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Phosphorescence: A Memoir of Finding Joy When Your World Goes Dark
THE INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER ‘This book is beautiful … Julia Baird has been to the tough edges and gives us light. She writes like a dream.’ MATT HAIG ’Utterly captivating and magical.’ JULIA BRADBURY ‘Luminous and deeply comforting’ KATHERINE MAY Julia Baird’s intimate study of phosphorescence is full of wisdom and joy; a roadmap for rediscovering our inner light after the darkest of times. We now know just how much we should treasure the times when we feel happy, content and at peace. When we feel this way we seek out life’s experiences with a sense of optimism and hope. But how do we move forward with life now that everything has changed? Now that we appreciate just how fragile and fleeting these feelings can be? Is it possible to access a light – our own source of phosphorescence – that can sustain us in this brave new world? In this wise and inspiring book, bestselling author Julia Baird reflects on her encounters with phosphorescence, a luminescent phenomenon found in the nature, and how she was able to cultivate her own ‘inner light’ in the face of a life-threatening illness. When we spend time in nature, humble ourselves to the mystery of the world, and recognise the ‘soothing power of the ordinary’, we are able to discover hidden sources of strength and resilience. It is these experiences that sustain us, help us place one foot in front of the other and cultivate our own essential light which will light our path in good times and bad.
320 pages, Paperback
First published March 23, 2020
About the author
Julia Baird
12 books307 followersJulia Baird is a journalist, broadcaster and author based in Sydney, Australia. She hosts The Drum on ABCTV and writes columns for the Sydney Morning Herald and the International New York Times. Her writing has appeared in Newsweek, The New York Times, The Philadelphia Inquirer, the Guardian, the Good Weekend, The Sydney Morning Herald, the Sun-Herald, The Monthly and Harper’s Bazaar.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,253 reviews
May 2, 2020
Didn’t wow me. This is basically an overview of the rudimentary things everyone already knows regarding being a somewhat functioning human (which is not as mysterious or elusive as the evocative title suggests), with some personal “there is room for every woman to win”-esque essays thrown in. Baird talks about lightness but neglects the darkness and this book suffers for it. I’m really not into this trend of journos writing thinly veiled memoirs/pseudo self help books with a few scientific references - feels more appropriate for a blog than a book.
April 29, 2021
UPDATE - winner of 2021 ABIA Book of the Year and best non-fiction! [Australian Book Industry Awards]
4.5★
“In one study of American and Chinese people, Keltner found that after experiencing awe, people signed their names in tinier letters. He told ‘New Scientist’ magazine that the reason for this is that 'awe produces a vanishing self.”
I’m not a reader of self-help, self-improvement, self-awareness, self-anything books. I quite like the idea that “awe produces a vanishing self.” I remember hearing that scientists and scholars often have small handwriting. I had thought it might come from writing notes in narrow margins. Ha! (That's a comment my dad used to write in the margins as he was reading, and it’s fun to run cross them now. But I digress.)
I heard Australian author Julia Baird interviewed about her new book, which just happens to have been launched during the Covid 19 pandemic while many people are looking for some good in the world.
As for me, I borrowed it from the library (e-book) because phosphorescence and bioluminescence have fascinated me since I was a little kid catching fireflies in the summer to keep in a jar by my bedside. (Now, of course, I would leave them alone to fly freely, but I didn’t know that holes in the lid of the jar wouldn’t keep them safe. But I digress again.)
Baird is a morning swimmer, every morning, early, freezing cold, because it sets her and “The Crazies” up for the day. They call it Vitamin Sea.
In the past, she had experienced the phosphorescence of luminous plankton and had since tried to find it again. She kept watching Sir David Attenborough’s documentary, “Life That Glows”*. She joined Bioluminescence Australia on Facebook. Then one day, a neighbour told her that there was incredible phosphorescence in “their” bay at Manly Beach (Sydney)!
“The sea was black and the sky was black and I felt a little nervous: sharks feed in the dark. But just a few metres out from the shore, the sparkles appeared. I was transfixed. My fingers threw out fistfuls of sequins with every stroke. A galaxy of stars flew past my goggles. It was as though I was flying through space, like the opening scenes of the Star Wars movies, gliding rapidly through a universe only I could see.”
Tathra, Sapphire Coast, NSW South Coast, Australia image by @davey_rogers
Magic! She grew up in the Anglican Church and quotes favourite Bible passages and Psalms, but she has equal regard for whatever sustains people – faith, beliefs, traditions, cultural practices. For some people, it’s the endurance of things that keeps them going. But others, like street artists, live with impermanence.
“Street artists understand the beauty of ephemera because they trade in it. For most of us, the prospect of labouring intensely on murals while perched on ladders, cranes and cherry pickers for weeks, only to see them subsequently tagged with graffiti or smashed to ruins, is a sobering one. But for street artists, it's a singular thrill. Temporariness is part of the game.
Which on one level is shocking. On another, their attitude resembles the Buddhist view of 'attachment', which asserts that clinging to objects, people or places will only create more suffering for ourselves.”
Making sense of things - it’s all in how you look at it, isn’t it? Baird has a career as a journalist and broadcaster, asking questions, always digging a little deeper. When she speaks of the human desire to experience the natural world (patients who can see greenery and vegetation do better), she isn’t basing that on her own reminiscences of New York’s Central Park or backpacking in Asia. She refers to philosophers, to Japanese “forest bathing”, to Einstein, to Rachel Carson, to interviews with scientists, politicians, artists, and academics, as well as to actual studies, including her own.
Dr Julia Baird has a section about why, for a while, she added her title to her Twitter handle. (She is currently @bairdjulia.) It can be hard for attractive women, especially in the media, to be taken seriously.
Julia Baird, presenter of ABC Australia TV’s evening news panel program ‘The Drum’
“In February 2018, I was tweeting about the media’s different treatment of the private lives of male and female politicians when someone snarled back, ‘And you have evidence of this or are you just being a bitter old sexist?’
‘Yes, I have written a PhD on the subject,’ I replied. ‘So it’s Doctor Bitter Old Sexist, mate.’”
This led to a movement on Twitter with people saying they had no idea “doctorate-shaming was a thing”, which eventually ended up with hundreds of academic women using their Dr title on Twitter and the hashtag #immodestwoman going global. Good on ya, Dr Julia!
She then discusses studies showing how many men, compared to women, are introduced as Dr. She is an unapologetic activist, good researcher, and good writer. It’s a thought-provoking, interesting read, and it’s certainly timely now, when the world is dealing with a global medical catastrophe.
Who wouldn’t welcome a little phosphorescence about now? Fireflies, jellyfish, glow-worms, plankton. Stars on earth. Awe is always wonderful.
Bioluminescence at Puerto Escondido, Mexico
*Sir David Attenborough: Life that Glows, a short excerpt: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_E4P...
A couple of other short videos you might enjoy:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6PDRj...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vOPli...
But wait - there's more! This just in:
https://theconversation.com/sparkling...
4.5★
“In one study of American and Chinese people, Keltner found that after experiencing awe, people signed their names in tinier letters. He told ‘New Scientist’ magazine that the reason for this is that 'awe produces a vanishing self.”
I’m not a reader of self-help, self-improvement, self-awareness, self-anything books. I quite like the idea that “awe produces a vanishing self.” I remember hearing that scientists and scholars often have small handwriting. I had thought it might come from writing notes in narrow margins. Ha! (That's a comment my dad used to write in the margins as he was reading, and it’s fun to run cross them now. But I digress.)
I heard Australian author Julia Baird interviewed about her new book, which just happens to have been launched during the Covid 19 pandemic while many people are looking for some good in the world.
As for me, I borrowed it from the library (e-book) because phosphorescence and bioluminescence have fascinated me since I was a little kid catching fireflies in the summer to keep in a jar by my bedside. (Now, of course, I would leave them alone to fly freely, but I didn’t know that holes in the lid of the jar wouldn’t keep them safe. But I digress again.)
Baird is a morning swimmer, every morning, early, freezing cold, because it sets her and “The Crazies” up for the day. They call it Vitamin Sea.
In the past, she had experienced the phosphorescence of luminous plankton and had since tried to find it again. She kept watching Sir David Attenborough’s documentary, “Life That Glows”*. She joined Bioluminescence Australia on Facebook. Then one day, a neighbour told her that there was incredible phosphorescence in “their” bay at Manly Beach (Sydney)!
“The sea was black and the sky was black and I felt a little nervous: sharks feed in the dark. But just a few metres out from the shore, the sparkles appeared. I was transfixed. My fingers threw out fistfuls of sequins with every stroke. A galaxy of stars flew past my goggles. It was as though I was flying through space, like the opening scenes of the Star Wars movies, gliding rapidly through a universe only I could see.”
Tathra, Sapphire Coast, NSW South Coast, Australia image by @davey_rogers
Magic! She grew up in the Anglican Church and quotes favourite Bible passages and Psalms, but she has equal regard for whatever sustains people – faith, beliefs, traditions, cultural practices. For some people, it’s the endurance of things that keeps them going. But others, like street artists, live with impermanence.
“Street artists understand the beauty of ephemera because they trade in it. For most of us, the prospect of labouring intensely on murals while perched on ladders, cranes and cherry pickers for weeks, only to see them subsequently tagged with graffiti or smashed to ruins, is a sobering one. But for street artists, it's a singular thrill. Temporariness is part of the game.
Which on one level is shocking. On another, their attitude resembles the Buddhist view of 'attachment', which asserts that clinging to objects, people or places will only create more suffering for ourselves.”
Making sense of things - it’s all in how you look at it, isn’t it? Baird has a career as a journalist and broadcaster, asking questions, always digging a little deeper. When she speaks of the human desire to experience the natural world (patients who can see greenery and vegetation do better), she isn’t basing that on her own reminiscences of New York’s Central Park or backpacking in Asia. She refers to philosophers, to Japanese “forest bathing”, to Einstein, to Rachel Carson, to interviews with scientists, politicians, artists, and academics, as well as to actual studies, including her own.
Dr Julia Baird has a section about why, for a while, she added her title to her Twitter handle. (She is currently @bairdjulia.) It can be hard for attractive women, especially in the media, to be taken seriously.
Julia Baird, presenter of ABC Australia TV’s evening news panel program ‘The Drum’
“In February 2018, I was tweeting about the media’s different treatment of the private lives of male and female politicians when someone snarled back, ‘And you have evidence of this or are you just being a bitter old sexist?’
‘Yes, I have written a PhD on the subject,’ I replied. ‘So it’s Doctor Bitter Old Sexist, mate.’”
This led to a movement on Twitter with people saying they had no idea “doctorate-shaming was a thing”, which eventually ended up with hundreds of academic women using their Dr title on Twitter and the hashtag #immodestwoman going global. Good on ya, Dr Julia!
She then discusses studies showing how many men, compared to women, are introduced as Dr. She is an unapologetic activist, good researcher, and good writer. It’s a thought-provoking, interesting read, and it’s certainly timely now, when the world is dealing with a global medical catastrophe.
Who wouldn’t welcome a little phosphorescence about now? Fireflies, jellyfish, glow-worms, plankton. Stars on earth. Awe is always wonderful.
Bioluminescence at Puerto Escondido, Mexico
*Sir David Attenborough: Life that Glows, a short excerpt: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_E4P...
A couple of other short videos you might enjoy:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6PDRj...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vOPli...
But wait - there's more! This just in:
https://theconversation.com/sparkling...
June 9, 2020
I was somewhat apprehensive to read this - it was lauded by too many people, and I sort of feared it would be mawkish, self-indulgent and, worse, spiritual (whatever that means, I'm still vague on the definition). I'm so happy to say that I ate this audiobook up, I didn't even skip the chapter on faith and religion. Julia Baird's writing captivated me from the very first page. She came across as genuine, non-preachy, not a know-it-all while also being very knowledgeable and interested in lots of different things.
I'm fascinated by other people's preoccupation/obsession with all sort of things - basically, I find people who have interests/hobbies very interesting. While it had personal details, Phosporescence was in no way a look-at-me - how - wonderful - am -I kind of book. It was mostly a reminder, a strong encouragement to appreciate the little things, to be awed by things, moments, and, most importantly, to be present and live consciously. As a survivor of cancer who endured complicated treatment and surgeries, Baird had to face her mortality.
As for the author, Julia Baird is a well-respected journalist, presenter on the ABC (Australian Broadcast Corp), I've been following her on Twitter for a while. It's obvious she's very intelligent and eloquent. While she's a person with faith, she's also a feminist who campaigned for women to have more prominent roles in the church. I personally find those two sides hard to reconcile, but that's because I'm lacking imagination and other things.
Sorry for being superficial, but aren't the cover and the title stunning?
This audiobook was exceptionally narrated by the author herself.
I'm fascinated by other people's preoccupation/obsession with all sort of things - basically, I find people who have interests/hobbies very interesting. While it had personal details, Phosporescence was in no way a look-at-me - how - wonderful - am -I kind of book. It was mostly a reminder, a strong encouragement to appreciate the little things, to be awed by things, moments, and, most importantly, to be present and live consciously. As a survivor of cancer who endured complicated treatment and surgeries, Baird had to face her mortality.
As for the author, Julia Baird is a well-respected journalist, presenter on the ABC (Australian Broadcast Corp), I've been following her on Twitter for a while. It's obvious she's very intelligent and eloquent. While she's a person with faith, she's also a feminist who campaigned for women to have more prominent roles in the church. I personally find those two sides hard to reconcile, but that's because I'm lacking imagination and other things.
Sorry for being superficial, but aren't the cover and the title stunning?
This audiobook was exceptionally narrated by the author herself.
April 21, 2023
Started so strongly but began to lose me with the self-indulgent letter to daughter, advice to son and repetitive stories of her own life. Sorry!
May 29, 2020
Mixed feelings about this - there are some moments of beautiful writing, but overall this reads like the memoir of a privileged white woman...not what I was expecting.
June 9, 2020
There was very little about this book I enjoyed. I forced myself to finish this book for my book club. Otherwise, I would have put it down.
My most frequent thought was that the author comes across as arrogant. She sounds to have had a privileged life (excluding health issues) and talks about her time in New York, Morocco and Nepal, and the famous / powerful people she can call up without an introduction and 'nek minit' they're best friends. I could not relate to her life.
I found it really hard to understand the genre this fits into, if one wants to fit a book into a specific category. It's not quite an autobiography and nor really a self help book. It has some stories from feminist point of view but chucks in random stories from male perspective as if to keep male readers happy. She drops in writings from Christian perspective but they don't seem to match the gospel, for example she speaks of Aslan (Lion witch and wardrobe) and magic in the same sentence. As a Christian (to the best of my Google search I think this is true!) she would know CS Lewis wrote Aslan to represent Jesus and she should not liken God's work to 'magic'. (If she were not a Christian, I would not have this issue). This book is like her private ramblings that should have stayed in her diary or at most edited to be individual blog posts.
I enjoy self help books but found very little in the way of practical application or challenging you to think a different way - which is my preferred style. So from this point of view I didn't like it, however others may appreciate this angle.
The book uses a lot of references to this point in time, for example specific hashtags, artists, TV shows, well known individuals etc. I don't think this book will stand the test of time. People may pick it up in 5 years and have no idea of the significance of these points.
I feel that if she were not already a known journalist, and have well known friends and family, this book would not have been printed - at least not in it's current state. I can't picture the 'general' type of person this book would appeal to - so I would not recommend it to anyone unless you wanted something to look pretty on your table.
My most frequent thought was that the author comes across as arrogant. She sounds to have had a privileged life (excluding health issues) and talks about her time in New York, Morocco and Nepal, and the famous / powerful people she can call up without an introduction and 'nek minit' they're best friends. I could not relate to her life.
I found it really hard to understand the genre this fits into, if one wants to fit a book into a specific category. It's not quite an autobiography and nor really a self help book. It has some stories from feminist point of view but chucks in random stories from male perspective as if to keep male readers happy. She drops in writings from Christian perspective but they don't seem to match the gospel, for example she speaks of Aslan (Lion witch and wardrobe) and magic in the same sentence. As a Christian (to the best of my Google search I think this is true!) she would know CS Lewis wrote Aslan to represent Jesus and she should not liken God's work to 'magic'. (If she were not a Christian, I would not have this issue). This book is like her private ramblings that should have stayed in her diary or at most edited to be individual blog posts.
I enjoy self help books but found very little in the way of practical application or challenging you to think a different way - which is my preferred style. So from this point of view I didn't like it, however others may appreciate this angle.
The book uses a lot of references to this point in time, for example specific hashtags, artists, TV shows, well known individuals etc. I don't think this book will stand the test of time. People may pick it up in 5 years and have no idea of the significance of these points.
I feel that if she were not already a known journalist, and have well known friends and family, this book would not have been printed - at least not in it's current state. I can't picture the 'general' type of person this book would appeal to - so I would not recommend it to anyone unless you wanted something to look pretty on your table.
May 17, 2020
This book was not what I expected, though I cannot be clear on what those expectations were. There were times I was gripped, with Baird’s writing washing over me and instilling peace and calm - and awe. Then there were times I rolled my eyes at what felt like grandstanding or a obstinately rose coloured take. This book is a gentle book that encourages you to pause and consider. There are no great revelations but it is a nice reminder to draw out what’s important in your life and to take notice.
April 29, 2020
I was super excited when I saw this available on NetGalley and was delighted to receive and advance copy. I just adored "Victoria" - it was a spectacular book, so I was hopeful that Phosphorescence would be what I needed during these dark pandemic times.
But, I just couldn't get into it. Julia Baird writes beautifully, however, I struggled to appreciate the direction of the book. Every chapter felt like a bit of a slog and I had to push myself to finish it.
Despite this, Phosphorescence kept me thinking and after a few days it struck me as to why I couldn't get into it. This book is not written for me. The ideas that Julia Baird writes about are already instinctual part of my life, so everything felt a bit "well, duh". I have always been a person who is frequently struck be awe and the wonder of life, I don't need help identifying and embracing experiences. Consequently, Phosphorescence did not bring anything new to me.
So, while I didn't enjoy this book, I think people who need a bit of guidance to embrace awe will gain much insight.
But, I just couldn't get into it. Julia Baird writes beautifully, however, I struggled to appreciate the direction of the book. Every chapter felt like a bit of a slog and I had to push myself to finish it.
Despite this, Phosphorescence kept me thinking and after a few days it struck me as to why I couldn't get into it. This book is not written for me. The ideas that Julia Baird writes about are already instinctual part of my life, so everything felt a bit "well, duh". I have always been a person who is frequently struck be awe and the wonder of life, I don't need help identifying and embracing experiences. Consequently, Phosphorescence did not bring anything new to me.
So, while I didn't enjoy this book, I think people who need a bit of guidance to embrace awe will gain much insight.
July 22, 2020
DNF I gave up at 50%. I failed to connect with this book. The essays seemed disjointed and didn’t really reveal anything that seemed remarkable, unusual or particularly interesting. I’m not sure if the memoir/self help combination really worked. I also felt it tried to give advice from a middle class privileged perspective which I felt uncomfortable with.
February 17, 2023
Highly recommended to any suffering chronic illness, loss, or griefHighly recommended to any suffering chronic illness, loss, or grief
January 21, 2021
An insufferably self-indulgent memoir disguised as a shallow self-help book.
Basically, the book went something like this:
If you’re poor, you can go fuck yourself.
If you take refuge in small things, like Instagram or TV, you’re wasting your life.
If you don’t want to talk to strangers on public transport, you’re rude etc. etc.
Just let people enjoy things!
I struggled to finish this book. Not worth your time.
Basically, the book went something like this:
If you’re poor, you can go fuck yourself.
If you take refuge in small things, like Instagram or TV, you’re wasting your life.
If you don’t want to talk to strangers on public transport, you’re rude etc. etc.
Just let people enjoy things!
I struggled to finish this book. Not worth your time.
May 17, 2020
I would give this book 3.5 stars if possible. While I loved parts of the book (her personal stories, learning about bioluminescence, and her beloved cuttlefish), others bored me and felt too instructive or soapboxey. I agree with her views but I thought it would be a different kind of book. I was expecting more of a journalistic exploration but though parts of it were that, she also writes a letter to her daughter and gives advice to her son. At times I felt it less than cohesive, more a series of musings. It’s definitely enjoyable, warm and gentle but I have to admit I liked Leigh Sales’ similar book Any Ordinary Day better.
May 20, 2020
This book started off very well, but ultimately dissolved into a series of largely unconnected musings about life. By the second half, I found that it started to drag. I would have been just as happy reading the first of the four parts - which I really enjoyed - or just a few extracts.
It is however one of the most physically beautifully books that I own and is a pleasure to hold and have.
It is however one of the most physically beautifully books that I own and is a pleasure to hold and have.
May 25, 2021
Phosphorescence is a deeply personal exploration of what can sustain us through our darkest moments complete with dazzling prose and real heart and soul. We know what it feels like to be happy, content and at peace. When we feel this way we seek out life’s experiences with a sense of optimism and hope. But what do we do when confronted by the muck of our daily existence, or when our world feels out of control? Is it possible to access a light – our own source of phosphorescence – that can ward off the darkness? In this wise and inspiring book, Julia Baird reflects on her encounters with phosphorescence, a luminescent phenomenon found in the natural world, and how she was able to cultivate her own ‘inner light’ in times of adversity. After surviving a difficult heartbreak and battle with cancer, acclaimed author and columnist Julia Baird began thinking deeply about how we, as people, persevere through the most challenging circumstances. She started to wonder, when we are overwhelmed by illness, loss or pain, or a tragedy outside our control: How can we keep putting one foot in front of the other? Baird went in search of the magic that fuels the light within—our own phosphorescence.
Throughout the book she reflects on the things that lit her way through the darkness, especially the surprising strength found in connecting with nature and not just experiencing awe and wonder about the world around her, but deliberately hunting it, daily. Weaving together a candid and moving memoir with deep research and reflections on nature and the world around her, Baird inspires readers to embrace new habits and to adopt a phosphorescent outlook on life, to illuminate ourselves and our days—even in the darkest times. It's a fascinating, life-affirming and inspiring read full of emotion, raw honesty and a whole host of empowering information accessible and understandable to everyone. This is a beautifully written, refreshingly original book and not only is it absorbing, achingly beautiful and deeply moving, but Julia Baird has penned exactly the book we need for these unprecedented and anxiety-ridden times. A rich and luminous meditation on navigating periods of adversity, Julia’s intimate study of phosphorescence contains multitudes of hard-won wisdom with a unique philosophical focus on what nature can teach us about living. Highly recommended.
Throughout the book she reflects on the things that lit her way through the darkness, especially the surprising strength found in connecting with nature and not just experiencing awe and wonder about the world around her, but deliberately hunting it, daily. Weaving together a candid and moving memoir with deep research and reflections on nature and the world around her, Baird inspires readers to embrace new habits and to adopt a phosphorescent outlook on life, to illuminate ourselves and our days—even in the darkest times. It's a fascinating, life-affirming and inspiring read full of emotion, raw honesty and a whole host of empowering information accessible and understandable to everyone. This is a beautifully written, refreshingly original book and not only is it absorbing, achingly beautiful and deeply moving, but Julia Baird has penned exactly the book we need for these unprecedented and anxiety-ridden times. A rich and luminous meditation on navigating periods of adversity, Julia’s intimate study of phosphorescence contains multitudes of hard-won wisdom with a unique philosophical focus on what nature can teach us about living. Highly recommended.
July 10, 2020
Another journalist with a book deal because she has connections.
This books is mostly other people’s words and ideas interspersed with stories of how amazing Julia’s life is. She shopped for shoes at Saks in New York! Rode buses in Nepal! and attributes her positivity to living in one of Sydney’s most expensive suburbs and having a lifestyle that allows her to be part of a daily swim club there. Well, duh.
I don’t mind that she’s privileged, it’s the sheer lack of awareness of this privilege that irritates me.
Painfully self indulgent.
This books is mostly other people’s words and ideas interspersed with stories of how amazing Julia’s life is. She shopped for shoes at Saks in New York! Rode buses in Nepal! and attributes her positivity to living in one of Sydney’s most expensive suburbs and having a lifestyle that allows her to be part of a daily swim club there. Well, duh.
I don’t mind that she’s privileged, it’s the sheer lack of awareness of this privilege that irritates me.
Painfully self indulgent.
October 15, 2020
I had some nice take aways from this book - there were lovely moments that were inspiring and thought provoking and I wrote down a lot of quotes by other writers who JB referenced. It started off well - I loved the ocean swimming, the personal anecdotes and scientific background and references to phosphorescence. As it progressed it felt a bit stream-of-consciousness or lacking in cohesiveness or direction and it took me a long time to finish because it often just felt like disjointed musings of a privileged white woman. While JB has obviously had some significant difficulties in her life and wanted to focus on looking for the ‘lightness’, there probably wasn’t enough darkness for me? Some of the religious content was interesting but ultimately I disengaged and skipped through. Lots of namechecking of famous people for no real reason and other reminders of her privilege. In its best moments it is poignant and beautifully written, in lesser moments it felt glib and self indulgent. I think it was trying to straddle the line between self help and memoir and I feel like maybe it could have been a better book if it were one or the other. I’m on the fence.
January 12, 2021
Finally! Books written by privileged white ladies FOR privileged white ladies.
It is quite simple for you to cure your own depression and anxiety by simply being able to afford to live near the ocean and swim every morning. No? How about a high quality green space, surely you can do that!
Honestly, I didn't finish it. I couldn't stand to read another anecdote about her charmed life.
It is quite simple for you to cure your own depression and anxiety by simply being able to afford to live near the ocean and swim every morning. No? How about a high quality green space, surely you can do that!
Honestly, I didn't finish it. I couldn't stand to read another anecdote about her charmed life.
March 24, 2020
I received an ARC of this book with thanks to HarperCollins Publishers Australia, 4th Estate via NetGalley.
I don't know if it's possible that this book could've come at a more poignant moment for society. It has definitely been an eventful 2020 for Australia and not for the affirming reasons we've become accustomed to.
"Being awestruck dwarfs us, humbles us, makes us aware we are part of a universe unfathomably larger than ourselves; it even, social scientists say makes us kinder and more aware of the needs of the community around us."
Baird has prompted us to remember to seek awe, which in turn inspires us to reexamine our place in the universe and how we are such a small part of it. This reminder should humble us and ensure that we maintain a kindness to the people around us and the space we inhabit. The chapters addressed to her children were incredibly beautiful and moving and full of wonderment. (I was especially fond of Chapter 11 - Letter to a Young Woman.) Baird's commentary surrounding religion toward the end of the book I found highly relatable and was the most engaging part of the book. It was worded with such truth and eloquence; it really verbalised my relationship with religion so well.
Reading this book was a timely reminder of everything I aspire to do and be daily to keep me grounded, mentally positive and provide me with a sense of happiness and calm. It was nice to actively review these steps that I take, as they do become second nature over time, but it is reassuring that they make a positive impact on my life.
I don't know if it's possible that this book could've come at a more poignant moment for society. It has definitely been an eventful 2020 for Australia and not for the affirming reasons we've become accustomed to.
"Being awestruck dwarfs us, humbles us, makes us aware we are part of a universe unfathomably larger than ourselves; it even, social scientists say makes us kinder and more aware of the needs of the community around us."
Baird has prompted us to remember to seek awe, which in turn inspires us to reexamine our place in the universe and how we are such a small part of it. This reminder should humble us and ensure that we maintain a kindness to the people around us and the space we inhabit. The chapters addressed to her children were incredibly beautiful and moving and full of wonderment. (I was especially fond of Chapter 11 - Letter to a Young Woman.) Baird's commentary surrounding religion toward the end of the book I found highly relatable and was the most engaging part of the book. It was worded with such truth and eloquence; it really verbalised my relationship with religion so well.
Reading this book was a timely reminder of everything I aspire to do and be daily to keep me grounded, mentally positive and provide me with a sense of happiness and calm. It was nice to actively review these steps that I take, as they do become second nature over time, but it is reassuring that they make a positive impact on my life.
July 16, 2021
(3.5) An intriguing if somewhat scattered hybrid: a self-help memoir with nature themes. Many female-authored nature books I’ve read recently (Wintering, A Still Life, Rooted) have emphasized paying attention and courting a sense of wonder. To cope with recurring abdominal cancer, Baird turned to swimming at the Australian coast and to faith. Indeed, I was surprised by how deeply she delves into Christianity here. She was involved in the campaign for the ordination of women and supports LGBTQ rights.
August 6, 2020
From the iridescent font to the fakey fabric cover this is the most bourgeois thing my skin ever got in contact with.
A white privilege woman telling the world how swimming in the ocean in the morning and walking in the forest makes you feel better. I dropped at the start.
Unless you are a bourgeois from Manly Beach or whatever other fancy suburb I don't think this book can really communicate with you.
Some friends got me this book because I am going through a rough time. Don't know who chose it but at least I know they bought it with the best intention to helping me. Love my friends...
Still...one star, yes drop it at page 43..that's how bad it is
A white privilege woman telling the world how swimming in the ocean in the morning and walking in the forest makes you feel better. I dropped at the start.
Unless you are a bourgeois from Manly Beach or whatever other fancy suburb I don't think this book can really communicate with you.
Some friends got me this book because I am going through a rough time. Don't know who chose it but at least I know they bought it with the best intention to helping me. Love my friends...
Still...one star, yes drop it at page 43..that's how bad it is
April 11, 2020
It is wrong to ponder whether Julia Baird knew that the world would be thrown into disarray when this book came out. I believe she is an amazing author and incredibly clever, but a book this well researched and written could not have been completed since the start of the Coronavirus. Consider it another reason for awe and wonder, this book is perfect for our times. I especially loved Julia’s explanation of her faith, similar to my own, her fight for women, and that she shared her struggles and joys with us so openly. Thank you.
October 8, 2022
Phosphorescence is an engaging soliloquy by Australian journalist/writer Julia Baird, on her thoughts about how to achieve contentment, written after surviving a tough battle with bowel cancer. I listened to the Audible Originals version, which is narrated by the author and was offered as the free Book of the Month in August - without which I don’t think I would’ve come across it, as despite apparently being ’Book of the Year’ at the Australian Book Industry Awards, I had not heard of either it or her. I listened to it over a couple of afternoons while weeding in the sunshine, after a particularly wet winter, and thoroughly enjoyed her calm but friendly delivery style, empathetic observations and honest confessions.
Phosphorescence, or bioluminescence, is the natural phenomenon where certain species, like fireflies and some Crustaceae produce a natural glow under specific circumstances. Baird uses this as a metaphor for the sense of inner peace and well-being that most people seek, but is hard to achieve in the modern world especially after nearly three years of the pandemic. She describes becoming obsessed with cuttlefish and the joy she experienced swimming in the Ocean off Manly beach in Sydney. This isn’t a self-help book, as she’s not telling anyone what to do, but instead offers her own observations honed through her own conservative Christian upbringing, her feminist rebellion, experiences living in the US and Australia and overseas travel, her career in the public eye, the joys of motherhood and the despair of serious illness. She retains a strong faith but is not preachy and readily criticises the conventional male-dominated religious establishment.
I found Baird both interesting and pleasant to listen to. Yes she’s somewhat smug about her own privilege, and seemingly unaware of how much easier life is for very good looking blondes than everyone else, but I get sick of the idea that if you’re white, middle class and successful your voice isn’t valid. She’s kind and respectful and has worked hard for what she has. I liked her description of being pushed into using her title of Doctor by online misogynists and unintentionally starting a global Twitterstorm of #immodestwomen. She presents some science, from biology to sociology, and offers her opinions on what works in the quest for happiness - this won’t be anything you haven’t heard before, but the way it’s written is eloquent and thought provoking. I’m hopeless at meditation and the least spiritual person you’ll ever meet, but found great contentment digging up dandelions with the sun on my skin and my cats patrolling nearby as Baird’s soothing voice washed over me like the Pacific.
Phosphorescence, or bioluminescence, is the natural phenomenon where certain species, like fireflies and some Crustaceae produce a natural glow under specific circumstances. Baird uses this as a metaphor for the sense of inner peace and well-being that most people seek, but is hard to achieve in the modern world especially after nearly three years of the pandemic. She describes becoming obsessed with cuttlefish and the joy she experienced swimming in the Ocean off Manly beach in Sydney. This isn’t a self-help book, as she’s not telling anyone what to do, but instead offers her own observations honed through her own conservative Christian upbringing, her feminist rebellion, experiences living in the US and Australia and overseas travel, her career in the public eye, the joys of motherhood and the despair of serious illness. She retains a strong faith but is not preachy and readily criticises the conventional male-dominated religious establishment.
I found Baird both interesting and pleasant to listen to. Yes she’s somewhat smug about her own privilege, and seemingly unaware of how much easier life is for very good looking blondes than everyone else, but I get sick of the idea that if you’re white, middle class and successful your voice isn’t valid. She’s kind and respectful and has worked hard for what she has. I liked her description of being pushed into using her title of Doctor by online misogynists and unintentionally starting a global Twitterstorm of #immodestwomen. She presents some science, from biology to sociology, and offers her opinions on what works in the quest for happiness - this won’t be anything you haven’t heard before, but the way it’s written is eloquent and thought provoking. I’m hopeless at meditation and the least spiritual person you’ll ever meet, but found great contentment digging up dandelions with the sun on my skin and my cats patrolling nearby as Baird’s soothing voice washed over me like the Pacific.
February 4, 2024
The release of this book could not be more well timed with all that is currently going on in the world. Here author Julia Baird sheds light on seeking enjoyment through the little things in life, purposefully recognising moments of awe that will assist in providing a move to mindfulness and acknowledgment of our place in the universe. She claims this book to be a ‘salve’ by finding the small things that keep one afloat in times of hardship, by seeking the comforts that keep you going.
‘... the answers to the question that inspired this book —how do we endure when suffering becomes unbearable and our obstacles seem monstrous? How do we continue to glow when the lights turn out? —are there, right in front of us, all the time. All we can do really is keep placing one foot on the earth, then the other, to seek out ancient paths and forests, certain in the knowledge that others have endured before us.’
Ask the right questions:
‘instead of how do we stay happy, should we ask how do we survive, stay alive or even bloom when the world goes dark’
Take note of those special moments:
‘... we need to reach for those tiny drops of stillness. And they can fall throughout our day, in snatched or carved-out moments, even in the midst of working, commuting, loving.’
This book is a timely reminder to stay grounded even in uncertainty, positivity within brings a calm without. Take stock, take note, be reassured in the fact that little things can bring a lasting and positive impact to one’s life. Things to sustain you in moments of darkness.
‘... we have the ability to find, nurture and carry our own inner, living light —a light to ward off the darkness. This is not about burning brightly, but yielding simple phosphorescence —being luminous at temperatures below incandescence, quietly glowing without combusting.’
This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher and provided through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.
‘... the answers to the question that inspired this book —how do we endure when suffering becomes unbearable and our obstacles seem monstrous? How do we continue to glow when the lights turn out? —are there, right in front of us, all the time. All we can do really is keep placing one foot on the earth, then the other, to seek out ancient paths and forests, certain in the knowledge that others have endured before us.’
Ask the right questions:
‘instead of how do we stay happy, should we ask how do we survive, stay alive or even bloom when the world goes dark’
Take note of those special moments:
‘... we need to reach for those tiny drops of stillness. And they can fall throughout our day, in snatched or carved-out moments, even in the midst of working, commuting, loving.’
This book is a timely reminder to stay grounded even in uncertainty, positivity within brings a calm without. Take stock, take note, be reassured in the fact that little things can bring a lasting and positive impact to one’s life. Things to sustain you in moments of darkness.
‘... we have the ability to find, nurture and carry our own inner, living light —a light to ward off the darkness. This is not about burning brightly, but yielding simple phosphorescence —being luminous at temperatures below incandescence, quietly glowing without combusting.’
This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher and provided through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.
May 7, 2020
This book is full of joy and awe. So many books in the “”getting through adversity” self-help genre sometimes focus a lot on someone’s own struggle with adversity and may only touch on the recovery or light towards the end, sometimes in a very preachy, do-this-and-you’ll-be-happier kind of fashion. Phosphorescence instead draws our attention to the light within us all, even in the midst of darkness. Julia’s struggles with cancer are mentioned in a couple of chapters (a topic which can be triggering to me), but the book details the joys, wonders, and transformative experiences which she has found lighten her darkness, so I found the book to be a source of hopefulness and wonder, rather than one taking me on an emotional roller-coaster of dark memories.
I particularly enjoyed reading her stories of growing up in the fundamentalism of the Sydney Anglican diocese (having particular experience of this myself) and her activism for the ordination of women. Her voice on feminism, faith, doubt, and an inclusive church for ALL marginalised people is an important one for Sydney in particular.
I particularly enjoyed reading her stories of growing up in the fundamentalism of the Sydney Anglican diocese (having particular experience of this myself) and her activism for the ordination of women. Her voice on feminism, faith, doubt, and an inclusive church for ALL marginalised people is an important one for Sydney in particular.
January 2, 2021
Although rambling, this book really moves into its own when the author shares her physical and emotional journey with cancer. Otherwise, it’s an odd combination of self-help and discovery with many life lessons to be taken on board. Not fabulous, but intriguing.
January 31, 2021
The sub-title for this book essentially spells out what this book is all about: “On awe, wonder & things that sustain you when the world goes dark”.
Baird uses extensive personal experiences as the basis for her suggestions on looking for and cherishing more or less anything which can be used to lift one’s spirits when feeling down, and backs up her findings by brief but extensive cross-references on a global scale. As well as a Prelude and a Coda, Baird’s stories and research are presented in four parts. All in all it represents a wide-ranging perspective on her findings. Her writing is graceful and fluent, and makes for easy reading. Its positive and supportive outlook is unquestioningly pragmatic and encouraging‚ and I doubt whether anyone could seriously question any of her recommendations.
Consequently, I find it disconcerting to square this off against the increasing feeling of depression that accompanied my reading of this work. Obviously, this is my personal response, which on the surface seems to be at odds with the obvious intent of Baird’s book. The following comments, therefore, are my attempts at providing some resolution to my conundrum. They deal with what I consider to be underlying issues which apply to the wider implications of any so-called solutions to individual “darkenings” one might encounter.
First of all, dealings with unpleasant events or situations are always personal — what might be dark for one individual is not necessarily dark for another. Personal responses remain personal; they do not translate to universal axioms. The accumulation of personal anecdotes does not make them pervasive. Indeed, when they are presented together, one of the problems they create is that, despite the individual charms and attractions of a particular solution, one finds that many of them are contrary, and some of them even contradictory. Happiness, joy, elation for one might very well spell unhappiness, sadness and/or depression for another.
Access to some of the solutions are not universally available to all of humanity. One cannot help but think that many solutions might apply only to the relatively well-off members of what some call First World countries. Others resonate more with so-called New Age aspirations than anything else. Even the more universally acknowledged objectives such as kindness, compassion, caring, and otherwise benign ambitions find they are countered by those who look down on such goals as weaknesses, and who find their own “elations” and “joys” in tormenting, bullying, and even violent behaviours towards those displaying those values. Apparently, trying to be more positive can, by its very nature, ironically produce more negative responses, both directly and indirectly.
In my opinion, at the core of these paradoxes lies the problem of ideological bias. Faith in those ideological stances perpetuates the very things detested by them, and such faiths are to be found everywhere: in groups, societies, politics, cultures, religions, etc. It appears that all these groupings tend to apply a veneer of kindness, compassion and caring which more often than not becomes wafer thin when applied to “others”, thus engendering a penchant for hypocrisy and malevolence rather than the “phosphorescence” presented by the mantle of “charity” in which they wrap themselves.
Baird’s Coda (Floating in the Bardo) is a case in point. It represents the Tibetan Buddhist concept of the bardo (a state of existence between death and rebirth, varying in length according to a person’s conduct in life and manner of, or age at, death) as a kind of positive poetic evocation of the themes of her book. Personally I find the completely passionless concept of the “darkness” of the bardo, its negative judgmental implications, and the subsequent “rebirth” into the apparently relentless darkness and misery of normal human existence as essentially, existentially, deplorable.
As I mentioned earlier, my “reservations” about the underlying ideas of this book should not be taken as a condemnation or argument against the intentions of the author — many will find solace and succour in the application of its many suggestions. We all hope to achieve and/or give consolation when needed, and this book might well be of assistance. I certainly hope so.
Baird uses extensive personal experiences as the basis for her suggestions on looking for and cherishing more or less anything which can be used to lift one’s spirits when feeling down, and backs up her findings by brief but extensive cross-references on a global scale. As well as a Prelude and a Coda, Baird’s stories and research are presented in four parts. All in all it represents a wide-ranging perspective on her findings. Her writing is graceful and fluent, and makes for easy reading. Its positive and supportive outlook is unquestioningly pragmatic and encouraging‚ and I doubt whether anyone could seriously question any of her recommendations.
Consequently, I find it disconcerting to square this off against the increasing feeling of depression that accompanied my reading of this work. Obviously, this is my personal response, which on the surface seems to be at odds with the obvious intent of Baird’s book. The following comments, therefore, are my attempts at providing some resolution to my conundrum. They deal with what I consider to be underlying issues which apply to the wider implications of any so-called solutions to individual “darkenings” one might encounter.
First of all, dealings with unpleasant events or situations are always personal — what might be dark for one individual is not necessarily dark for another. Personal responses remain personal; they do not translate to universal axioms. The accumulation of personal anecdotes does not make them pervasive. Indeed, when they are presented together, one of the problems they create is that, despite the individual charms and attractions of a particular solution, one finds that many of them are contrary, and some of them even contradictory. Happiness, joy, elation for one might very well spell unhappiness, sadness and/or depression for another.
Access to some of the solutions are not universally available to all of humanity. One cannot help but think that many solutions might apply only to the relatively well-off members of what some call First World countries. Others resonate more with so-called New Age aspirations than anything else. Even the more universally acknowledged objectives such as kindness, compassion, caring, and otherwise benign ambitions find they are countered by those who look down on such goals as weaknesses, and who find their own “elations” and “joys” in tormenting, bullying, and even violent behaviours towards those displaying those values. Apparently, trying to be more positive can, by its very nature, ironically produce more negative responses, both directly and indirectly.
In my opinion, at the core of these paradoxes lies the problem of ideological bias. Faith in those ideological stances perpetuates the very things detested by them, and such faiths are to be found everywhere: in groups, societies, politics, cultures, religions, etc. It appears that all these groupings tend to apply a veneer of kindness, compassion and caring which more often than not becomes wafer thin when applied to “others”, thus engendering a penchant for hypocrisy and malevolence rather than the “phosphorescence” presented by the mantle of “charity” in which they wrap themselves.
Baird’s Coda (Floating in the Bardo) is a case in point. It represents the Tibetan Buddhist concept of the bardo (a state of existence between death and rebirth, varying in length according to a person’s conduct in life and manner of, or age at, death) as a kind of positive poetic evocation of the themes of her book. Personally I find the completely passionless concept of the “darkness” of the bardo, its negative judgmental implications, and the subsequent “rebirth” into the apparently relentless darkness and misery of normal human existence as essentially, existentially, deplorable.
As I mentioned earlier, my “reservations” about the underlying ideas of this book should not be taken as a condemnation or argument against the intentions of the author — many will find solace and succour in the application of its many suggestions. We all hope to achieve and/or give consolation when needed, and this book might well be of assistance. I certainly hope so.
September 6, 2021
The question that inspired this book is: How do we continue to glow when the lights turn out?
Author Julia Baird bookends this compendium of memoir/nature writing/inspirational messaging by referring to her experience of swimming in the ocean. She swims for exercise, for emotional support, for a connection with nature and for a transcendent experience. Her 'wild' oceanic swimming is also something of quest because she is always seeking out phosphorescence in the ocean depths. Both literally and metaphorically, she is on a constant hunt for moments of light.
Throughout the book, Baird touches on the fact that she has had a rare abdominal cancer which has recurred three times. Each bout has necessitated a complicated surgery and extensive recovery time. She is open about the fact that this book became a project to focus on during her recovery from cancer, and in some ways the book reads a bit like a 'life work' with one part self-help and another part inspiration. (She even includes a letter to her daughter, and a newspaper column she wrote for her son.) The contents of the book range from her own personal experiences (with education, work, friendship, motherhood, etc) to her research interests. Although the book has this one overarching theme - looking for the points of life which sustain us and make our life worthwhile - it has a rather loose organisation at times. It's an accumulation of many different folders of interest, ranging from the experience of astronauts to Baird's struggles to reconcile her Christian faith with the conversation Anglican Church she grew up in.
Baird's own life and work experience is enough to warrant a book, but she buttresses her own experiences with the stories of other people, too. Indeed, the book is liberally peppered with quotations, poems and the observations of the famous and the interesting. I found most of the chapters absorbing, and worthwhile, but the varied nature of the book means that it didn't really leave a deep impression in my mind: more like flotsam and jetsam floating about.
Author Julia Baird bookends this compendium of memoir/nature writing/inspirational messaging by referring to her experience of swimming in the ocean. She swims for exercise, for emotional support, for a connection with nature and for a transcendent experience. Her 'wild' oceanic swimming is also something of quest because she is always seeking out phosphorescence in the ocean depths. Both literally and metaphorically, she is on a constant hunt for moments of light.
Throughout the book, Baird touches on the fact that she has had a rare abdominal cancer which has recurred three times. Each bout has necessitated a complicated surgery and extensive recovery time. She is open about the fact that this book became a project to focus on during her recovery from cancer, and in some ways the book reads a bit like a 'life work' with one part self-help and another part inspiration. (She even includes a letter to her daughter, and a newspaper column she wrote for her son.) The contents of the book range from her own personal experiences (with education, work, friendship, motherhood, etc) to her research interests. Although the book has this one overarching theme - looking for the points of life which sustain us and make our life worthwhile - it has a rather loose organisation at times. It's an accumulation of many different folders of interest, ranging from the experience of astronauts to Baird's struggles to reconcile her Christian faith with the conversation Anglican Church she grew up in.
Baird's own life and work experience is enough to warrant a book, but she buttresses her own experiences with the stories of other people, too. Indeed, the book is liberally peppered with quotations, poems and the observations of the famous and the interesting. I found most of the chapters absorbing, and worthwhile, but the varied nature of the book means that it didn't really leave a deep impression in my mind: more like flotsam and jetsam floating about.
February 14, 2021
My life sometimes feels like a constant battle against a consuming sense of ironic detachment. I want to be someone who is earnest, and who cares about things. But I also know that in the presence of a sentimentalist I have to be on constant guard against my listless eye rolls and cynical takes from sneaking out. While this book activated this inner conflict in me, at times I did feel genuinely inspired by Baird's writings. I also felt a kinship with Baird as someone who, perhaps against their better judgement, is cursed by an unshakable personal faith tied to the institution of the church, and I deeply resonated with her descriptions of the sense of awe it inspires.
On a minor note, I felt the middling chapters out of place. I enjoyed them more when I pretended I was reading an entirely different book. They were good, worthy of publishing, but I couldn't place them in the overall arc of the text - but perhaps that's just me.
3.5 stars.
On a minor note, I felt the middling chapters out of place. I enjoyed them more when I pretended I was reading an entirely different book. They were good, worthy of publishing, but I couldn't place them in the overall arc of the text - but perhaps that's just me.
3.5 stars.
December 1, 2020
I finished this book but was annoyed throughout reading it. Interesting subject matter in part 1 which is why I persisted, but poorly written throughout (“she pursued silence like a hunter pursues its prey”), reads like a high school essay - meaning, a mash of skimmed wikipedia facts and quotes and pseudo-profound personal diary entries, strung together in a vague theme of “wonder”.
Then from part 2 onwards (so the majority of the book) it’s a collection of self-indulgent essays on random topics - feminism and body image, her illness, her best friend’s hair, her mother, a letter to her daughter - none of which seem to be related to the opening theme of nature inspired awe or provide any alternative compelling reason to me as to why I need to be reading it. Haven’t learned anything much or felt anything - which is my criteria for a failed book.
Then from part 2 onwards (so the majority of the book) it’s a collection of self-indulgent essays on random topics - feminism and body image, her illness, her best friend’s hair, her mother, a letter to her daughter - none of which seem to be related to the opening theme of nature inspired awe or provide any alternative compelling reason to me as to why I need to be reading it. Haven’t learned anything much or felt anything - which is my criteria for a failed book.
January 5, 2021
I was eating this book up from the first page. Dr Baird is a beautiful writer, and I was captivated not only by her personal journey, but the depth of her research as she cleverly intertwined history with what we know today. She is non-preachy, relatable, and her fight for equality for women made me like her even more. This book is a fantastic reminder of what is important - nature, belonging, purpose, and shared joy. I highly recommend this book!
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