Silence By T. T Williams

Other lessons regarding silence punctuate the book. Some of its benefits include increased listening. Williams learns that, “John Cage sees the act of listening as the act of creation” (T. T. Williams). Author Luis Alberto Urrea explains, “I learned that if I went into the world and paid attention (in Spanish, you "lend attention," presta atencion), the world would notice and respond. I would have demonstrated my worthiness to receive the world's gifts” (Urrea). Williams tells us the title of the book came to her without explanation in a dream, a time of silence. Artists find inspiration in endless sources, but they must pay attention, remain open, balancing between input and output. Williams also reminds us that a certain amount of silence

Williams quotes Marguerite Duras, saying, “To write is also not to speak. It is to keep silent. It is to howl noiselessly” (T. T. Williams). As she is writing about the effects of her mother’s environment on her health, she joins the Governing Council of the Wilderness Society. Her discoveries lead her to increasingly alarming revelations, but in the meetings, she does not speak. Finally, she is asked, “Do you have a voice? It would be nice to hear it” (T. T. Williams). Here, she summons her courage, finally contributing to the discussion. Sadly, she finds that the system is rigged. She has limited access to both information and power, and in her attempt to gain both, she compromises her integrity and must withdraw from the committee. The next time, however, she combines the powers of print and speech, overcoming the obstacles of the system, symbolized by the congressman who told her, ““I’m sorry, Ms. Williams, there is something about your voice I cannot hear” (T. T. Williams). Now she knows “In a voiced community, we all flourish,” (T. T. Williams) and through the combined efforts of many, a devastating piece of legislature dies. Last year, she took her printed words and her voice on a tour of nine national parks, using both to campaign for saving them (Work in Progress). She has learned about “Clipped wings. Caged birds. The only freedom here is

Educational specialists argue that igniting curiosity is more valuable than just delivering information. It builds on the old “Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach him to fish and you feed him for a lifetime” theory. Asking questions, following the example of Socrates, begins the process, but by shifting paradigms, she forces the reader to dig deeper, to reevaluate. Thus, the practice of pursuing appropriate solutions for the moment, the person, or the situation, rather than seeking the right answer to fit all, becomes the locus of concern. The journey matters more than the destination. Those who want easy or definitive answers will resist, becoming frustrated, but for those who desire understanding, inspiration, or alternate mindsets, this book offers a plethora of paths down which to meander. Like the best books, those that continue to challenge, attracting new and returning readers, When Women Were Birds will persist in breaking the