Cover Image: The Art of Noticing

The Art of Noticing

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Member Reviews

I am naturally a very distracted person, so found this very difficult to comprehend. I like the idea of it being a coffee table and a talking piece rather than in ‘book’ format.

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I could not into this book. My mind is filled with constant information so to notice stuff I don't need to is a no no. Not for me.

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This year has truly been the year to find your calm and listen to the small sounds that are so easy to ignore in the loud noise of hectic life. Sweet and inspirational and straightforward to implement, I really loved this.

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An enjoyable book especially in this day and age with so many digital distractions. Years ago when I first met my artist husband he said I needed to learn to really look at things. And this is the same.

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There were lots of really interesting ideas in The 'Art of Noticing'. I think it would work better as a coffee table book to dip in and out of, rather than reading it straight through on a kindle, but I still took a lot from it.

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This is a truly brilliant book. It is not just a book to be read, but to do and to transform you. It is, essentially, a series of exercises, graded by difficulty, which help and encourage you to notice the things, and people, around you properly. As the author says, you can just read the book through from cover to cover but that defeats the purpose. Using the exercises allows you to free up the way you look at, and ultimately notice, things. Th exercises not only allow you to notice more deeply but, in the process, find out more about yourself. Many of the exercises use art, with good reason, as art provides he perfect medium for getting inside the painting. I particularly liked the exercise where you look from the point of view of different members of society. Ultimately it encourages greater focus which can only be a good thing.

I can highly recommend this book if you want to go deeper into the world around you and discover a new appreciation for what it contains.

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I loved this book! Such a simple concept with simple ideas, beautifully laid out, illustrated and succinctly written. I will definitely be reading it again and making more notes. It has certainly positively changed the way I look at things in an everyday light. I enjoyed the simple, abstract illustrations and feel they added to the book overall.

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The Art of Noticing is a book full of interesting exercises that will allow the reader to explore the external world and see it in a different way. I look forward to trying them out.

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Instead of being constantly distracted by countless things, try noticing what is around you. This book has 131 exercises with 4 levels of difficulty. Some of which you can do there and then, others that need a bit of time or preparation. You may not want to do all but there's bound to be something you'll want to try.
Some examples are to draw something instead of taking a photo, spend a long time looking at one thing, or go back and see it many times until you see something different. Try to look at the world as if you were a vandal, an improv performer, a child. These can all make you see different things. Identify something you've always taken for granted and find out it's backstory. Meet a friend halfway, work out the exact halfway mark between you and meet there, maybe you'll find a great new restaurant.
It expands to noticing sounds, touch, smell and even taste.

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It is so true that we don't notice things, and since starting the 100 plus activities it has made me more mindful. I am going to continue with them, and hopefully my family will too. I pleasant read which I enjoyed.

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Unfortunately I did not finish this book.
It did not make sense and was not written well, in standard English.
I cannot review this any further

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I'm not normally into self help books but decided to give this a go. Really helpful and really does give you plenty of ideas to help in a go, go, go world.

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Rob Walker has written a book about how we go through our lives without seeing the things around us. He produces a list of exercises we can do - many fairly easily - to increase our awareness and genuinely “notice” the things we pass regularly. Some are simply to look at things rather than at our screens and some are more complex but among the 131 ways, are tips for everyone whether you are creative or not. We can look around and notice the letters of the alphabet and “collect them all”. I like the idea of going to a gallery and sitting with a painting for 10 minutes as opposed to just looking at it and moving on. This is a call to mindfulness in our everyday lives and would be easy for anyone to answer.

I was given a copy of this book by Netgalley in return for an honest review.

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My apologies if what follows comes over as a self-congratulatory review of myself, that is just the way this book works for me.

There I am sitting by the window and, for too long, the weather has been dull and overcast with not a glimmer of sun. Suddenly, the clouds break and the sun comes shining through. It uplifts, makes me feel good and that maybe all the world is not going to hell in a handcart.

That is just the effect this book has had on me. It has been cathartic to read as my head has been nodding up and down and up and down on almost every single page. This book reflects much of the way I "see" the world. I feel that I look and see and listen and hear and it is great to find that I am not the only one.

p.s. I am not really apologising. :-)

Read the book, with good fortune it will resonate as much for you as it did/does for me.

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The Art of Noticing offers 131 exercises designed to enhance our awareness and mindfulness. Some exercises are very simple and straightforward whereas others would require planning and time so Rob Walker has provided a difficulty 'rating' for each. The book is divided into themes and would be easy to dip into for those interested in specific ways of noticing, for example, through looking or through communicating with others. I found that many of the exercises appealed to me and the book has given me new ideas to incorporate into my own life. A highly interesting and enjoyable read.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a free e-copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

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A very interesting book. A book which I have spent dipping into from time to time and found that enjoyable and informative. It wouldn’t have suited me to read it methodically from page 1 and then working my way through it and it’s style and layout encourages a bit of random selection from headings. Worth reading.

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This is a well presented and structured book that does exactly what one would expect. The activities are rated so you know which ones are the more challenging in terms of effort and time and I enjoyed dipping into it as it helped me pay attention and notice more. I fear that I am not as 'present' as I should be and this book has helped me to slow down and think about my surroundings and my place within them,

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As a Mental health Nurse I found this book a valuable tool that I can not only use on myself but also recommend to some of my service users. Todays world is so busy, loud and full of screen time. Reading this has taught me new skills. Brilliant!

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The art of noticing... in today's modern age we can all be guilty of being distracted by technology and with stress and depression on the rise it seems beneficial for people to take the time to step back and become more mindful

The book goes on to suggest activities that will help regain the lost art of noticing. Some suggestions are a bit silly whereas others make a lot of sense and are things that I will try to incorporate into every day life.... the trouble is remembering to do these things!

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Full of helpful and practical advice for anyone who finds themselves overwhelmed by the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Simple mindfulness for city-dwellers, though not for anyone looking to begin a meditation practice.

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