Erling Kagge

The silence of the snow. The small silence between two movements of a symphony. The comfortable silence between two long-established lovers. The difficulty of keeping that small insistent voice in our heads from chipping away at every waking moment. The utter luxuy of silence when we achieve it in our busy lives. Kagge discusses all these, and so much more.

It's a thought provoking and beautifully produced book, with images of silent mountain snowscapes, moonscapes and cloudscapes punctuating its pages. The chapters are short, but don't make the mistake, as I did at first, of reading just one or two chapters before the book drops from your hands as you fall asleep for the night. This book is better tackled at a stretch, when Kagge's ideas are given a chance to flow. It's full of interest, though not as smoothly written as I had expected: in fact, at times it appears a little disjointed: a not fully-assimilated collection of thoughts. Nevertheless, it's an antidote to our super-connected world, and a handsome addition to any library, which anyone who's read it once will probably wish to return to from time to time, if only to look at the photographs.… (lisätietoja)

Erling Kagge has written a wonderful book on walking. Most of us don't walk enough. Indians walk less than Americans and Europeans, and our laziness shows up in our poor health outcomes. Gym work and 'going for a walk' alleviate some problems, but don't do enough.
Walking is not just physical exercise: deep philosophy exists in walking. When you walk in silence, you notice your physical surroundings. Erling Kagge does not pretend to be a saint or perfect, and this attitude lifts the book above the mundane.… (lisätietoja)

There are a number of books about silence and quiet that I'm keen to read. This little book by the remarkable Norwegian, Erling Kagge is also a quietly reflective book essentially about the importance of being totally immersed in whatever you are doing. Erling Kagge is one of those people I'd quite like to be. He does not shout about his extraordinary achievements and clearly has pushed himself beyond limits most of us couldn't comprehend. Not only has he climbed Mount Everest (literally) but also walked to the North and South poles. This is an easy read - for me not life changing but certainly a reminder of what is important.… (lisätietoja)