You're Not Listening: What You're Missing and Why It Matters

Besides “I love you,” the phrases “Let me finish” and “You’re not listening to me” are among the most common in close relationships. But what are we overlooking when we are so determined to get a word in edgewise? Journalist Kate Murphy knows a thing or two about listening well. Every time she interviews someone for a story, she asks questions and then carefully attends to the response. She has witnessed what an open, attentive presence unlocks for others, as interviewees share far more than they intended to. It is a surprising and gratifying experience for both parties, and often these unexpected meanderings into unchartered conversational territory have inspired Murphy’s best storytelling. These experiences as a professional listener sent Murphy on a quest to understand what good listening is and the perks it brings. You’re Not Listening is an ode to better relationships, deeper understanding, and the reclamation of a vanishing art form.