The Listening Life

Embracing Attentiveness in a World of Distraction

By: Adam McHugh

Narrated by: Xe Sands

Length: 6 hrs and 2 mins

Publisher's summary

How would our lives change if we approached every experience with the intention of listening first?

In this noisy, distracting world, it is difficult to truly hear. People talk past each other, eager to be heard but somehow deaf to what is being said. Listening is an essential skill for healthy relationships, both with God and with other people. But it is more than that: listening is a way of life.

Adam McHugh places listening at the heart of our spirituality, our relationships and our mission in the world. God himself is the God who hears, and we, too, can learn to hear what God may be saying through creation, through Scripture, through people. By cultivating a posture of listening, we become more attentive and engaged with those around us. Listening shapes us and equips us to be more attuned to people in pain and more able to minister to those in distress.

Our lives are qualitatively different - indeed, better - when we become listeners. Heed the call to the listening life, and hear what God is doing in you and the world.

©2015 IVP Books (P)2017 Pear Press

Critic reviews

" The Listening Life has the power to reshape how both introverts and extroverts make space for deep listening in a world that swims in the shallows. Highly recommended." (Susan Cain)

"Throughout his wise and witty work, McHugh ( Introverts in the Church) lobbies listeners to prick up their ears. 'Listening,' he writes, 'comes first.' McHugh predicates this marvelous book on what lousy listeners we are, then proceeds to offer means for changing our habits.... McHugh writes humbly about learning to hear deeply, because 'the beginning of discipleship is listening'. He writes intimately, telling his own stories in the same tone as he retells tales from the Bible. McHugh mixes more formal writing with conversational sections, liberally quoting colleagues and resources (from John Coltrane to Homer Simpson) and including personal anecdotes, aphorisms, and loving admonishments tied together with keen humor. This is a persuasive book for those with ears ready to listen to what McHugh has to say." ( Publishers Weekly)

Listening is a gift of God. Embrace the gift

this book had great insight into the importance of listening. A top 10 on my bookshelf!!

A Conversation with you Smart Best Friend

I enjoyed listening to this book. It was laid back and thoughtful.
It felt like a meaningful conversation. Lots of applicable scripture and real life examples.
Very helpful.

Made me want to be better

This book is filled with great points and scriptures that are relative. Really encouraging to be a better listener to those around you and references for other books to read too!

excellent explanation

easy to understand and to apply to life. will make your life more meaningful when applied.

A refreshing and compelling approach to listening

This book was therapeutic! It was a compelling approach to listening, and a true person centered approach to digesting the messages that others share with us about their daily lives. Of course the faith based approach made this book even more refreshing to listen attentively during chaotic times of the daily grind, like being in traffic! This book left me with a new appreciation for listening to the concerns, wisdom, offenses, hopes, wishes and dream that others share with me about aspects of their daily lives. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this book; found it soothing and healing.

Essential!

A wonderful, essential book for anyone who wants to be there for others and grow spiritually and emotionally.

The potential for being a life-changing read

I listened to the first chapter on my way to meet a friend for coffee. I immediately implemented the little bit I’d learned and it changed the course of my conversation with my friend.

Great Narrator for a good book

The book started slow but got more practical as it went along. Worth a listen.

Great content!

Bravo! The author did an excellent job of wanting me to be still and listen.... it’s actually better than talking!

Fantastic!!

I love this book!! Life changing, for sure!
The narrator is one of the best I have ever heard!!