This interview podcast features Terry Gross interviewing Pico Iyer, author of the memoir "Aflame: Learning from Silence." The conversation centers around Iyer's experiences with wildfires—one that destroyed his home and another that threatened the Benedictine monastery where he's spent decades on silent retreats. Iyer discusses the transformative impact of these events, his perspective on silence and solitude, and how these experiences shaped his views on life, loss, and the relationship between humanity and nature. He contrasts his "talking self" with his "silent self," highlighting the profound insights gained through periods of quiet contemplation. A specific example is Iyer's description of how losing all his possessions in the fire led him to appreciate the simplicity of life and the power of writing from memory and emotion.
