The How

Notes on the Great Work of Meeting Yourself

By: Yrsa Daley-Ward

Narrated by: Yrsa Daley-Ward

From the acclaimed poet behind bone, an exploration of how we can meet our truest selves, the ones we've always been meant to become.

Yrsa Daley-Ward's words have resonated with hundreds of thousands of people - through her books of poetry and memoir, bone and The Terrible; through her writing for Beyoncé on Black Is King; and through her always illuminating Instagram posts.

Now, in The How, Yrsa encourages listeners to begin, as she puts it, the great work of meeting ourselves. This isn't the self we've built up in response to our surroundings, or the self we manufacture to please the people around us, but instead, our most intimate self, the one we visit in dreams, the one that calls to us from a glimmering future.

With a mix of short lyrical musings and her signature stunning poetry, Yrsa gently takes listeners by the hand, encouraging them to join her as she explores how we can remove our filters, and see and feel more of who we really are behind the preconceived notions of propriety and manners we've accumulated with age. With beautiful and intriguing meditations, The How can be used to start conversations, to prompt writing, to delve deeper - whether you're solo, or with friends, on your feet or writing from the solace of home.

©2021 Yrsa Daley-Ward (P)2021 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

“In this gratifying exploration of the self, Daley-Ward excels at describing the indescribable…this work defies genre and features a beautiful blend of lyrical prose and bold poetry…. This is a tender, hopeful meditation.” (Publishers Weekly)

"A heartfelt, artful manifesto focused on living fully and authentically.... By turns simplistic, elegaic, and illuminative." (Kirkus)

“The How is a brilliant reminder that the answers we seek are in ourselves.... Yrsa Daley-Wards words [in The How] - as they’ve always been - are a guidepost, a reminder, and a welcome home.” (Refinery29)

Therapeutic

I enjoyed this read. I’m 23 and learned so much. A teaching on How to truly be yourself in some way be self aware. I liked it. Al’s the narrator voice is so nice

awesome

Appreciated every chapter from Start to End. I will definitely be employing the exercises & practices suggested.

Gently Profound

I have not been this moved by a book in a long time, and I needed every word. highly recommend.

Beautiful

Reminds you of all the truths that you already knew, but didn’t know you knew…very poetically encourages your spirit, your mind, and your body to see the beauty that was always right in front of you.

If you’re out there looking for yourself

Like a friend speaking harsh yet beautiful truths to you in your darkest days, and that friend is you

Lovely

Saw this book at an airport bookstore and caught my eye.
Decided to spend a credit and get the audiobook.
It made me cry. Would listen again.
She has a lovely voice and some lovely thoughts.

Insightful

I wish I could say I enjoyed it as much as Bones and The Terrible, both of which I have listened to about 15 times. This was not a story, but a journey, one which I have been on for many, many years. It is not a light book and it contains so much information that at times it feels overwhelming. Having said that, I am sure I will read it again and again. I find the authors voice mesmerizing. She could be reading the telephone directory and I still would enjoy it. What I would really like is to see Oprah interviewing Yrsa.

Beautiful and enlightening!

The book is pretty amazing, and her voice is so fitting. Definitely walked away with a new perspective on how to look at life — how to acknowledge setbacks and change things. Exactly what I needed to hear in this season of life.

Gorgeous book, wonderful performance.

Do yourself a favor and listen to this book. Read it in paperback. Carry it with you and memorize its reminders. A beautiful book that seems to have been working it’s way through the author for years. A beautiful reminder of our unique humanity. Grateful to have it in the world.

What a delight to met oneself

I love the author’s voice! It is calming and inviting! You will at times see yourself thru this book and at other times get lost and then try to figure things out again. You could definitely read this book again and likely have a whole new experience! Great book, great story about us and life!