This is a very readable account of the importance of listening by the outstanding author of "The Tattooist of Auschwitz" and other books. There is much to reflect on and consider in reading this book. I can highly recommend it to anyone who truly wants to engage others in meaningful ways.

I was very excited to read this book by Heather Morris as I am a very big fan of her work 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙏𝙖𝙩𝙩𝙤𝙤𝙞𝙨𝙩 𝙤𝙛 𝘼𝙪𝙨𝙘𝙝𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙯, 𝘾𝙞𝙡𝙠𝙖'𝙨 𝙅𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙣𝙚𝙮 and 𝙏𝙝𝙧𝙚𝙚 𝙎𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙨.

I was anticipating that this would be a memoir of sorts with more backing history from her interviews with Lale Sokolov and other family members from her books.

While parts of this were in fact some behind the scenes into her interviews and writing her books, I was disappointed to find it wasn’t as much as I had expected personally.
I also could have done without the self help portions and political aspects as that was not what I was looking for in this book at all.

I did enjoy learning about her talents as a listener and how she used this to conduct her interviews and write her books.

I do very much enjoy Heather’s work and look forward to future novels by her! (I had read Three Sisters before reading this one).

Thank you Netgalley for an eARC for an honest review.

I did not realize the limited knowledge that Heather Morris had on the Holocaust before she started working with Lale Sokolov with what was to become the Tattoist of Auschwitz novel. She spent a few years listening to his story about himself and wife Gita to put together a representation of their time in Auschwitz-Berkinau that other Holocaust survivors could verify the portrayal and to be approach by others to tell their stories.

The actual memoir portions of this book was enchanting to read. I could have skipped the "how to" or "self-help" type chapters but the principles she communicated their were also good. Very cool to hear behind the scene stories of how she compiled her information for her novels by "Listening Well." Great read.

Do not even try to judge until one has walked a mile in someone else's shoes. This message rings throughout this book that urges us to listen before we speak. As we deal with the pandemic that has crippled much of the world, we need to reset our expectations and adjust to a new world. This makes the message of learning to walk in another person's shoes even louder. Author Heather Morris is a sharp observer of cultural changes happening during this time. She shares with us stories of hope that could only be understood if we care enough to listen and learn. Perhaps, even as Covid-19 continues to ravage the world's economy and stifle human relationships, we could still consolidate our resources and begin the process of rebuilding. Rather than pretend we have all the answers, why not ask questions on how people are doing? Instead of presuming what we need, why not listen carefully to the voices that are largely muted for whatever reason? Listening is an art that needs to be learned and cultivated over time. Not only that, we could learn many things from people of all ages. We can listen to the elders, children, peers, adults, and even ourselves. In listening to elders, Morris takes us back to her time with her own grandparents and great-grandparents, learning about the war and also about the need to talk less and listen more. She learns from a 92-year-old Holocaust survivor who shared the guilt of those who made it out alive. She even shares tips on how to listen well to those suffering from old-age diseases such as Alzheimer's or dementia. She then gives us some background to how she gets inspired to write her bestselling book, "The Tattooist of Auschwitz." By listening to an 87-year-old elderly named Lale Sokolov, she tells the story of the great escape and the powerful impact of stories told from one generation to another. Morris then takes pauses to show readers some listening skills. We must beware not to listen in order to reply. Instead, we should be silent in order to understand. Adopt active listening such as concentration and attentiveness without judgment or offering opinions. This is particularly hard for societies where people feel entitled to their own opinions. She reminds us of the importance of listening to our children when they are small, lest they feel they should not listen to us when they are adults. Included in the book is a chapter on listening to ourselves. This might seem strange for some people. Failing to do so would lead to self-doubt, self-blame, and eventually shame. She shares the story of her brother Ian, of how he unwittingly signed on with the Royal New Zealand Navy when he was a minor, only to seek a discharge when he became an adult. Lesson? Trust our instincts, but only if we have listened to ourselves clearly. Morris ends the book with a startling chapter on the cost of listening, especially from people who had personally experienced trauma.

My Thoughts
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For many people, listening seems to be a no-brainer. After all, what is so difficult about hearing things? The truth is, listening needs to be intentional and cultivated over time. Here, Morris shows us many angles of listening. We listen to our elders to learn about the stories we never get to experience. We listen to our children in order to plant the seed of trust in them. We listen to ourselves so that we don't make decisions that we regret later. There are also many rewards to good listening. We can learn to craft a narrative of hope as we join the dots of the stories we hear. If we listen well, we will have a more accurate recollection of the past in order to create a narrative of hope. Not only that, we show respect to the people who are sharing their lives with us. History is an important educator for the young. We all need to learn to listen well, and this book is a useful resource to help us do just that.

Why should anyone read this book? Let me offer three reasons. First, we all are born with two ears and one mouth. Do the Math and remember that we ought to listen doubly hard before speaking. The Bible too has taught us that each of us should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry. A listening stance is the first thing we ought to adopt because we are created to do just that. If we fail to listen, how then are we going to gather the tools of crafting a new narrative? Second, good listening leads to good relating. When a friend shares something, earnest listening is a mark of respect. It is a demonstration of love. Just try that out on ourselves. If we speak to someone who is distracted, will we continue to share? Chances are, we will stop talking altogether and walk away. Anyone desiring to build good relationships needs to learn to listen well. This applies to all relationships from parent-child communications, marriages, and other social interactions. Listening well is loving well. Finally, make use of the tips at the end of each chapter in the book. These tips come from the library of the author's knowledge and experience. I see these tips as generous gifts Morris has given to readers. If there is anything that is worth the price of this book, it would be those tips to help us become better listeners and perhaps, better storytellers.

Heather Morris is a native of New Zealand, now a resident in Australia. For several years, while working in a large public hospital in Melbourne, she studied and wrote screenplays, one of which was optioned by an Academy Award-winning screenwriter in the US. In 2003, Heather was introduced to an elderly gentleman who ‘might just have a story worth telling’. The day she met Lale Sokolov changed both their lives. Their friendship grew and Lale embarked on a journey of self-scrutiny, entrusting the innermost details of his life during the Holocaust to her. Heather originally wrote Lale’s story as a screenplay – which ranked high in international competitions – before reshaping it into her debut novel, The Tattooist of Auschwitz.

Rating: 4.25 stars of 5.

conrade
This book has been provided courtesy of St Martin's Press and NetGalley without requiring a positive review. All opinions offered above are mine unless otherwise stated or implied.

LISTENING WELL-Heather Morris

I received this free Kindle book for the purpose of review. Great book, not only from a historical sense but more importantly how to truly listen to someone. Ms. Morris wrote this book about all the things she learned from Lale Sokolov, the tattooist at Auschwitz-Birkenau and the inspiration for her best selling novel The Tattooist of Auschwitz.

By listening and not taking notes but truly undivided attention Ms. Morris learned a man's story that had many sides of emotions and feelings. She had to listen to be able for Lale to share his story. Many times they had to stop as he recalled painful memories. She was an amazing friend to Lale and she learned so much she was able to write multiple books as a result of this friendship.

Great book-great listening skills to apply and historically accurate.

As I finish this book I am reminded that we are in a difficult circumstance in our country and my prayer is we will never see another need for a Tattooist.

Listening Well is a fun, thought-provoking, inspirational story that gives the reader an interesting insight to the impact a real life story has on an author. I loved the transparency the author shares of the impact of Lale’s story and enjoyed the twist of applicability of the lessons learned that I can apply to my life and work. Heather’s story has encouraged me to intentionally ask questions and also remain silent in the listening to others stories and grief. Having a dear friend from our high school days some 40 years ago, who recently lost her young adult daughter, I had the privilege to apply some of these skills to an evening spent together. Everyone needs to read this book! Thank you to @heathermorris for sharing more of Lale! Thank you to @NetGalley for the chance to preview this incredible book. #netgalley, #listeningwell

Bringing Stories of Hope to Life

Heather Morris is one of my favorite authors. The Tattooist of Auschwitz, and Cilka’s Journey show what a great storyteller she is and also what a great story listener she is. And that is what this book is about. Listening. “Stories are what connect us and remind us that hope is always possible.”—Heather Morris I love that.

In this work, she shares her talent as a listener. Something she used when first meeting Lale Sokolov, the tattooist at Auschwitz-Birkenau. He was the subject of The Tattooist of Auschwitz and Cilka’s Journey.

She shares her own story and how she honed her listening skills and gives us good advice on improving our own. A skill that will benefit all of our relationships. Personal and work. Listening is an active thing. You can tell when someone is listening to you and engaged and when they are not. Long after we are all gone there will be stories. Because someone listened and shared.

Always a pleasure.

NetGalley/August 2nd, 2022 by St. Martin’s Press

As an ardent fan of Heather Morris’s three novels, I was very much interested in and looking forward to her memoir, Listening Well. It was heartwarming to read about how she came to meet Lael and to write her first novel, The Tattooist of Auschwitz. The insight into her ability to transfer his story to the written page and the interaction with her family is fascinating. Her references to Cilka are also extraordinary and her story was an exciting follow up second novel, Cilka’s Journey. The description of how she met the three sisters, which led to her writing her third novel (written after this memoir) is both poignant and delightful. It is remarkable to learn about the real people she wrote about in her books.

My only negative criticism of the book is the “how to” sections which I deem unnecessary in a memoir. It is not necessary for Ms. Morris to lecture and preach to her readers.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the chance to read and review this book prior to its publication.

Thank you NetGalley for letting me read this book in exchange for a review.

This book enables Heather Morris to be inspired by writing and publish a book. It was all thanks to Lale Sokolov. He opens up to her about his story.

This book also has tips on listening to so many things, including stories from the past.

Listening Well by Heather Morris was fantastic. I am a huge fam of the author's novels, and wasn't surprised to equally enjoy the book about her own life. Listening well seems to be a lost art these days, with social media having trained us to only go after small bits of information like a fish skimming the surface of the tank. I want to push this book into so many hands right now!! Highly recommend!

If you go into the novel, Listening Well, expecting it to be like the authors other works of historical/bibliographical fiction then I think you’d be disappointed. Listening Well isn’t a single survivor story, the characters the author writes about are real people in her life that instead taught her how to listen. And, how to listen well enough to hear what is said and what isn’t.

My sole criticism of Listening Well is that it can be disjointed. Stories of Heather Morris’ time with Lale flow throughout but I found three separate section about the same topic: Lale didn’t like to be interrupted. I also thought the experience with Israel, while also compelling should be laid out together. The same for the research done on Cilka Klein.

I truly loved getting a behind the scenes look at how The Tattooist of Auschwitz’s came about and felt a deeper connection to Lale Sokolov after learning more about him as the old man he became.

All in all I give 4.5/5 stars. The pacing and flow has some wrinkles but the information and story is worth the read.

I flip-flopped between really enjoying this book and finding it redundant. I was a huge fan of The Tattooist of Auschwitz and found Heather Morris’ retelling of Lale and Gita’s story of love and survival to be incredibly moving. The portions of this book that I found to be captivating are when Morris describes her conversations with Lale, how she got him to open up and trust her, and her own account of how she processed the horrific experiences that were being retold to her. The portions of her work that acted almost as a sort of aside providing tips for active listening, I found to be redundant. Those portions of the book did not hold my attention. Overall, an insightful read and has me looking forward to Morris’ next novel.

Listening Well is an important book I think everyone should read. There's amazing advice that we all could use and apply to our lives. Listen, just listen. We're all so quick to get our two cents in, sometimes we get irritated when someone speaks too much, but if you just listen, you might just walk away with a heartfelt memory to tuck away for a rainy day. I wish I had listened closely when my grandparents spoke, when a coworker told me a story about their life in a worn torn country. This book is valuable and should be read and reread over.

This was so good! Emotional and made you think. I love how this author writes and tells a story. She is an auto buy for me. People are gonna love this one just as much as her other books!

I didn’t know what to expect when I selected this book. I had read and really connected with The Tattooist of Auschwitz, so was intrigued with this. This is a unique book. She wove personal stories, book character interview and insights and lessons about listening in a very interesting way. This was a great read for everyone to benefit from. The insights to her novels is a plus, yet you don’t have to have read them to enjoy this book.

Wow! This book was absolutely fantastic. I was drawn in from the start and didn’t stop until I was finished. I haven’t found a book by this author I did not enjoy.

After writing a series of three successful novels, The Tattooist of Auschwitz, Cilka's Journey and Three Sisters, Heather Morris has turned the page with a captivating book about the power of listening. She said, "Taking time to really listen to someone and hear their story requires patience and perseverance."

This book is an extension of the author's notes with the series which also includes her thoughts about listening. She starts with a glimpse from her past. She learned the skill of listening from her great grandfather in the family's dairy farm of New Zealand. She would listen -- to people, animals, machines and life. Later, she got a job in the social work department of a large Melbourne hospital. "They spoke, I listened." She said most of the time, elders just wanted someone to listen to their stories.

Her life went into a new direction when she was approached by 87-year-old Lale Sokolov from her first book. He wanted someone to write about his very emotional time when he was in Auschwitz. He met his wife, Gita, there. She had recently died and he wanted to join her. But first, he was eager to tell his story to someone that wasn't Jewish or biased in any way. She successfully got his trust, in large part, as she was able to listen carefully to what he had to say.

"If I take myself out of my comfort zone, with an open mind, I will find someone with an amazing story to tell," Besides the many people she interviewed about the horrors of war, she also was able to talk to the head of security for the 1956 Olympic Games. This resulted in a screen play which she said exists in the bottom drawer of her desk. I am one reader that hopes she will make this public someday. She has a gift of enriching our lives with the stories she hears and tells. If you enjoyed the series, I'd like to encourage you to add this book to your list as she describes so much more that wasn't included. And surely, we all can use some helpful tips when it comes to listening to others.

My thanks to Heather Morris, St. Martin's Press, NetGalley for allowing me to read this advanced copy with an expected release date of August 2, 2022.

I love Heather Morris! If you have read The Tattooist of Auschwitz, specifically, and also Cilka’s Journey, then you will find this book quite interesting, as it fills in the backstory of Heather and Lale’s interviews. In addition to revisiting the characters in these books, as a bonus you receive much information about becoming a better listener. Listening is the foundation for a good relationship and if you want to hone these skills there is much practical information on relating to people of all ages and in all situations. With stories and bullet points there is much to sink your teeth into along with refreshing your mind of the tales of Lale and Cilka. It feels like a two for the price of one book and I am glad that I read it. Thank you to NetGalley for the advance read copy.

I was very interested in reading this memoir by Heather Morris. I knew I would appreciate learning more about Morris and what makes her the author she is, someone Lale Sokolov and other Holocaust survivors entrusted with their stories. Morris’ gift is that of a listener, listening WELL. Her memoir is very inspirational and provides a deeper understanding of what makes her stories so rich and compelling.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with the opportunity to read and review this book.