Phosphorescence

By: Julia Baird

Narrated by: Julia Baird

A beautiful, intimate and inspiring investigation into how we can find and nurture within ourselves that essential quality of internal happiness—the "light within" that Julia Baird calls "phosphorescence"—which will sustain us even through the darkest times.

Over the last decade, we have become better at knowing what brings us contentment, well-being and joy. We know, for example, that there are a few core truths to science of happiness. We know that being kind and altruistic makes us happy, that turning off devices, talking to people, forging relationships, living with meaning and delving into the concerns of others offer our best chance at achieving happiness. But how do we retain happiness? It often slips out of our hands as quickly as we find it. So, when we are exposed to, or learn, good things, how do we continue to burn with them?

And more than that, when our world goes dark, when we're overwhelmed by illness or heartbreak, loss or pain, how do we survive, stay alive or even bloom? In the muck and grit of a daily existence full of disappointments and a disturbing lack of control over many of the things that matter most—finite relationships, fragile health, fraying economies, a planet in peril—how do we find, nurture and carry our own inner, living light—a light to ward off the darkness?

Absorbing, achingly beautiful, inspiring and deeply moving, Julia Baird has written exactly the book we need for these times.

©2020 Julia Baird (P)2020 HarperAudio

Learning to live our previous life

Everyone should have the energy, sea amd love of this Marvellous author. Having survived cancer Dr Baird maintains her love of life and the planet hunting out those natural bright lights. Swim. Walk. Love.

A must read for everyone especially our young growing people & the women who've been there

What a joy to listen to & reflect on how we live & try to thrive in an increasingly complex & harsh world. You will find hope & faith in this book. As a middle aged woman I saw myself my friends & my story. Thank you Julia!

A one-off newspaper column, not a whole book

Lovely writing and the author has had an interesting life, but this is far too long. It's one idea, laboured to death.

I'll save you reading it right here: Awe at the natural world will get you through tough times. That's it.