The Art of Noticing: 131 Ways to Spark Creativity, Find Inspiration, and Discover Joy in the Everyday

Do you know how many books are in your office, or pictures of faces are on your walls? Could you describe your breakfast this morning to a total stranger? The Art of Noticing is a beautiful little study of dozens of ways you can open yourself to more connection to the world around you — its sights, sounds, scents, textures and tastes; and its denizens, human and other– to more fully embrace all the depth and breadth of your life. Think about locating all the surveillance cameras where you live, or standing in front of a single painting for an entire ten minutes (most people spend less than a minute!). Eavesdrop on a public conversation and try to fill in the missing details. Meet a friend at the geographic point exactly halfway between the two of you. Interview a neighbor or two, or imagine what questions you would love to ask your grandmother’s wedding ring. The Art of Noticing teaches you to learn this art, beautifully, through the experiences of artists who have already done them. Try a few (or all of them!) or just read through them and you will be astounded by what you will start to notice.