New Book on Listening

A few years ago I began writing a book on what I view is the least emphasized and appreciated aspect of communication: listening. Without active listening, the chances of there being acts of effective and lasting communicating are almost non-existent. On the one hand, people on the receiving end of a communique need to put energy into hearing, of course, and understanding messages that are being put forth to them. On the other, those who are sending a message have a responsibility to frame their messages in ways that best enable the receivers to listen as well as they can.  When it comes to communicating, senders and receivers share equal responsibility.

Presently, I am half-way through book on this very important topic. My progress is slow. Still, I am hoping to finish it in 2020 and, if lucky, have it published the following year. Despite that, because of my interest in listening, I was excited to learn of a new book on this topic that recently came out called, "You're Not Listening: What You're Missing and Why it Matters" Written by Kate Murphy, the book delves into such topics as the benefits of good listening, examples of bad listening, and reasons why bad or ineffective listening is wide-spread.

According to the author, benefits of good listening include more interesting and informative conversations and a more enlightened outlook on the surrounding world. Examples of bad listening, as researched by Murphy, include disruptive phone calls, efforts by people to isolate themselves from others by using head phones or ear buds, and off-base responses to what was just said. Public health officials, Murphy says, an "epidemic of loneliness" in the U.S. represents a major piece of fall-out that is triggered by the reality people do not believe they are being properly heard. My own research suggests that as social creatures, we strive to connect with others. Not being heard interferes with that fundamental need. High-five to Murphy for her work on this topic.