Third Ear

Literary Hub, A Most Anticipated Book of the Year

“A lively, perceptive book about how and what we hear.” —Bethanne Patrick, Los Angeles Times

“Pay attention. That’s the core message of the Berkeley writer’s brisk, collage-like book, a blend of memoir, her interviews with attentive people from various professions and findings from scientific studies . . . This book exudes an irresistible brand of eagerness—for knowledge, for the perspectives of strangers, for tomorrow and the day after. As quoted by Rosner, a scientist who works with endangered elephants says the animals ‘need more people to care about them.’ Caring, in Rosner’s appealing formulation, is indistinguishable from listening.” —Kevin Canfield, San Francisco Chronicle

“[Rosner’s] expansive, fluid meditation on so-called third-ear listening—a deeply attuned, intuitive way of perceiving the world that transcends the physically audible—is rooted in personal experience, but the contemplative vignettes explore our sonic universe . . . This poignant exploration of the hidden depths of the soundscapes around us reveals the importance of listening with more than just our ears.” —Dana Dunham, Scientific American

“Throughout the historical and personal stories, Rosner’s easy warmth and effervescent curiosity rise like air bubbles in water, making a book in which robust science-backed research and the voices of experts are found on almost every page also a delightful, intimate read.” —Lou Fancher, East Bay Magazine

“Third Ear does not follow the constraints of a traditional narrative. Instead, the book is written in a hybrid form . . . As a book dedicated to listening, Third Ear also explores the inverse of listening, silence, as well as sound, and, in particular, language, and how we are joined by all of the earth’s creatures in making sounds, from the microscopic noisemakers underground to the songs of whales and language of elephants who can respond to news from far-away family members by listening through their feet.” —Joanne Furio, Berkeleyside

“This lovely book is a wide-ranging meditation on one of the key ways we take in the world—by listening . . . Interviewing avant-garde composers, ‘horse whisperers’ and podcasters, Rosner builds a sensitive portrait (or maybe it’s a soundscape, too) that helps her make sense of her own family’s communication styles and find a way to bridge them.” —Amy E. Schwartz, Moment Magazine

“Rosner’s gift is an ability to weave a wide variety of source material and her personal experiences into an examination of subjects that are more closely related than we might imagine . . . Reading it is a little like spending time with someone who has both studied and experienced the subject matter and who, most importantly, is a gifted storyteller. It’s thought provoking and emotionally moving.” —Bill Wolfe, Read Her Like an Open Book

“Page by page, it is often a sur­prise to see what Ros­ner will write about next: it might be the ecosys­tem of trees, the impact of COVID on the glob­al and local sound­scape, or her par­ents’ sur­vival dur­ing the Holo­caust. Rosner’s writ­ing is asso­cia­tive, and her voice, reflec­tive and hope­ful. Third Ear is a book that is need­ed now more than ever. It urges us to live in (and lis­ten to) this very moment.” —Katha­ri­na Hadas­sah Wendl, Jewish Book Council

“A beautifully braided text combining [Rosner’s] experience as a daughter of Holocaust survivors with research on whale song, trauma processing, and even improvisational music. In addition to its wide-ranging content, the book’s fractured form encourages readers to both dive in and step back.” —Elizabeth McNeill, Chicago Review of Books

“To masterfully blend memoir with science writing is to create one of the most compelling kinds of book—one whose insights are both cerebral and emotional.” —Jessie Gaynor, Literary Hub

“Deeply sourced, devotedly researched, and refreshingly candid, Rosner’s searing observations on the various ways this crazy world can be navigated, appreciated, and understood open new avenues for thought and exploration.” —Booklist (starred review)

“A book packed with perceptions and revelations. Science and art meet in this eloquent study of the aural world around us.” —Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

“[A] lyrical blend of memoir and science . . . This soothes the soul.” —Publishers Weekly

“Deep listening found here. Connecting our collective soundscape with her own, Rosner reveals a spirit and depth of insight few have shown in this realm. Listen to just one of her paragraphs and your future footfalls will never sound the same.” ––Edie Meidav, author of Another Love Discourse and Lola, California

“There is a world of knowledge of listening floating around us, in sound and on the page. No one has connected these stories to their own life and memories better than Elizabeth Rosner. I thought I knew this material after years of swimming in it, but she has revealed depths of sonic purpose through the unique connections she draws. This is a rare and profound book.” ––David Rothenberg, author of Whale Music and Secret Sounds of Ponds

“Elizabeth Rosner asks us to consider how listening can profoundly shape who we are, long before we really understand what it is we’ve heard.” —Bonnie Tsui, bestselling author of Why We Swim and American Chinatown

“Elizabeth Rosner’s Third Ear should be required for the entire human race. Rosner is one of the greatest writers and thinkers of our time—with insight into this century’s difficult socio-political and ethical questions. With clarity and intimacy, Rosner renders a sonic universe in which reciprocity connects all of life through deep listening. We are one small part of a large, delicate ecosystem—from the soil bioacoustics to the toxic pesticides we use, from the extinction of different species to the threat of our own. Third Ear gives us a second chance to look inside ourselves and find something human in us.” —E. J. Koh, author of The Liberators and The Magical Language of Others

“Third Ear: Reflections on the Art and Science of Listening is a marvel—a beautifully-written, meticulously researched, and fascinating exploration of the transformative power of listening. If you’re anything like me, your copy will be dog-eared and underlined, like all of your favorite books.” —Adrienne Brodeur, author of Wild Game