. He turns the concepts until they feel somehow both fresh and familiar - a comforting blanket, freshly washed. Partway through, you realize that the concepts interlink to become Whyte's philosophy of life - a cohesive whole, shown to us in parts.
Great resource for sermons.
Great resource for sermons.
paigeperry's review against another edition
5.0
Truly the best book I’ve read all year - beautiful!!
unfinished_sentenc's review against another edition
5.0
A beautiful book dedicated to “WORDS and their beautiful hidden and beckoning uncertainties”. A celebration of humanity as only told through David Whyte’s exquisite interpretation of everyday words. I agree with Elizabeth Gilbert, “Keep this book by your bedside forever, I know I will.”
mr4du1's review against another edition
4.0
David Whyte is a poet. I didn't know that, I inferred it after I read him. Consolations is a unique work in it's structure of unordinary and revelatory elaboration of 53 ordinary, everyday words. For the most part, it stays true to the words.
For some of them, David has made subtle observations and written them beautifully. Of the top of my head, one such chapter was 'Friendship'. No wonder it made its way to Brain Pickings. There are many such delights: 'Withdrawal', 'Naming', 'Touch', 'Pain' and 'Regret'.
I can't help but say, that for some words, the boom doesn't commit strongly to justice.These chapters leave a lot to desire.
In its entirety, I would recommend the book. For the chapters it does justice, its a great book and worth going through the whole book.
For some of them, David has made subtle observations and written them beautifully. Of the top of my head, one such chapter was 'Friendship'. No wonder it made its way to Brain Pickings. There are many such delights: 'Withdrawal', 'Naming', 'Touch', 'Pain' and 'Regret'.
I can't help but say, that for some words, the boom doesn't commit strongly to justice.These chapters leave a lot to desire.
In its entirety, I would recommend the book. For the chapters it does justice, its a great book and worth going through the whole book.
mrgoose's review against another edition
1.0
i thought this was a book about interesting etymologies, not pseudo-Kahlil Gibran Brain Pickings stuff
gah
gah