Here's what reviewers and readers are saying...
A self-confessed "type A personality," Bill brings a buoyant but realistic tone to his subject. Interspersed with quotations from various Christian writers and pauses for "quietude queries," or reflective moments for relaxation and contemplation, the slim volume is a useful tool for readers seeking a guide to devotional practice . -- Publishers Weekly
In this inspiring paperback, he [Bill] presents a graceful and substantive overview of the treasures of silence in the Quaker tradition. -- Spirituality and Practice
"There is the silence of monastic discipline, of contemplative prayer, of Zen meditation - but the particular ways of Quaker silence are distinctive. And that distinctiveness has contributions to offer across spiritual traditions. J. Brent Bill, in this beautiful reflection on the Quaker practice of silence, makes these gifts available to a wide range of contemporary readers. . My counsel to you regarding the book is this: find a quiet place, settle down with the book, and listen for holy silence." - Stephanie Ford for Friends Journal
The title, Holy Silence, and the book’s striking cover—a beautiful and simple black and white paper-cut of a pastoral farm scene—enticed me right away. ..., Holy Silence did not disappoint.
Bill’s introduction to Quaker spirituality is an accessible overview that briefly acknowledges the history of the practice of silence in various and diverse religious traditions, but proceeds quickly into a discussion of the distinctiveness of Quaker silence. Laced with stories from the author’s own experience and periodic injections of “quietude queries”—the Quaker practice of asking spiritual questions within the silence—the reader is invited to participate in and reflect on the practice while learning about it. -- Explore Faith
