Phosphorescence: On Awe, Wonder and Things That Sustain You When the World Goes Dark
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- Create Date：2021-06-28 06:51:18
- Update Date：2025-09-06
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- Author：Julia Baird
- ISBN：000846362X
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Summary
A beautiful， intimate and inspiring investigation into how we can find and nurture within ourselves that essential quality of internal happiness - the 'light within' that Julia Baird calls 'phosphorescence' - which will sustain us even through the darkest times。
Over the last decade， we have become better at knowing what brings us contentment， well-being and joy。 We know， for example， that there are a few core truths to science of happiness。 We know that being kind and altruistic makes us happy， that turning off devices， talking to people， forging relationships， living with meaning and delving into the concerns of others offer our best chance at achieving happiness。 But how do we retain happiness？ It often slips out of our hands as quickly as we find it。 So， when we are exposed to， or learn， good things， how do we continue to burn with them？
And more than that， when our world goes dark， when we're overwhelmed by illness or heartbreak， loss or pain， how do we survive， stay alive or even bloom？ In the muck and grit of a daily existence full of disappointments and a disturbing lack of control over many of the things that matter most - finite relationships， fragile health， fraying economies， a planet in peril - how do we find， nurture and carry our own inner， living light - a light to ward off the darkness？
Absorbing， achingly beautiful， inspiring and deeply moving， Julia Baird has written exactly the book we need for these times。
Over the last decade， we have become better at knowing what brings us contentment， well-being and joy。 We know， for example， that there are a few core truths to science of happiness。 We know that being kind and altruistic makes us happy， that turning off devices， talking to people， forging relationships， living with meaning and delving into the concerns of others offer our best chance at achieving happiness。 But how do we retain happiness？ It often slips out of our hands as quickly as we find it。 So， when we are exposed to， or learn， good things， how do we continue to burn with them？
And more than that， when our world goes dark， when we're overwhelmed by illness or heartbreak， loss or pain， how do we survive， stay alive or even bloom？ In the muck and grit of a daily existence full of disappointments and a disturbing lack of control over many of the things that matter most - finite relationships， fragile health， fraying economies， a planet in peril - how do we find， nurture and carry our own inner， living light - a light to ward off the darkness？
Absorbing， achingly beautiful， inspiring and deeply moving， Julia Baird has written exactly the book we need for these times。
Reviews
Sharon Lamb
，
Bit repetitive。 Didn’t wow me really。 Some nice quotes in it and useful background research but overly long and not groundbreaking。
Kathleen Gray
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Read an essay at a time- maybe one per night or one every couple of nights- this will remind you of the things we often forget。 Baird has a very lyrical writing style but it never gets purple。 Fans of self help books （and others） might find her advice about life unsurprising but I enjoyed this for her personal touches。 Thanks to netgalley for the ARC。
Beverly
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I won a copy of "Phosphorescence" on Goodreads First Reads。 Julia Baird is a beautiful writer。 She tells of surviving a broken heart and cancer and the wonders of nature to help us heal。 I won a copy of "Phosphorescence" on Goodreads First Reads。 Julia Baird is a beautiful writer。 She tells of surviving a broken heart and cancer and the wonders of nature to help us heal。 。。。more
Sally
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marvellous！
CANDY Idlers Den Book Shop
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What on earth are you all raving about？ Really had to make myself finish this。
Brianna Glasbergen
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it， click here。 I found this an exceptional book。 The research sections are fascinating and the lived experience sections are eloquently written， heartfelt and warming。 This book inspired me to love my life deliberately and search for wonder in the mundane。 I listened to it on audible and Julia’s voice is calming and adds more magnificence。
Sita Matthews
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Started well。 Totally disagree with her take on the church， not my experience at all 。 Seems vet exaggerated。 She claims to br Christian but no mention of Jesus or Holy Spirit in her ideas， she has invented a God who does not exist in the Bible。Her description of her early life is one of white privilege， she revels in being a "rebel" ， which comes out of a white privileged upbringing and wanting to be different and sassy。 To me it speaks spoilt brat。 She is really into virtue signalling。 Not rea Started well。 Totally disagree with her take on the church， not my experience at all 。 Seems vet exaggerated。 She claims to br Christian but no mention of Jesus or Holy Spirit in her ideas， she has invented a God who does not exist in the Bible。Her description of her early life is one of white privilege， she revels in being a "rebel" ， which comes out of a white privileged upbringing and wanting to be different and sassy。 To me it speaks spoilt brat。 She is really into virtue signalling。 Not really sure what she is trying to do with this book。 Just a load of white privileged nonsense， with some reflections on coming to terms with cancer thrown in。 。。。more
Jane
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I was sent this book by my best friend Amanda after I told her I"d lost the inclination to read。 。 At first glance i thought the book would probably be added to my enormous pile of unread books at the side of my bed。 。 And so half heartedly started to read it。。。 And boy was I glad that I did。。。。 What an inspirational read。 And yes I did finish it。。。 Great read。。 Full of research。。。 Full of honesty。。。 And full of wisdom。 It"s written from the heart without being too sentimental。 If you need a rem I was sent this book by my best friend Amanda after I told her I"d lost the inclination to read。 。 At first glance i thought the book would probably be added to my enormous pile of unread books at the side of my bed。 。 And so half heartedly started to read it。。。 And boy was I glad that I did。。。。 What an inspirational read。 And yes I did finish it。。。 Great read。。 Full of research。。。 Full of honesty。。。 And full of wisdom。 It"s written from the heart without being too sentimental。 If you need a reminder why you should stop to smell the roses。。 This is it。 Without preaching。。 Just a great read。 It might not be everyone's cup of tea。。。。But it was mine。。 And yes。。lots of the main points raised。。 we all know。。 But there's no harm in giving a gentle reminder。 And those that gave the book a bad review are probably the ones that need to read it again。。 And again。。。 Lol。。 。。。more
Emma
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I wanted to like this， and the first half was admittedly quite good。 But it became a bit preachy and maudlin and I gave up with one chapter left （about religion）。 Julia Baird is clearly very intelligent and well-read。 And yet。 Take all the lame references to first nations people and their apparent wisdom， for instance。 These references made me cringe because they were essentially an exercise in virtue-signalling rather than any genuine attempt to seek justice and recognition for aboriginal Austr I wanted to like this， and the first half was admittedly quite good。 But it became a bit preachy and maudlin and I gave up with one chapter left （about religion）。 Julia Baird is clearly very intelligent and well-read。 And yet。 Take all the lame references to first nations people and their apparent wisdom， for instance。 These references made me cringe because they were essentially an exercise in virtue-signalling rather than any genuine attempt to seek justice and recognition for aboriginal Australians。 I agree with her central message - that is， to slow down and smell the roses and take delight in the wonder of the world， and also to look outwards rather than inwards。 I suppose I just don't like being told what to do or how to live by a very wealthy， successful， beautiful and privileged woman。 Granted， she is a cancer survivor and probably has some insights borne from that experience， which I don't doubt was a profound one。 。。。more
Bala Mudaly
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An interesting read。 Useful themes， but mostly not original。 Engaging writing。
Jane
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This book is inspiring and filled with Julie’s journey to find the inner light。 I was happily surprised by how much Julia Baird wrote about her faith and the need for having one。 However， throughout every chapter， she maintains her core theme that awe and wonder are two of the most important part of how we see the world。 There are so many moments I felt the wonder and awe that she writes about， but also there was so much laughter。 It had me thinking deeply about my own faith and incorporating th This book is inspiring and filled with Julie’s journey to find the inner light。 I was happily surprised by how much Julia Baird wrote about her faith and the need for having one。 However， throughout every chapter， she maintains her core theme that awe and wonder are two of the most important part of how we see the world。 There are so many moments I felt the wonder and awe that she writes about， but also there was so much laughter。 It had me thinking deeply about my own faith and incorporating these aspects of appreciating awe and wonder in my life。 I would 100% recommend this book。 Get it！ 。。。more
Lyn Richards
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I enjoyed Baird's inspiring writings。 Much of this definitely resonated with me。 I particularly like the way she weaves in the concept of faith in a way that you can align with whatever your beliefs。 Baird's strong reminder that we should all remain aware that we need to give more back to society， consider the lives of whom we may not have a full appreciation of。 Baird's ability to highlight the discrimination faced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and the LGBTIQ+ communities and I enjoyed Baird's inspiring writings。 Much of this definitely resonated with me。 I particularly like the way she weaves in the concept of faith in a way that you can align with whatever your beliefs。 Baird's strong reminder that we should all remain aware that we need to give more back to society， consider the lives of whom we may not have a full appreciation of。 Baird's ability to highlight the discrimination faced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and the LGBTIQ+ communities and how modern day faith needs to find a way to right the wrongs of the past and behave more in the way Jesus lived and taught。A fantastic and inspiring listen / read 。。。more
Maree Evelyn
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Loved loved loved this book。 Such a great read to 'reset' myself during annual leave。 Favourite chapter was on why we need silence beginning with a quote from Miriam-Rose Ungunmerr-Baumann "Let tiny drops of stillness fall gently through my day。" Loved loved loved this book。 Such a great read to 'reset' myself during annual leave。 Favourite chapter was on why we need silence beginning with a quote from Miriam-Rose Ungunmerr-Baumann "Let tiny drops of stillness fall gently through my day。" 。。。more
Gabby
，
I found the author's story （even though its great they beat cancer and all my good wishes to them） was ineffectual compared to the other people she was quoting; there are some inspirational sentences in the book， but mostly all of them were from the other people and their own philosophies than when the author talks about their own life。 There were a lot of moments where they talked about what they did while having an apartment in New York， how they went hiking in Nepal or what their young childr I found the author's story （even though its great they beat cancer and all my good wishes to them） was ineffectual compared to the other people she was quoting; there are some inspirational sentences in the book， but mostly all of them were from the other people and their own philosophies than when the author talks about their own life。 There were a lot of moments where they talked about what they did while having an apartment in New York， how they went hiking in Nepal or what their young children were like I kinda started just skimming over them all in the end coz I didn't care。 A lot of their own experiences kind of seemed like they were flexing but unaware of it while trying to make it seem interesting and deep。 Look in a nutshell this book encourages that spending time in nature and by the ocean can universally make people happier; and that by giving/sharing with others and noticing how vast the universe is in comparison to our problems make them seem menial， therefore should make us feel better。Which to be honest， does， so I don't regret reading it but thats all you really get from the book。 There's a few studies and stuff here and there， which I thought the book would have more of， but most of it was just random unrelatable introspects so I don't think it was worth it。Kind of found myself wishing I gave it a quick read in the bookstore at the first few chapters coz thats really all you need to take away from it， then put it back。 。。。more
Stacy
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I had an ARC of this book from NetGalley 。 It took my awhile to get used to the way it’s laid out， but it was well worth it。 If you are feeling anything read this book。 Her research and perspective are amazing。 It really made me think and want more。
Hamad AlMannai
，
Phosphorescence by Julia Baird is a book about awe， wonder， and everything that sustains us when the world goes dark。 It’s about how normal people can find and hold on to the light of life in bleak times or when the world feels dim。 It’s a collection of short essays that are so heartwarming and hopeful that they fill you with positivity and gratitude for life。 She writes with such candour and sincerity that goes straight to your heart that by the end of the book I felt like I’d made a new friend Phosphorescence by Julia Baird is a book about awe， wonder， and everything that sustains us when the world goes dark。 It’s about how normal people can find and hold on to the light of life in bleak times or when the world feels dim。 It’s a collection of short essays that are so heartwarming and hopeful that they fill you with positivity and gratitude for life。 She writes with such candour and sincerity that goes straight to your heart that by the end of the book I felt like I’d made a new friend。The winner of the 2021 Australian Book Industry Award book of the year。 just finished reading the final chapter and it gave me goosebumps。 Phosphorescence is going to my ATF list。 。。。more
Helen Hadley
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What an amazing book。 Just beautiful。 Read it。
Te
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I just loved this book。 It is so rare to read the experience of cancer written in a manner that reflects your own cancer journey。 That in itself is a blessing。 Well written both from a journalistic and lyrical narrative approach， expertly researched and referenced， Julia weaves clarity， inspirational and hope with the fragility of the human experience。 I so want to share her book， but I can’t seem to let go of my copy！！ Thank you Julia。
Simone Kealy
，
An awe-inspiring book that reminds me to appreciate the smaller things in life and to still have hope。 I would recommend this book to anyone feeling uninspired or downtrodden as it is uplifting and full of joy。
Wendy
，
“In short: when we are exposed to sunlight， trees， water or even just a view of green leaves， we become happier， healthier and stronger。 People living in green spaces have more energy and a stronger sense of purpose， and being able to see green spaces from your home is associated with reduced cravings for alcohol， cigarettes and harmful foods。”This was a very disappointing read。 Worse than disappointing， it was embarrassingly cringe-worthy。Part memoir of a wealthy white woman with high-level con “In short: when we are exposed to sunlight， trees， water or even just a view of green leaves， we become happier， healthier and stronger。 People living in green spaces have more energy and a stronger sense of purpose， and being able to see green spaces from your home is associated with reduced cravings for alcohol， cigarettes and harmful foods。”This was a very disappointing read。 Worse than disappointing， it was embarrassingly cringe-worthy。Part memoir of a wealthy white woman with high-level connections in Australia and the US， part self-help book with "revelations" like the one quoted above， that are not only obvious but worse， unavailable to people without the income to access these obvious awe-inspiring remedies。 I kept thinking: what would a single mother of three， working two jobs， living in the inner city make of these self-help tips？？？？I made a mistake。 Instead of reading this， I ordered the audiobook with Julia Baird reading her own work。 I like Julia Baird as a journalist， on her show The Drum she listens and is fair-minded。 She doesn't interrupt people while they speak。 But in this book， if her reading is an indication of her intention， the rose-coloured， saccharine encouragements are irritating and self-indulgent。 And she seems amazingly unconscious of her privilege， sharing freely of her weekly ocean swims and walks through Central Park in New York with celebrities， trips to Nepal， etc。 Really， I think I developed extra muscles around my eyes with all the eye-rolling that I did。 And when I got to her letter to her daughter and advice to her son， I groaned out loud。 I couldn't believe how bad this was。The chapters are haphazardly organised and disjointed。 Each is peppered with references to various research studies as if Baird knew that her "tips" are so mind-numbingly obvious that she needed to substantiate them by quoting research ad nauseam。 Be around nature。 Check。Stand up for yourself。 Check。Keep good friends close and let go of negative people。 Check。Pause and give yourself time to think。 Check。You get the drift。 None of her advice is new or particularly interesting。 And her middle-class， privileged perspective just made it all very uncomfortable to read。She seems to be speaking to a readership of aspirational optimists and probably is well received in that market。 She concentrates on the light and neglects the dark， glides over any real anguish， and offers glib remedies for those who are authentically stuck in the dark。 This is all fairy floss and no grit。 Weak。Her writing is also peppered with similes。 I'd love to do a count。 Lazy and obvious writing device that jarred。I was left questioning whether this book would have won prizes or would have even been published if it was written by anyone other than Julia Baird， some unknown woman living on the Northern Beaches who has time for weekly swims and catching up with celebrity friends for coffee。 No， because in the end， it leaves out the truly nasty， dark， ugly stuff in people's lives and comes off as vapid， rich girl advice。 Julia Baird doing Gweneth Paltrow。“In greeting each morning remind yourself of Dadirri by blessing yourself with the following; "Let tiny drops of stillness fall gently through my day"。”Stop it。Not for me。 。。。more
Katy Jean Vance
，
Stunning。 What an inspiration。 Thank you to Dee， one of my personal glow worms， who lent me this dazzling book。 Soto ni ikimasu yo。
Jenny
，
Did not finish。 Listened to four repetitive chapters。 Sort of ordinary， common sense。 Didn’t inspire awe。
Emma
，
This book feels like a gift to the world at a most poignant time in our history。 I was joyfully swept along by her explorations。 It’s a book about how to live well - but very different to a self-help book。 It’s in a whole other league。 I loved this book。 I felt like I was diving into the phosphorescence with her。
k
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not particularly awe-some but some interesting facts did help satiate the curiosity and i guess， 'sustained me' not particularly awe-some but some interesting facts did help satiate the curiosity and i guess， 'sustained me' 。。。more
Sarah Kreltszheim
，
Conflicted and frustrated then I found absolute gems。
Readelf
，
Did not finish。 I am pretty ill atm and I wanted a comforting book from someone going through something similst。 This book felt like a lot of truisms and a repeat of a lot of statements that I already agree with and things I slready know。 I asked kindle for a discount。 I feel mean dissing this book， because I really like what I saw of the author
Kate
，
A gentle reminder to enjoy the little things in life， the things that we can sometimes take for granted。 Julia Baird’s writing was beautiful - I started to write some key points down， and felt as though on each page there was a sentence that so simply summed up so many thoughts。 I will definitely keep this book on the shelf to pull back out and read again in the future。 The “take home” message for me was to savour life’s moments， hold onto simplicity and moments of laughter。
Amelia
，
Delectable book with so many gems to digest。 Striping life back to what’s most important， stop and savour every moment。
Karen
，
I considered buying this book。 I was so keen to read it。 I was actually pleased I didn't choose to do so。 I am quite happy to return it to our local library。 I will never read it again。 I considered buying this book。 I was so keen to read it。 I was actually pleased I didn't choose to do so。 I am quite happy to return it to our local library。 I will never read it again。 。。。more
Judi
，