The Art of Grace

In this sublimely written collection of reflections on physical and social grace, the Pulitzer Prize-winning dance critic at the WASHINGTON POST reminds us of how film, dance, and sports stars can captivate us with their smooth, effortless movements, and how, with a little effort, all of us can behave with more kindness and consideration. Narrator Christina Delaine captures every phrasing nuance in the sweeping themes that make this audio so engaging. Her overly serious performance gives the recording an investigative tone, which for some listeners may seem out of sync with the author's artistic sensibilities. But it doesn't keep the audio from being a transformative listening experience--a reminder of what we might gain by paying more attention to grace in our art and, especially, our public discourse. T.W. © AudioFile 2016, Portland, Maine

January 18, 2016
Is it possible to glide through the modern world with ease? Smartphones are destroying our posture, athletes are more muscle-bound than ever, and even ballerinas rely on eye-catching tricks over artistry. In her wide-ranging search for grace, Kaufman (Pulitzer Prize-winning dance critic for The Washington Post) often holds up the polished icons of the past to exemplify "the unexpected glimmering thing that happens, so subtly that no one else might notice." Cary Grant, that "beautiful mover," is her guide: well-dressed, funny, and able to make others feel comfortable. But when Kaufman turns away from the actorâto a dance class for Parkinson's patients, for exampleâshe carves out new ways to look at movement. Her observations of the human body (she eyes everyone from roadies to the Obamas) encourage the reader to tune into the small, everyday moments of alignment. And to pull up YouTube to witness the old-fashioned grace of Olga Korbut, Dr. J and, yes, Cary Grant.