Let Your Life Speak

With poetic language and a strong performance by Stefan Rudnicki, this compact audio invites listeners to look for their truths in their individual souls, rather than in what their intellect, ego, or external circumstances demand of them. We hear the wisdom of our soul best, the author says, when we give it the space and safety it needs to reveal our true path or vocation, which he believes will always involve some kind of service to others. With Rudnicki's deep, resonant voice adding inspirational power to Dr. Palmer's message, the author can share his missteps and self-doubts without diminishing the authority and impact of his ideas. This is a beautifully rendered lesson for anyone whose current path doesn't feel quite right. T.W. (c) AudioFile 2010, Portland, Maine

September 27, 1999
A gifted academic who formerly combined a college teaching career with community organizing, Palmer took a year's sabbatical to live at the "intentional" Quaker community of Pendle Hill in Pennsylvania. Instead of leaving at year's end, he became the community's dean of studies and remained there for 10 years. Palmer (The Courage to Teach) shares the lessons of his vocational and spiritual journey, discussing his own burnout and intense depression with exceptional candor and clarity. In essays that previously appeared in spiritual or educational journals and have been reworked to fit into this slim volume, he suggests that individuals are most authentic when they follow their natural talents and limitations, as his own story demonstrates. Since hearing one's "calling" requires introspection and self-knowledge (as suggested by the eponymous Quaker expression), Palmer encourages inner work such as journal-writing, meditation and prayer. Recognizing that his philosophy is at odds with popular, essentially American attitudes about self-actualization and following one's dreams, Palmer calls vocation "a gift, not a goal." He deftly illustrates his point with examples from the lives of people he admires, such as Rosa Parks, Annie Dillard and Vaclav Havel. A quiet but memorable addition to the inspirational field, this book has the quality of a finely worked homily. The writing displays a gentle wisdom and economy of style that leaves the reader curious for more insight into the author's Quaker philosophy.