Terry Tempest Williams: Finding Beauty in a Broken World
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Tami Simon speaks with Terry Tempest Williams, a writer, naturalist, environmental activist, and author of several books including Finding Beauty in a Broken World and the original audio adaptation of this book, published by Sounds True. In this interview, Terry discusses her creative process as a writer and how she has been able to find beauty in a broken world. (46 minutes)
» Read the transcript
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Interviews with leading spiritual teachers and writers about their latest challenges—the "leading edge" of their work.












Thank you Terry and Tami:
What a wonderful soul spirit comes through during this interview! Thank you so much.
Thank you especially for the image of prairie dogs emerging from their burrows at sunrise, facing East, palms pressed together for 30 minutes in utter stillness. If such reverence can be shown by the least of earthly dwellers, then why not by us?
Awesome work, Terry!
Best wishes for continued success.
Comment by Jo-Ann Triner — November 3, 2009 @ 11:44 pm
Reminds me of this mockingbird I once knew that would recite the neighbor’s car alarm. Beauty? Perhaps on the right day with the right ears….
Comment by flo — November 6, 2009 @ 7:36 pm
This is another wonderful interview in an amazing series. I was in tears through most of it especially as Terry talked about her experience in Rwanda and with her soon to be adopted son – so honest and clear. I also loved the image of the prairie dogs – here is a link to a great website and picture:http://www.prairiedogcoalition.org/whats-new.php
Thank you to both of you for the gifts you bring to the world
Comment by Helen Loshny — November 7, 2009 @ 3:35 pm
Very good.
Comment by Welington — November 8, 2009 @ 10:35 am
What causes so much brokenness in our world? “Prejudice, cruelty, arrogance, and ignorance circling around issues of power and justice”. How do we find beauty here? Maybe we have to create it perhaps by becoming someones developmental parent.
Perhaps faith is having the courage to not turn away from great suffering and serving when you can and when you would rather collapse into trauma and terror.
Want to try? Open your heart to Terry’s story. In a place of terrible trauma only the children can hold the joy. The only chance adults have is to serve these children. Could we forget ouself and do this? Is this where the beauty lives?
This was a very beautiful talk. Thank you.
Comment by Stan — January 15, 2010 @ 7:49 am