Category: Books

“Taking time for reflection is probably the best investment you can make in your personal and professional development. It’s often said that we learn best from experience. But in truth we learn best from reflecting on experience. Reflection has significant benefits for improving our learning, mental and physical wellbeing, career resilience and our leadership skills.

It increases self-awareness and helps us make sense of the world. Reflection is a skill, a set of practices and above all an attitude of mind. It’s the very essence of Slow Learning. The challenge is to make reflection a habit, and grant ourselves and others permission to ask useful, perhaps surprising questions and to see things from new perspectives.”

— Clive Martlew, Slow Learning.

“The humble comma arose when a Greek scholar invented a single dot system to show the breath needed between phrases. Small, yet mighty, the comma can change meaning: “Let’s eat grandma!”. “Let’s eat, grandma!” Commas save lives.

The comma’s more complex cousin, the semicolon, is the most misunderstood punctuation mark. Dating back to when an Italian scholar wanted to allow for a slightly longer breath, the semicolon acts as a prolonged pause without losing the train of thought.

Commas and semicolons should be as prevalent in our lives as in our writing. When was the last time you took a comma coffee? Or a semicolon sabbatical? Whether brief or prolonged, a pause gives time to reflect, collect thoughts, and proceed with clarity.”

— Delphine Dall’Agata, Slow Learning.