Speak Your Truth with Love and Listen Deeply. Sofer, Oren Jay. Sounds True; 2022.
During the height of COVID, I started studying communication with Oren Jay Sofer, a certified trainer in Nonviolent Communication or NVC. I recently discovered that one of his titles Speak Your Truth with Love and Listen Deeply is available as an audiobook on our library’s digital platform Hoopla. The book covers many of the topics we discuss in his classes, and I think that people looking to improve their communication skills in the new year will find the information helpful.
The audiobook is read by the author, and the narration is both soothing and engaging. The book is laid out as if it were an eight-session course, with a different topic highlighted each session. Some of the topics include intentions and needs, handling our emotions, the power of empathy, finding your voice, and difficult conversations.
The author provides clear and accessible instruction, using stories from his own life and his students’ lives to illustrate how NVC tools can be useful in conversation. He also offers reflection exercises and guided meditations as a way to practice with each topic.
In addition to being an NVC trainer, the author is also a meditation teacher and Somatic Experiencing (SE) practitioner. His teachings include tools from each philosophy, which I find adds a level of depth and breadth I have not received from other communication trainings. If you are looking for ways to be more mindful in your relationships and specifically with your communication, I highly recommend this audiobook and the author’s teachings.
Amy Kendrick is the Branch Manager for May Memorial Library. You can reach her at akendrick@alamancelibraries.org.
New to Hoopla? You’ll find instructions on our Downloadable Resources page!