---
product_id: 7980391
title: "The Art of Stillness: Adventures in Going Nowhere (TED Books)"
price: "3343 som"
currency: KGS
in_stock: true
reviews_count: 9
url: https://www.desertcart.kg/products/7980391-the-art-of-stillness-adventures-in-going-nowhere-ted-books
store_origin: KG
region: Kyrgyzstan
---

# The Art of Stillness: Adventures in Going Nowhere (TED Books)

**Price:** 3343 som
**Availability:** ✅ In Stock

## Quick Answers

- **What is this?** The Art of Stillness: Adventures in Going Nowhere (TED Books)
- **How much does it cost?** 3343 som with free shipping
- **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship
- **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.kg](https://www.desertcart.kg/products/7980391-the-art-of-stillness-adventures-in-going-nowhere-ted-books)

## Best For

- Customers looking for quality international products

## Why This Product

- Free international shipping included
- Worldwide delivery with tracking
- 15-day hassle-free returns

## Description

The Art of Stillness: Adventures in Going Nowhere (TED Books) [Iyer, Pico] on desertcart.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. The Art of Stillness: Adventures in Going Nowhere (TED Books)

Review: An Important Book for our Times - The ability to consume a book in a brief time is in and of itself a special and rare experience. One easily could have made it much longer, but would it have been any better for the added pages? It is a pearl that resonates and challenges the reader to consider his/her choices and direction. This is an important and valuable book. I find myself often thinking about the glut of information and data we face. I am currently assisting my son in getting his new phone up and running and in the process of converting thousands of his songs on his computer so they can transfer to the new phone. This level of digital consumption was simply not possible for the vast history of our species and is he or we any better for it? In generations past, one did not have to make the choice to do nothing, or be still; that was the state of being for many, much of the time. We lived and died within 30 miles of our birth. Travel abroad was a one way trip or the stuff of adventurers. Today, we are awash in stuff and choices. We as a society face a real challenge in organizing our lives in the face of infinite choices and consumptive options that are so brilliantly marketed and instantly available. This in contrast to the fact that we have not and will not eliminate the essential limits of our consumptive capacity and our finite lives. This book reminds the reader that we exercise choices in our daily norms. Recently on a flight I elected to do as one of the Iyer's fellow passengers did as described in the book - sit quietly and do nothing, . but only for a brief time. I experienced a brief portion of the ride without reading, listening or external engagement. It was remarkable in its novelty for me. Iyer's book has a number of examples of stillness in practice. Many readers may give it a try themselves. There is an inherent challenge in this book that devotes pages discussing some celebrities and celebrated people who have to a degree commoditized their stillness. There is benefit in this as in the cases of Merton or Dickenson; who wrote brilliantly of their experiences. The challenge for most is to find a personal path that is not subsequently commoditized for others, which to a degree defeats the purpose of inner stillness by public declaration. And can there be anything less still than TED conferences (TED published this book) and the acolytes who attend? But at least there is a level of awareness by many attendees and the organizers of their inherent contradictions in actions vs. ideas, and some as Iyer points out are trying to figure out how to reconcile them. An added treat are the interspersed photographs in this lovely book.
Review: Where's the Working Man's Art of Stillness - It's short, perhaps too short, as if in its brevity it is emulating the stillness that Pico Iyer feels we are missing out on in our lives. And we probably are missing out. But I find, like I do most books that cover similar topics, that it is more geared toward philosophical and time management techniques that only those who have the means and luxury to kick back can afford to do so. His cavalier response to the woman caller with kids trying to start a business and get on with life was cavalier beyond belief. No Pico, we all don't have two hours to sit around and contempt our belly buttons. While philosophical I agree with him, for I do enjoy doing nothing on occasion, just watching the world go by, perhaps his next book will address something more practical for the working stiffs in life who are not at Google or Aetna or executives who shut down for four hours per week and feel that they have saved their company from making horrible business adventures, and then reward themselves with bigger bonuses. That's great, and no, I'm not being sarcastic, because the execs do need that pause that refreshes. But would you dare to shut down the production line for four hours a week so that your $7.25-12 per hour employees can feel good about theirselves? For what it is, this is a good read and written very well, deserving four stars.

## Technical Specifications

| Specification | Value |
|---------------|-------|
| Best Sellers Rank | #33,217 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #17 in Travel Writing Reference #118 in Meditation (Books) #290 in Happiness Self-Help |
| Customer Reviews | 4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars (2,083) |
| Dimensions  | 5 x 0.7 x 7 inches |
| Edition  | First Edition |
| ISBN-10  | 1476784728 |
| ISBN-13  | 978-1476784724 |
| Item Weight  | 7.2 ounces |
| Language  | English |
| Part of series  | TED |
| Print length  | 96 pages |
| Publication date  | November 4, 2014 |
| Publisher  | Simon & Schuster/ TED |

## Images

![The Art of Stillness: Adventures in Going Nowhere (TED Books) - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61-bIMPK8FL.jpg)

## Customer Reviews

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ An Important Book for our Times
*by B***T on November 10, 2014*

The ability to consume a book in a brief time is in and of itself a special and rare experience. One easily could have made it much longer, but would it have been any better for the added pages? It is a pearl that resonates and challenges the reader to consider his/her choices and direction. This is an important and valuable book. I find myself often thinking about the glut of information and data we face. I am currently assisting my son in getting his new phone up and running and in the process of converting thousands of his songs on his computer so they can transfer to the new phone. This level of digital consumption was simply not possible for the vast history of our species and is he or we any better for it? In generations past, one did not have to make the choice to do nothing, or be still; that was the state of being for many, much of the time. We lived and died within 30 miles of our birth. Travel abroad was a one way trip or the stuff of adventurers. Today, we are awash in stuff and choices. We as a society face a real challenge in organizing our lives in the face of infinite choices and consumptive options that are so brilliantly marketed and instantly available. This in contrast to the fact that we have not and will not eliminate the essential limits of our consumptive capacity and our finite lives. This book reminds the reader that we exercise choices in our daily norms. Recently on a flight I elected to do as one of the Iyer's fellow passengers did as described in the book - sit quietly and do nothing, . but only for a brief time. I experienced a brief portion of the ride without reading, listening or external engagement. It was remarkable in its novelty for me. Iyer's book has a number of examples of stillness in practice. Many readers may give it a try themselves. There is an inherent challenge in this book that devotes pages discussing some celebrities and celebrated people who have to a degree commoditized their stillness. There is benefit in this as in the cases of Merton or Dickenson; who wrote brilliantly of their experiences. The challenge for most is to find a personal path that is not subsequently commoditized for others, which to a degree defeats the purpose of inner stillness by public declaration. And can there be anything less still than TED conferences (TED published this book) and the acolytes who attend? But at least there is a level of awareness by many attendees and the organizers of their inherent contradictions in actions vs. ideas, and some as Iyer points out are trying to figure out how to reconcile them. An added treat are the interspersed photographs in this lovely book.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Where's the Working Man's Art of Stillness
*by C***A on June 14, 2015*

It's short, perhaps too short, as if in its brevity it is emulating the stillness that Pico Iyer feels we are missing out on in our lives. And we probably are missing out. But I find, like I do most books that cover similar topics, that it is more geared toward philosophical and time management techniques that only those who have the means and luxury to kick back can afford to do so. His cavalier response to the woman caller with kids trying to start a business and get on with life was cavalier beyond belief. No Pico, we all don't have two hours to sit around and contempt our belly buttons. While philosophical I agree with him, for I do enjoy doing nothing on occasion, just watching the world go by, perhaps his next book will address something more practical for the working stiffs in life who are not at Google or Aetna or executives who shut down for four hours per week and feel that they have saved their company from making horrible business adventures, and then reward themselves with bigger bonuses. That's great, and no, I'm not being sarcastic, because the execs do need that pause that refreshes. But would you dare to shut down the production line for four hours a week so that your $7.25-12 per hour employees can feel good about theirselves? For what it is, this is a good read and written very well, deserving four stars.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ A Travel Guide to Stillness, Slowing Down, and Creating One's Own Sabbath... Ancient and Current Widsom
*by J***Y on December 6, 2014*

I just finished reading the Art of Stillness; Adventures in Going Nowhere by Pico Iyer. What a stimulating yet calming and thoughtful book. The book is filled with insights both philosophical and scientific regarding the wisdom of taking time to slow down and celebrate one’s own Sabbath. Iyer offers beautifully that not only will it be good for us but also we the reader will get more done, and done well, if we make time for stillness. The Book is filled with great characters and quotes. Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz offers: “ If I ever go looking for my heart's desire again, I won’t look any further than my own backyard. Because if it isn’t there, I never really lost it to begin with.” And the musician Leonard Cohen “ Sitting still as a way of falling in love with the world and everything in it” … And Iyer himself say’s “… talking about stillness is really a way of talking about clarity and sanity and the joys that endure. “ Accompanying this book and as a supplement to it is a Ted Talk , Here is link to Iyer’s 15 minute Ted Talk http://www.ted.com/talks/pico_iyer_the_art_of_stillness?language=en I heartily recommend feasting on this book about stillness, and unexpected pleasures … and enjoy the advice of a travel writer who provides an invitation to the adventure of going nowhere. In an age of distraction, nothing can feel more luxurious than paying attention. And in an age of constant movement, nothing is more urgent than sitting still. I give it 5 Stars… And heartily recommend it as a simple pleasure.

## Frequently Bought Together

- The Art of Stillness: Adventures in Going Nowhere (TED Books)
- Aflame: Learning from Silence
- The Half Known Life: In Search of Paradise

---

## Why Shop on Desertcart?

- 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016
- 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories
- 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price
- 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members)
- 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection
- ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews

**Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.kg/products/7980391-the-art-of-stillness-adventures-in-going-nowhere-ted-books](https://www.desertcart.kg/products/7980391-the-art-of-stillness-adventures-in-going-nowhere-ted-books)

---

*Product available on Desertcart Kyrgyzstan*
*Store origin: KG*
*Last updated: 2026-02-22*