Julian Treasure

Listening is a crucial aspect of democracy. Listening creates understanding, and understanding permits one of the most important things about every democracy, which is civilized disagreement.

I think it's pretty pointless, my children learning to use a keyboard - we will just talk to our computers. Why would we not?

I would suggest that our listening is the main way that we experience the flow of time from past to future.

Some of my best friends are architects. And they definitely do have ears. But I think sometimes they don't use them when they're designing buildings.

Sound in a space affects us profoundly. It changes our heart rate, breathing, hormone secretion, brain waves. It affects our emotions and our cognition.

Retailers don't think about why they have music. There are a number of issues. It can be very powerful in the right place, where it is played appropriately.

There's a lot of research now showing that noise, and the lack of quiet working space, is one of the biggest issues for all office workers.

It's a common mistake to speak the same to everybody. We all have different filters.

The need to be right can arise from a fear of being disrespected. Or it may come out of the fear of being seen as we really are: as flawed human beings who are perfectly imperfect and full of contradictions and confusions.

You can detect a hostile listening or a bored listening or a tired listening or an excited and engaged listening.

The desire to be right can be very destructive in relationships.

I love reading other people's papers on the Tube.