The Listening Path: The Creative Art of Attention

by Julia Cameron

A 6-week Artist’s Way Program from legendary author Julia Cameron

The newest book from beloved author Julia Cameron, The Listening Path is a transformational journey to deeper, more profound listening and creativity. Over six weeks, readers will be given the tools to become better listeners—to their environment, the people around them, and themselves. The reward for learning to truly listen is immense. As we learn to listen, our attention is heightened and we gain healing, insight, clarity. But above all, listening creates connections and ignites a creativity that will resonate through every aspect of our lives.

Julia Cameron is the author of the explosively successful book The Artist’s Way, which has transformed the creative lives of millions of readers since it was first published. Incorporating tools from The Artist’s Way, The Listening Path offers a new method of creative and personal transformation.

Each week, readers will be challenged to expand their ability to listen in a new way, beginning by listening to their environment and culminating in learning to listen to silence. These weekly practices open up a new world of connection and fulfillment. In a culture of bustle and constant sound, The Listening Path is a deeply necessary reminder of the power of truly hearing.

Genres: Nonfiction, Writing, Self Help, Audiobook, Art, Spirituality, Psychology

208 pages, Paperback

First published January 12, 2021

About the author

Julia Cameron has been an active artist for more than thirty years, with fifteen books (including bestsellers The Artist's Way, Walking In This World and The Right to Write) and countless television, film, and theater scripts to her credit. Writing since the age of 18, Cameron has a long list of screenplay and teleplay credits to her name, including an episode of Miami Vice, and Elvis and the Beauty Queen, which starred Don Johnson. She was a writer on such movies as Taxi Driver, New York, New York, and The Last Waltz. She wrote, produced, and directed the award-winning independent feature film, God's Will, which premiered at the Chicago International Film Festival, and was selected by the London Film Festival, the Munich International Film Festival, and Women in Film Festival, among others. In addition to making film, Cameron has taught film at such diverse places as Chicago Filmmakers, Northwestern University, and Columbia College. Her profound teachings on unlocking creativity and living from the creative center have inspired countless artists to unleash their full potential.

Reviews

[Cherie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have loved Julia Cameron's work before, but this one...in some ways, she comes across as this old lady living alone with her dog and you know how people get a little dotty and so into their dog? I'm not a dog person so after a while, I was like, I get these metaphors, but can we please talk about something other than your dog?

[Olivia (Stories For Coffee)]

I previously took a Listening class in university, and that course changed my life for the better. It helped me learn how to better myself in terms of communicating with others, helped me manage my emotions during conversations, and trained me to be a better, more open-minded listener to others.

I feel that most of what I learned in that course was touched upon in this nonfiction, so I only gained a few bits of new insight from this book, but, for those who have never taken a Listening course and want to take the steps towards being a better listener, this nonfiction lays out some helpful tools to better your Listening skills.

[Laura · Rating 1 out of 5]

What was this even about? This was a weird book. I can't really see what value there was in it. It's supposed to teach you how to be more creative and a better listener but did that happen? Were those topics even covered? The book is just full of vague fluff like "Go for walks" and "Go to concerts or do creative activities to get the ole creative juices flowing" and while those might be good things to do in general, it doesn't seem like insightful or detailed enough instruction to warrant a book.

A lot of the writing was not to my taste. I know the author is very proud of being extremely prolific, and she mentioned many times what a great *volume* of work she has produced, and I can see why - most of the writing seemed almost content-less, just a stream of consciousness that includes lots (LOTS) of stories about her dog, and various friends she spends time talking to on her landline phone. It felt both extremely dated (which it shouldn't be) and completely irrelevant to anyone's life except the author's.

She's a big proponent of stream of consciousness journaling and it seems like that is kind of what this book is. I don't really care about that time your dog barked a lot, and then you gave him a piece of salmon, and then he kind of stopped barking but still barked a little, and then you took a trip into town, and the road was muddy from the storm, and you had lunch with a friend, and they told a joke that made you laugh, and then you stopped at some store, and then you went home...... that doesn't belong in a book. It belongs in a journal that never sees the light of day because it's tremendously boring and self-centered (which is fine!! but don't publish it and pretend it's something else)

[da AL · Rating 3 out of 5]

Julia Cameron’s 12-week manual, “The Artist’s Way: a Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity,” is ultra groundbreaking to creatives of any ilk. Each non-fiction book Cameron has published since then reiterates much of her original teachings — but for me, the repetition often works. This newest text is a 6-week DIY course that emphasizes the value of listening to each other, our environment, and ourselves.

[Gail · Rating 3 out of 5]

Author Julia Cameron's books on nurturing creativity have been a staple for decades and have indeed become a cottage industry. Rather than a "how to" on the arts, the books and other media in this series are more meditations on living life in a way that promotes artistic expression. Cameron's advice is mostly practical (writing in the morning at the same time everyday, taking daily walks, treating yourself to a new experience each week, etc.) While this newest book emphasizes listening and includes some new anecdotes from Cameron's life, I don't know that fans need to purchase this new entry into the Artist's Way series. If you have read Cameron's other works, especially the seminal The Artist's Way, you are aware of much of the advice this book offers.

Verdict: A potentially helpful read for those just discovering author Julia Cameron, but for others, pick this one up from your local public library.

Full Disclosure--NetGalley and the publisher provided me with a digital ARC of this book. This is my honest review.

[Bo · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not impressed. I've been a long-time Cameron reader, but this book is not Julia Cameron at her best. Too many words about nothing of interest. Pages and pages of her conversations with her dog? Not much compelling there. Perhaps this would have worked as an article -- go for a walk, listen to your environment, to others, to yourself... But as a too-long, meandering book, this didn't work for me.

[Ellen Goodlett]

Feels like this would have been better as a blog post or long article. There were some useful kernels of insight, but also a lot of filler. My personal favorite being several pages of phone calls as follows: “hello?” “Hello, I can’t hear you!” “Can you hear me?” “I can’t hear what you’re saying!” The third time that happened I just started laughing.
Might be better in print form so you can work through each section like a journal, I listened to the audio so that might have added to the sense of repetition. I have been trying to write the morning pages the author recommends and find it fun!

[Elizabeth · Rating 1 out of 5]

The only reason I did not stop reading and throw this book across the room in frustration is that I was listening (ha!) to the audiobook and didn't want to damage the iPad.

I loved The Artist's Way and Vein of Gold, y'all. Like, I've done morning pages nearly every morning since 1998. Twenty five years. And I've never regretted it. Cameron really hit on something with this core set of routines for creatives, and I don't see myself stopping the system any time soon.

That said, I've kind of stopped reading Cameron's books, largely because it's felt a little like she's been beating a not-quite-dead-but-on-its-way-out horse. TAW at work, TAW for people, TAW for small angry dogs or something. After the third or fourth reading of essentially the same book, I kind of gave up, and decided to just keep what worked for me (the original) and let the rest go. I don't need to read every book.

But when I saw that this was "the creative art of attention", and looked briefly at the synopsis, it looked like this was going to be a different book for a change, and I was all down with that. Managing my attention's kind of an ongoing battle with herding a bunch of overcaffeinated raccoons, often set to circus music...and I can definitely use help in a creative way for creative things. I picked it up.

Y'all. Y'ALL.

It started like all her books start. (Or all that I've seen.). She spends a significant chunk of time extolling the virtues of her TAW tools. I think there were either four chapters or four long sections of the same chapter about each. individual. tool. Which, if you've ever read a Cameron book before this, you've already read. Probably to the point of exhaustion. But I get it: if there's a newb who picks up the book, having the most basic tools is important. So I can forgive the fact that like 1/4 of the book is just a rehashing of a rehashing of a rehashing ad nauseum.

But it just spirals, y'all. The first chapter has a lot about listening to your friends, with some relatively decent tips on active listening skills. It starts to get a little name-droppy right away (everything is "my friend XYZ, the famous and talented actress" or "my friend ABC, the award winning playwrite and poet". One starts to believe that Cameron's holiday card list is like a who's-who of all the "right" people.), but there really was some decent info, so...fine. We can overlook the social climbing/look-how-relevant-I-am-because-of-my-tribe stuff.

But when I say spirals, I mean *spirals*. The name dropping intensifies. There are stories about phone lines and windstorms and four million stories about her dog, Lily. (And if they weren't all just either random or made to, I guess, make some kind of unclear point, I'd be down for that. Give me all the dog stories.)

And then, the Jesus came. Need I say more?

Which, okay, fine...I'm cool with people who have a strong faith in whatever it is they believe. They seem to be nice and grounded sometimes (and total zealot-esque whackaloons sometimes, but...benefit of the doubt).

But the DEAD PEOPLE CAME.

No. Really. There's an entire chapter about how you should talk to dead people. Not just people you knew before they expired, either. But famous people. People who are...er....*were* your heroes. Reaching "beyond the veil", because those people will always talk to you and give you advice.

( deep breaths)

Let's break this down a little.

1. Cameron claims to have direct spiritual phone line access to, among others, the dude who started AA (who was, apparently, a big spiritual medium, himself), and Carl Jung. Yes, THAT Carl Jung.

2. Oddly enough, these "messages" from these dead people sound a whole lot like Cameron. And, of course, they always agree with her and every action she's taking, because she is talking to herself. This is not an objective source of guidance. This is borderline schizophrenia. (With all apologies to schizophrenics, who have to deal with spiritual white ladies making their lives even harder.)

3. Apparently, everyone, from all of time and space, is just waiting to talk to you, in specific, and are spending their entire afterlives just sitting in some kind of green room in case you need validation for whatever stupid book you're writing next. It's arrogant. Even if you overlook how unhinged it is, to think that EVERYONE is at your beck and call now that they're dead is...deeply egotistical. There are a ton of people I have no interest in talking with now, while I'm still breathing; there's no way I'm gonna come a'runnin' if they call me after I've shuffled off this mortal coil. They have no right to just expect my time and attention.

4. None of 3 really matters because it's literal bullshit.

She ends this wild ride with a story of how she's gassing her dog to keep it from barking. Normally, this would be enough for me to go all one-star self-righteous, but frankly, I'm so exhausted by the rest of this thing that the dog-poisoning isn't even in the top ten things I hated about this book.

And that's saying something.

[Lindsay · Rating 4 out of 5]

At times a revisiting of similar concepts presented in Cameron’s The Artist Way, I did find new insights and added value by taking a new approach to deeper listening.
I would recommend this book to anyone who is currently on a journey of growing present moment awareness to your environment, to the relationships present in your life, and finally to that quieter, inner voice.

[Cindy Tebo · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's hard to rate Julia Cameron's book, The Listening Path, because if I criticize anything in the book, I feel like I somehow wasn't listening.

First, I confess I did not practice all the exercises in the book. They are not hard. I just didn't want to do some of them so I didn't. Instead, I chose which ones I wanted to do and let my intuition be my guide.

Second, the book has helped me become better at listening to others as well as to the sounds around me at home or when I'm out walking.

I also reconnected with writing three pages every morning and having an "artist's date" once a week. These are themes from the author's past book, "The Artist's Way."

Cameron engages the reader through her powers of description. I can vividly see her home in my mind's eye and picture her relationship with her dog, Lily. Her book is well worth reading even if you think you're already a good listener.

[Jeffrey Fisher · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dunno. Normally adore Cameron's work ... but there is a lot of redundancy here with myriad interviews saying the same thing. Expected more. Some morsels of inspired wisdom, but too much of the same thing.

[Danielle Shroyer · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was looking forward to an abbreviated version of the Artists Way for those who cannot commit to 12 weeks. And I really love the idea of centering this inner work on listening- this is the soul of my work for sure. Sadly, this book was disappointing. It rambled, it felt incoherent, it talked at length about frivolous things and talked only sparingly about deep or more complex things. I regret offering this as a book group. I spent time creating exercises and offering insights each week because the book did not. And honestly, our collective conversations held a lot more wisdom than the pages. I love that! (Here’s to collective wisdom!)…but also, I wouldn’t recommend this. There are better paths to learn the way of listening.

[Cathy · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was disappointed in this book. I loved The Artist's Way and was hoping for similar insight from this book, but it didn't work for me. I gave up after reading the first two chapters, which read like journal entries.

[Kasia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. I’ve only read “The Artists Way” by Cameron and this one felt much lighter and more like a memoir. I listened to the audiobook and Julia reads the intro and outro. I wish she read the whole book, her voice is rich and slightly rough. Her voice activated the writing in a way that felt gentle and encouraging rather than disparaging or short (which is how I found some of her other work - too preachy!) She gives an overview of the main tenants in her writing: morning pages and artist dates — and extends that into an active listening practice. Listening to your friends, to yourself, to your work, to your body. Nothing wildly new, but still an enjoyable read and reminder.

[Artemisia Hunt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Julia Cameron is a leading authority in the creativity world since her revolutionary book The Artists Way. Since then she has continued to find some new and novel angle on the creative process in every book she writes. The Listening Path is her latest and one of her better efforts since she first introduced us to concepts like Artist Dates and Morning Pages. Without as much repetition as in some of the previous books, The Listening Path focuses on the importance of focused listening, paying real attention to the many voices we encounter: what others say to us, what our own inner voice is telling us, what our higher power or guide wants us to hear and even what our ancestors or old friends are communicating from “the other side”. Keying in on something that we often have trouble with, Cameron reminds us how valuable listening really is, for our creative lives, our relationships and even for the important decisions we make in our lives. And as with her other books, there are also plenty of interesting exercises to bring the lessons of each chapter into your consciousness in more concrete ways.

[Kathleen · Rating 3 out of 5]

In the early 1990's, I read "The Artist's Way" by Julia Cameron, not that I thought I was an artist, but I was intrigued by her approach to unlocking creativity by writing freely every morning. I never really integrated her "Morning Pages" into my life at that time because writing first thing in the morning did not match my schedule so I have played with them, however inconsistently, to make them work for me. "The Listening Path," takes a similar approach to paying close attention, breaking down the important art of listening and introducing "Artist's Dates" and "Walks." While I did not connect to some chapters, the one on "Listening to Others" shared the strategies that a range of people used in their careers, explaining listening was at the heart of their work with themselves and others. Filled with stories, tips and side quotes, this guide might be useful to those of us emerging from the COVID pandemic and trying to figure out how to live with more intention, less drama.

[megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I do not like to rate non-fiction books, so I give them all 5 stars on goodreads.

The Listening Path is a 6 week workbook into learning how to listen better. I do think I will be taking quite a few tidbits to try out from the novel such as going on more walks, meeting people in person (when that's possible again) rather than calling/texting, morning pages, and artistic dates (this one was my favorite idea).

I think I would've appreciated this book more in a physical copy spread out over 6 weeks the way it was intended, alas I did not realize going in and loaned it as an audiobook with several people waiting disallowing a lengthy loan via multiple renewals.

Regardless, I do look forward to trying out the new tidbits I was able to gain from this book.

[Yam Herrera · Rating 3 out of 5]

Seré breve, lo rescatable del libro viene en la introducción (y son herramientas de su primer libro), el diseño editorial es hermoso y las frases que contiene me parecen mucho mejores que el libro mismo.

Sufrí con la forma de escribir de la autora y aunque algunas ideas son buenas no dejan de ser anecdóticas y no me convencen por completo!

Quienes han leído antes a la autora me cuentan que el camino del artista es mucho mejor, esperaré un tiempo para darle una segunda oportunidad

De todos los libros siempre se aprende algo y este este en particular me quedo muchas reflexiones de mi querido club, la intención de escribir diariamente y de tomar tiempo para tener citas conmigo

¿Tú ya lo leíste? ¿Qué te pareció? Te leo en comentarios

[Yashvi · Rating 3 out of 5]

It talked a lot about how important listening is and the part it plays in all kinds of professions. The tiny interviews about listening were fascinating. I liked some of the tools she mentioned to tune into our listening - morning pages, artist dates, believing mirrors and creating silence. There were some tools I didn't entirely agree with. Either way, I think it has a little something for anyone lost and looking for creative direction. I found myself making a conscious effort to listen more.

[Kass (KeepItKassual) she-her · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'd like to thank Libro.fm for an Advanced Listeners Copy of this book.

I was excited to listen to this book (not narrated by the author), for my overall goal this year is to be more creative. I did not read the other books in this series, but found that a lot of the instructions/daily meditations were repetitive to those I have read and heard before. Writing every morning, going for walks and other meditations, along with closing your eyes and listening to the familiar sounds around you to spark creativity, are all familiar tips. It was helpful, however, to listen to this book (it's only 5 hours, so it can be done quickly), and get a recharge.

[Deedi Brown (DeediReads) · Rating 2 out of 5]

All my reviews live at https://deedispeaking.com/reads/.

TL;DR REVIEW:

The Listening Path is a six-week approach to getting in touch with the world, yourself, and the beyond. It wasn’t for me — it was too “woo-woo” as she herself puts it — but it might be for you.

For you if: You are spiritual and looking for creative inspiration.

FULL REVIEW:

First, a big thank you to Macmillan Audio and Libro.fm, who provided a complimentary copy of the audiobook of The Listening Path for review. They sent it on January 1, and I decided to give it a listen because it seemed like a great way to kick off the new year.

The book builds on concepts that Julia Cameron describes in The Artist’s Way, her first (and very well-known) book in this category. She starts The Listening Path by essentially recapping that book, describing her practice of morning pages, artist’s dates, and intentional walks. I actually think I got the most value out of this book from this section, as I’ve decided to try using morning pages as a potential journaling habit.

The rest of the book is broken into six weeks’ worth of direction. They are: listening to your environment; listening to others; listening to yourself; listening beyond the veil; listening to your (dead) heroes; and listening to silence. The first three are the longest, and the last three are quick to read. I ended up speeding through them because by that point, I knew this book was too out there for my taste, too “woo-woo” as she herself describes it. But there was only an hour or so left of the book, so I finished. Also, the chapters themselves also seem much longer than they need to be, with lots of repetitive and meandering stories about her dog and her friends and phone calls, etc.

This book was not for me, but if you are a spiritual person, it could definitely be for you!

[Juliana · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you’ve never read Julia Cameron before, stop, turn around, and read her masterpiece, The Artist’s Way. This book is fine, but only read this if you are already a Cameron fan and want some extra time in her world learning about how to live a more intentional life. This book is advertised as “a 6-week Artist’s Way course” on the cover, but it is not. I’ve taught the Artist’s Way and it is an intensive 12-week program (and best to be done in a group rather than alone), and I’ve been wondering if there was a way to squeeze the 12-week into a smaller course for six weeks. Again, this is not that book.

This book focuses solely on listening—listening to your environment, listening to others, listening to your higher self, etc. There is not a whole lot that might clear your head and spur you on to more creative work. This is more like taking a one-on-one walk with Cameron where she shares some tidbits of information, fantastic quotes, and anecdotes from her life. That is fine because one of the focuses of this book is adding a regular walk into your toolkit to go along with her morning page and weekly Artist’s Date routine. If you aren’t familiar with morning pages or Artist’s Dates, again, turn around and get yourself into an Artist’s Way group.

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cameron has influenced me before via her book The Artist’s Way. I had some profound changes and insights when I worked through that book alone and with a group. The Listening Way is a pale, pale version of TAW. That being said, I have started writing my morning pages again. And, listening is a skill we all need to work on daily.

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I fancied myself a pretty good listener, but found that I could take it even deeper by applying Julia’s suggestions. This past month has been difficult health-wise in my household, and the Listening path helped me stay centered and balanced and grounded. I sit her today with a deeper feeling of peace and gratitude and connection. If you feel a lot of stress in your life, I recommend this book.

[Amanda Bradburn]

DNF at almost 45%. Good points and habit encouraged; I just couldn't currently enjoy the pedanticness + melodrama.

[Renee · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was so repetitive that it was almost comical. I wish I could get my $18 back.

[Caroline Van · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s alright. Second the person here who said she talks about her dog sm. Like the whole “salmon!” Thing.

I got this at word is change in bed stuy. You all know I love Julia Cameron and a book that tells me what to do. The first week of this one I was so into it and going crazy trying to listen to people. Saying “I didn’t know that about you” when you hear them share something. Try to find out what your friends really want.

You can tell Julia gets less interested too—like this was a pet project she wanted to finish. The first chapter is like 50 (maybe unnecessary and endlessly anecdotal) pages and the last chapter is like 7 lol.

There are some habits offered by this book that I loved. Sending postcards saying “this song reminded me of you” or thanking people for explicitly sharing something so they feel heard. If I was in a different headspace I could do the asking for guidance better. But I liked the parts about being aware of noise intake—doing different commutes if on a less busy street (Broadway biking to Brownsville by those crazy loud machines lmao) or changing phone alarm to something nicer. Some liberating walks. Noticing how much gets shared literally and implicitly in a 3 minute long interaction (can be scary). I didn’t do this one but write scenes of things that have happened to u in the past (she says with lovers). Go to a movie and change the settings in ur mind to see how it alters the situation.

Good word:
Bromide. a trite and unoriginal idea or remark, typically intended to soothe or placate.

Good quotes:
“They say god speaks to us through people, and New York is full of people.”
“The force that through the green fuse drives the flower.”
Some more literal advice would have been good. Like advice or phrases to try in conversation and then reflection time. I did like her thing about if someone is blinking in a conversation they are probably listening to you and if they are not blinking they are most likely phasing out. Another good example is she has a list of questions to ask your internal guide when you are in a troubling situation:
1. What do I need to know?
2. What do I need to accept?
3. What do I need to try?
4. What do I need to grieve?
5. What do I need to celebrate?

[Hope Irvin Marston · Rating 5 out of 5]

This practical 6-week program is inspirational and do-able. I've been journaling for many years, but right now I write just one page per day. However, this author recommends writing three pages a day, as she has been doing for forty years. No wonder she writes so well.

At the moment I have no idea in mind for another book. I have a hunch as I start writing those three pages a day tomorrow morning, I will soon find a good idea forming in my head because of what I learned in this book. Then it will be routine to write three pages as I work out my new story. I can't wait to get started.

Hope Irvin Marston, 2021 Charlotte Award winner for THE WALLS HAVE EARS: A BLACK SPY IN THE CONFEDERATE WHITE HOUSE

[Susan Lampe · Rating 4 out of 5]

This new book by Julia Cameron continues her disciplines for writers published in "The Artist's Way" and others--daily walks, Morning Pages (journals) and Artist Dates. The book is designed as a six-week workbook focused on learning to listen. A large section is devoted to her interviews with friends and acquaintances in all types of professions throughout the country--musician, sculptor, poet, actor, healer. Exercises include writing about our own experiences in listening as we read. Cameron's Westie Lily, also plays a large role in the book. Cameron's books always deepen my sense of spirituality. I came away from this read with a quieter sense of self and new ideas about how I listen to my surroundings.

[Jenni · Rating 2 out of 5]

Morning pages and take walks often....best advice in the book. Things got a little flakey, or "woo woo" as the author puts it, for me at Weeks 5 and 6. I'm sure the author would tell me I'm not being open-minded enough, but I can't imagine myself ever asking to hear the voices of my deceased loved ones or heroes/heroines for guidance. No judgement for those who find this helpful, it's just not for me. There's also *a lot* about the author's dog. I love my dog too, but I know way more about the author's dog Lily now than I really need to know.