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Birds of Heaven
This text contains two inspirational essays from the author of "The Famished Road", on the meaning of language and its power to shape our lives. The work presents an alternative spiritual response to the problems of the present day.
64 pages, Paperback
First published December 22, 1995
About the author
Ben Okri
89 books1,013 followersPoet and novelist Ben Okri was born in 1959 in Minna, northern Nigeria, to an Igbo mother and Urhobo father. He grew up in London before returning to Nigeria with his family in 1968. Much of his early fiction explores the political violence that he witnessed at first hand during the civil war in Nigeria. He left the country when a grant from the Nigerian government enabled him to read Comparative Literature at Essex University in England.
He was poetry editor for West Africa magazine between 1983 and 1986 and broadcast regularly for the BBC World Service between 1983 and 1985. He was appointed Fellow Commoner in Creative Arts at Trinity College Cambridge in 1991, a post he held until 1993. He became a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature in 1987, and was awarded honorary doctorates from the universities of Westminster (1997) and Essex (2002).
His first two novels, Flowers and Shadows (1980) and The Landscapes Within (1981), are both set in Nigeria and feature as central characters two young men struggling to make sense of the disintegration and chaos happening in both their family and country. The two collections of stories that followed, Incidents at the Shrine (1986) and Stars of the New Curfew (1988), are set in Lagos and London.
In 1991 Okri was awarded the Booker Prize for Fiction for his novel The Famished Road (1991). Set in a Nigerian village, this is the first in a trilogy of novels which tell the story of Azaro, a spirit child. Azaro's narrative is continued in Songs of Enchantment (1993) and Infinite Riches (1998). Other recent fiction includes Astonishing the Gods (1995) and Dangerous Love (1996), which was awarded the Premio Palmi (Italy) in 2000. His latest novels are In Arcadia (2002) and Starbook (2007).
A collection of poems, An African Elegy, was published in 1992, and an epic poem, Mental Flight, in 1999. A collection of essays, A Way of Being Free, was published in 1997. Ben Okri is also the author of a play, In Exilus.
In his latest book, Tales of Freedom (2009), Okri brings together poetry and story.
Ben Okri is a Vice-President of the English Centre of International PEN, a member of the board of the Royal National Theatre, and was awarded an OBE in 2001. He lives in London.
He was poetry editor for West Africa magazine between 1983 and 1986 and broadcast regularly for the BBC World Service between 1983 and 1985. He was appointed Fellow Commoner in Creative Arts at Trinity College Cambridge in 1991, a post he held until 1993. He became a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature in 1987, and was awarded honorary doctorates from the universities of Westminster (1997) and Essex (2002).
His first two novels, Flowers and Shadows (1980) and The Landscapes Within (1981), are both set in Nigeria and feature as central characters two young men struggling to make sense of the disintegration and chaos happening in both their family and country. The two collections of stories that followed, Incidents at the Shrine (1986) and Stars of the New Curfew (1988), are set in Lagos and London.
In 1991 Okri was awarded the Booker Prize for Fiction for his novel The Famished Road (1991). Set in a Nigerian village, this is the first in a trilogy of novels which tell the story of Azaro, a spirit child. Azaro's narrative is continued in Songs of Enchantment (1993) and Infinite Riches (1998). Other recent fiction includes Astonishing the Gods (1995) and Dangerous Love (1996), which was awarded the Premio Palmi (Italy) in 2000. His latest novels are In Arcadia (2002) and Starbook (2007).
A collection of poems, An African Elegy, was published in 1992, and an epic poem, Mental Flight, in 1999. A collection of essays, A Way of Being Free, was published in 1997. Ben Okri is also the author of a play, In Exilus.
In his latest book, Tales of Freedom (2009), Okri brings together poetry and story.
Ben Okri is a Vice-President of the English Centre of International PEN, a member of the board of the Royal National Theatre, and was awarded an OBE in 2001. He lives in London.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
July 1, 2011
was just looking over my copy. *every* writer should have a copy of this book. Okri is genius.
June 11, 2021
Synopsis- This text contains two inspirational essays from the author of "The Famished Road", on the meaning of language and its power to shape our lives. The work presents an alternative spiritual response to the problems of the present day.
Review- I liked Beyond Words. I was affected by his assertions about silence and the power and impact of it. I'm rarely silent. I generally make constant noise to fill any silences. Silence makes me uncomfortable, even on my own. Give me a radio, or an audiobook, or even a vacuum cleaner, just give me noise. But Okri made some beautifully logical and interesting points about the fundamental importance of silence, the way it shapes our world, its profundity and its transcendental nature. I had never really thought about silence before but I think I might occasionally give it a go.
The second essay had some good aphorisms but overall I felt it was lacking. Also, it was a little too spiritual for me. I'm not religious or even agnostic. I don't find a higher meaning in nature. It just is. So many of the aphorisms and fragments were just corny spiritual waffle.
Overall, it's a quick mostly engaging read. And Okri has a beautiful way with words.
Rating - Three enjoy the silence stars. ⭐⭐⭐
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Devoured the book, couldn't put it down.
⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Really liked it, consumed within days
⭐⭐⭐ - Enjoyed a fair bit, better than average
⭐⭐ - Meh
⭐ - Absolute drivel
Review- I liked Beyond Words. I was affected by his assertions about silence and the power and impact of it. I'm rarely silent. I generally make constant noise to fill any silences. Silence makes me uncomfortable, even on my own. Give me a radio, or an audiobook, or even a vacuum cleaner, just give me noise. But Okri made some beautifully logical and interesting points about the fundamental importance of silence, the way it shapes our world, its profundity and its transcendental nature. I had never really thought about silence before but I think I might occasionally give it a go.
The second essay had some good aphorisms but overall I felt it was lacking. Also, it was a little too spiritual for me. I'm not religious or even agnostic. I don't find a higher meaning in nature. It just is. So many of the aphorisms and fragments were just corny spiritual waffle.
Overall, it's a quick mostly engaging read. And Okri has a beautiful way with words.
Rating - Three enjoy the silence stars. ⭐⭐⭐
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Devoured the book, couldn't put it down.
⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Really liked it, consumed within days
⭐⭐⭐ - Enjoyed a fair bit, better than average
⭐⭐ - Meh
⭐ - Absolute drivel
November 12, 2022
someone I really like gave me his copy, because he loved it so much and wanted to share that with me.
Wow.
Wow.
July 10, 2025
I loved the first part, and absolutely hated the repetition of the Aphorisms, but the actual part was so good that it goes beyond 5 stars for me. Beautifully written words capturing magical moments vividly.
October 7, 2021
Condensed booklet of absolute wisdom.
May 2, 2022
A great read for the writer in your life, abundant with quotes on creativity.
July 20, 2023
This book isn't secular and says next to nothing. 🤷🏼♂️
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November 16, 2025essential reading for any aspiring writer.
May 12, 2013
Beautiful and insightful.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews