A Hidden Wholeness

Living a life in which one's private values and beliefs are disconnected from one's public life creates tensions that extend beyond the self into the various communities one is part of. Palmer believes that through solitude and community, particularly through the use of a Quaker technique, the circle of trust, we can find our souls and strengthen our personal and work communities. Stefan Rudnicki draws the listener in with his quietly intense tone, which enhances the down-to-earth message of the book. He provides contrast in pace and tone between the descriptions of underlying principles and the anecdotes and passages of self-reflection. His engagement with his subject draws the listener in. J.E.M. (c) AudioFile 2010, Portland, Maine

Starred review from July 12, 2004
Palmer (The Courage to Teach
) seeks to help us "rejoin soul and role," so that individuals and communities can be healed from the ravages of consumerism, injustice and violence. No small task, yet in classic Palmer style, this mission is fleshed out with stories, poems, personal confessions and a plan—concrete steps for creating "circles of trust" where honest, open sharing allows each person's "inner teacher" to show up. (Ground rules: "no fixing, no saving, no advising, no setting each other straight.") Palmer's concern is that too many people have "divided lives," with personal values that don't match what they are asked to do in the world to succeed. He argues that "the soul is real and powerful" and is "safe only in relationships with certain qualities," ones that "protect, border and salute" the time it takes to hear our "inner teacher." Never naïve, Palmer warns that these "circles of trust" are not management tools that organizations can force on employees for some grand motive, such as crisis control or increased productivity. They are the opposite of quick fixes—places where we sit and wait for our souls to tell the truth. This book is a treasure—an inspiring, useful blueprint for building safe places where people can commit to "act in every situation in ways that honor the soul." 50,000 first printing.