You’re Not Listening

by Kate Murphy
You’re Not Listening cover
Good Books rating 4.17
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  • ID: 2503
  • Added: 2025-10-15
  • Updated: 2025-10-16
  • Formats: 1
  • Reviews: 3
Reviews
newhumanist.org.uk · Unknown · 2025-10-20
insightful 4.00

You're Not Listening by Kate Murphy is a compelling exploration of the art of listening, highlighting its importance in personal and professional relationships. The book offers practical advice and insights into how better listening can improve communication and understanding.

You're Not Listening by Kate Murphy delves into the often-overlooked skill of listening, emphasizing its crucial role in our interactions. The author provides a wealth of examples and practical tips to help readers become better listeners, which can lead to more meaningful connections and reduced misunderstandings. The book is not just about hearing but about truly understanding and engaging with others. It's a refreshing take on a skill that many of us take for granted, and it's packed with actionable advice that can be applied in various aspects of life.

Quick quotes

    The book is a wake-up call for anyone who thinks they are good listeners.

    It's not just about hearing the words, but understanding the emotions and intentions behind them.

    The author's insights are both profound and practical, making it a valuable read for anyone looking to improve their communication skills.

nzwomen.co.uk · Unknown · 2021-02-13
insightful 4.00

You're Not Listening by Kate Murphy explores the art of listening and its importance in our increasingly disconnected world. The book highlights the biological and emotional aspects of listening, emphasizing the need for curiosity and courage to truly understand others. Murphy draws on her experiences as a journalist and interviews with professional listeners to provide insights and practical advice on how to improve our listening skills.

You're Not Listening by Kate Murphy is a timely and insightful exploration of the art of listening. Murphy, a journalist, shares her observations on how many people seem starved for genuine attention and the profound sense of disconnect that plagues modern society. The book delves into the biological and emotional aspects of listening, explaining how our brains react when our beliefs are threatened and why listening requires both curiosity and courage. Murphy interviews a variety of professional listeners, from CIA interrogators to focus group gurus, to provide practical advice on how to improve our listening skills. While some of the examples may feel a bit strained, the book ultimately makes a compelling case for the importance of listening in our divided world. It reminds us that listening is not just a passive act but a powerful one that can bridge divides and foster understanding.

Quick quotes

    To really listen is to be moved physically, chemically, emotionally and intellectually by another person’s narrative.

    Listening requires curiosity. It also requires courage.

    The listener is often in a vulnerable position, or at best a passive one.

theguardian.com · Unknown · 2020-01-13
inspiring 4.50

You’re Not Listening by Kate Murphy is a timely and inspiring book that emphasizes the importance of active listening in today's divided world. The book argues that listening to those with opposing views can lead to deeper understanding and connection, and offers practical advice on how to cultivate this skill.

You’re Not Listening by Kate Murphy is a timely and inspiring book that emphasizes the importance of active listening in today's divided world. The book argues that listening to those with opposing views can lead to deeper understanding and connection, and offers practical advice on how to cultivate this skill. Murphy, an accomplished interviewer, draws on her extensive experience to illustrate how deep listening can help us uncover insights and foster meaningful connections. The book is filled with profound observations, such as the idea that people get lonely for lack of listening and that we often fail to listen to those we know well because we don't expect them to surprise us. Murphy's argument that we should initiate face-to-face conversations with strangers is particularly inspiring, as it highlights the benefits of being fascinated by the unpredictability of others. The book is written in a smart and playful style, reminiscent of Malcolm Gladwell, and reads as both challenging and reassuring. It serves as a reminder of something essential that we may have forgotten about, and offers compelling reasons why listening matters so much, especially right now.

Quick quotes

    The ability to listen actively and attentively is something that has become a rare commodity, she argues.

    We benefit from “being fascinated by — rather than fearful of — the unpredictability of others”.

    This is smart and playful Malcolm Gladwell-style analysis that reads as both challenging and oddly reassuring.

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