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Listening in the Dark: Women Reclaiming the Power of Intuition
Listening in the Dark breathes new life into an ancient wisdom by taking a fresh and powerful look at our relationship to intuition and how we can harness it to change our everyday lives and the world.
This remarkable anthology includes essays from Jessica Valenti, Lidia Yuknavitch, Jia Tolentino, Samantha Irby, Meredith Talusan, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley, Amy Poehler, America Ferrera, Ada Limón, Huma Abedin and many others, who all share how intuition has helped to shape and alter their life choices.
Have you ever had a feeling about something that you just couldn’t explain, but knew was right or wrong? Something that was telling you in your gut what decision to make, which direction to go in, or what to believe? For generations, women have been taught to ignore their intuitive intelligence, whether in their personal lives or professional ones, in favor of making logical, evidence-based decisions. But what if that small voice or deeper knowing was our greatest gift, an untapped power we could use to effect positive change?
Edited by award-winning author, activist, and actress Amber Tamblyn, Listening in the Dark is a compilation of some of today’s most striking women visionaries across industries—in literature, science, art, education, medicine, and politics—who share their experiences engaging with their own inner wisdom in pivotal, crossroad moments.
Filled with deeply personal and revelatory essays, Listening in the Dark will empower readers to reconnect with their own unique intuitive process, to see it as the precious resource it is, and to be unafraid to listen to all that it has to say and all that it has to offer.
This remarkable anthology includes essays from Jessica Valenti, Lidia Yuknavitch, Jia Tolentino, Samantha Irby, Meredith Talusan, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley, Amy Poehler, America Ferrera, Ada Limón, Huma Abedin and many others, who all share how intuition has helped to shape and alter their life choices.
Have you ever had a feeling about something that you just couldn’t explain, but knew was right or wrong? Something that was telling you in your gut what decision to make, which direction to go in, or what to believe? For generations, women have been taught to ignore their intuitive intelligence, whether in their personal lives or professional ones, in favor of making logical, evidence-based decisions. But what if that small voice or deeper knowing was our greatest gift, an untapped power we could use to effect positive change?
Edited by award-winning author, activist, and actress Amber Tamblyn, Listening in the Dark is a compilation of some of today’s most striking women visionaries across industries—in literature, science, art, education, medicine, and politics—who share their experiences engaging with their own inner wisdom in pivotal, crossroad moments.
Filled with deeply personal and revelatory essays, Listening in the Dark will empower readers to reconnect with their own unique intuitive process, to see it as the precious resource it is, and to be unafraid to listen to all that it has to say and all that it has to offer.
1 pages, Audio CD
First published October 18, 2022
170 people are currently reading
4180 people want to read
About the author
Amber Tamblyn
16 books902 followersAmber Tamblyn is an author, actor, and director. She's been nominated for an Emmy, Golden Globe, and Independent Spirit Award for her work in television and film, including House M.D. and Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. Most recently, she wrote and directed the feature film Paint It Black. She is the author of three books of poetry, including the critically acclaimed bestseller Dark Sparkler, and a novel, Any Man, as well as a contributing writer for the New York Times. She lives in New York.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 121 reviews
October 20, 2022
Listening in the Dark is an anthology of women across many industries, from Amy Poehler to essayist Samantha Irby to The New Yorker's Jia Tolentino, to Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley, and actress Amy Poehler. It includes a diverse body of writers and contributors, people with different backgrounds—different socioeconomic backgrounds, different races, and different ethnicities—all talking about the ways in which intuition can manifest. These essays share how their intuition has helped to shape and alter their life choices.
This book includes people from all walks of life: actors, politicians, ER doctors, and poets. All of these women share different experiences, including childhood trauma, growing up as a child actress, and ways they were oppressed, and they share how that relates to their intuition. The book ends with a practical guide that walks you through how to find your intuition. It's comforting to know these powerful women that we love and idolize have second-guessed themselves and have gone through a process to get where they are today. Hopefully, through these essays, you will feel less alone in your own process in harnessing your intuition.
To listen to my interview with the author, go to my podcast at:
https://www.momsdonthavetimetoreadboo...
This book includes people from all walks of life: actors, politicians, ER doctors, and poets. All of these women share different experiences, including childhood trauma, growing up as a child actress, and ways they were oppressed, and they share how that relates to their intuition. The book ends with a practical guide that walks you through how to find your intuition. It's comforting to know these powerful women that we love and idolize have second-guessed themselves and have gone through a process to get where they are today. Hopefully, through these essays, you will feel less alone in your own process in harnessing your intuition.
To listen to my interview with the author, go to my podcast at:
https://www.momsdonthavetimetoreadboo...
January 1, 2023
2.5. A bit of a disappointment. I loved the idea of a book of women's personal essays, but this wasn't quite what I was expecting--the essays felt random and reaching and some needed a better edit. Tamblyn's essays in particular came across as pretentious and wordy... A couple good ones in the mix (lookin' at you, Amy Poehler), but overall a fluffy read I wouldn't recommend.
April 26, 2023
Interesting stories, took me a sec to get through them all. The second to last one - the transcript of the convo between Amber and America Ferrera - was 5/5 stars, considering buying a copy of the book to have that essay to reread whenever
December 15, 2023
Disappointing and woke. Not for me.
April 6, 2023
This is a really lovely collection of essays by women devoted to intuition. A mix of feminine perspectives from some really outstanding writers - Samantha Irby (who had me laughing out loud), Jia Tolentino (I always love her writing), and Ada Limon (US Poet Laureate) all caught my eye when I first picked this book up.
“The destruction of our intuitive lives in our youth is the first major act of misogyny a young girl will experience in a life defined by the normalization of such oppressions.”
A strong statement, but this book serves to back it up. Amber Tamblyn wraps her own thoughts and poetry around these essays and frames the topic in a very feminist way, backing her viewpoints up with historical references as well as recent articles in Science magazines which shows how even in the modern day, doubt is thrown on the value of intuition.
“The devaluing of our intuitive processes dates back as far as recorded civilization. Hecate the Greek goddess could see the past, present, and future all at once –a psychic intuitive associated with spells and magic. But Hecate’s meaning has been warped through the years, most notably in Shakespeare’s Macbeth where she is reenvisioned as an ominous figure using her powers to delight in Macbeth’s suffering. The wise woman reimagined a crone, a word which is derived from the French carrion meaning disagreeable woman. What women intuited in their gut was, indeed, disagreeable for most of history, from the Middle Ages through the Renaissance, and was seen as a direct threat to the ruling monarchical world.”
She goes on to talk about how the masculine has identified itself with human consciousness in our patriarchal world, and if conscious, rational thought is associated with the masculine, then unconscious, emotional thought which houses our intuitive intelligence is seen as feminine (and therefore inferior). She cites examples throughout history of women following an “inner voice” such as Joan of Arc (branded heretic and burned alive). She notes there have been “approved” mystics and saints canonized by the Catholic Church, like Teresa of Avila, Margery Kempe, and Hildegard of Bingen. The general consensus being women must belong to something (the patriarchal “God”), lest they belong to the devil. A bit more recently the term “hysteria” makes its debut, and it wasn’t until the 1970’s when what women heard and potentially intuited was given any sort of respect or nuanced definition (the founding of the Hearing Voices Movement). As the book was a collection of essays there wasn’t exactly a clear timeline or profiles to some of these references which I think would have really been great, but nevertheless, even the overview was interesting and leads to other things to pick up and read.
A few excerpts that spoke to me from the essays themselves:
From Dr. Mindy Rettifee: “As we open up to intuition, as we develop and refine our sensitivity and attunement to our own bodies and the bodies of others, we tap the intelligence of the natural world, and something bigger and wilder than just ourselves: we tap the wisdom of the whole. It might feel like we are following rainbows, and we are.”
Bonnie Tamblyn: Talking about the power of using intuition to listen without opinion or judgment. “It’s a generous way to live, to listen deeply without the interjection of our thoughts, without planning what you are going to say, and then to speak from that place of intuition, in that moment.”
From Amy Poehler:
[we are told]”...don’t let anyone call you cute. Play through the pain. It was this complicated soup of self-sabotage that was served up as a way to listen to one’s inner voice. We were told to get quiet and listen to our heart, but it was hard to do that while we were encouraged to roar. …
How hard it is to take up your rightful space while still being hyper aware of how loud you are being. …
I’ve learned that the quiet space is what we’ve all been overlooking. The very rare moment when our butterfly brain lands on a leaf and we are connected to the present moment for even just a few wing flaps. The quiet space is also the trick, the prize. It helps me read people in a loud room. It helps me understand my son even when he is not speaking. It helps me chip away at the lifelong practice of figuring out what I want first.”
She also quotes this amazing Lakota prayer:
Teach me how to trust
My heart,
My mind,
My intuition,
My inner spirit,
The senses of my body,
The blessings of my spirit.
So that I may enter my Sacred Space
And love beyond my fear,
And thus Walk in Balance
With the passion of each Glorious Sun.
I think this is a really interesting topic and I enjoyed reading perspectives from so many women of various backgrounds on how they’ve gotten in tune with their intuition and how it’s served them. I quite enjoyed it!
“The destruction of our intuitive lives in our youth is the first major act of misogyny a young girl will experience in a life defined by the normalization of such oppressions.”
A strong statement, but this book serves to back it up. Amber Tamblyn wraps her own thoughts and poetry around these essays and frames the topic in a very feminist way, backing her viewpoints up with historical references as well as recent articles in Science magazines which shows how even in the modern day, doubt is thrown on the value of intuition.
“The devaluing of our intuitive processes dates back as far as recorded civilization. Hecate the Greek goddess could see the past, present, and future all at once –a psychic intuitive associated with spells and magic. But Hecate’s meaning has been warped through the years, most notably in Shakespeare’s Macbeth where she is reenvisioned as an ominous figure using her powers to delight in Macbeth’s suffering. The wise woman reimagined a crone, a word which is derived from the French carrion meaning disagreeable woman. What women intuited in their gut was, indeed, disagreeable for most of history, from the Middle Ages through the Renaissance, and was seen as a direct threat to the ruling monarchical world.”
She goes on to talk about how the masculine has identified itself with human consciousness in our patriarchal world, and if conscious, rational thought is associated with the masculine, then unconscious, emotional thought which houses our intuitive intelligence is seen as feminine (and therefore inferior). She cites examples throughout history of women following an “inner voice” such as Joan of Arc (branded heretic and burned alive). She notes there have been “approved” mystics and saints canonized by the Catholic Church, like Teresa of Avila, Margery Kempe, and Hildegard of Bingen. The general consensus being women must belong to something (the patriarchal “God”), lest they belong to the devil. A bit more recently the term “hysteria” makes its debut, and it wasn’t until the 1970’s when what women heard and potentially intuited was given any sort of respect or nuanced definition (the founding of the Hearing Voices Movement). As the book was a collection of essays there wasn’t exactly a clear timeline or profiles to some of these references which I think would have really been great, but nevertheless, even the overview was interesting and leads to other things to pick up and read.
A few excerpts that spoke to me from the essays themselves:
From Dr. Mindy Rettifee: “As we open up to intuition, as we develop and refine our sensitivity and attunement to our own bodies and the bodies of others, we tap the intelligence of the natural world, and something bigger and wilder than just ourselves: we tap the wisdom of the whole. It might feel like we are following rainbows, and we are.”
Bonnie Tamblyn: Talking about the power of using intuition to listen without opinion or judgment. “It’s a generous way to live, to listen deeply without the interjection of our thoughts, without planning what you are going to say, and then to speak from that place of intuition, in that moment.”
From Amy Poehler:
[we are told]”...don’t let anyone call you cute. Play through the pain. It was this complicated soup of self-sabotage that was served up as a way to listen to one’s inner voice. We were told to get quiet and listen to our heart, but it was hard to do that while we were encouraged to roar. …
How hard it is to take up your rightful space while still being hyper aware of how loud you are being. …
I’ve learned that the quiet space is what we’ve all been overlooking. The very rare moment when our butterfly brain lands on a leaf and we are connected to the present moment for even just a few wing flaps. The quiet space is also the trick, the prize. It helps me read people in a loud room. It helps me understand my son even when he is not speaking. It helps me chip away at the lifelong practice of figuring out what I want first.”
She also quotes this amazing Lakota prayer:
Teach me how to trust
My heart,
My mind,
My intuition,
My inner spirit,
The senses of my body,
The blessings of my spirit.
So that I may enter my Sacred Space
And love beyond my fear,
And thus Walk in Balance
With the passion of each Glorious Sun.
I think this is a really interesting topic and I enjoyed reading perspectives from so many women of various backgrounds on how they’ve gotten in tune with their intuition and how it’s served them. I quite enjoyed it!
February 25, 2024
Audiobook, listened mostly while running. I love the format of multiple authors/perspectives and thinking a lot about my own intuition/sense of inner knowing recently so it felt very well timed.
January 3, 2023
Listening in the Dark is a set of short stories written by different women, some actresses, some politicians, about their experience with their intuition and how they learned to trust it.
I really enjoyed this short story compilation and it was really powerful.
I really enjoyed this short story compilation and it was really powerful.
October 11, 2022
I found this collection of essays by women from multiple fields fascinating. Even though some of the claims for the power of intuition above all else felt a bit exaggerated to me, overall i appreciated the central message of trusting your gut/feelings. I especially loved the conversation between good friends Tamblyn and Ferrera towards the end.
December 21, 2022
I've been a fan of Amber Tamblyn for a long time. I loved her in the CBS TV series "Joan of Arcadia," and have since been following her writing career, having enjoyed several of her poetry books. I also love the trajectory that her career is taking, with her becoming a voice for women finding their power.
I was very excited to get this new book because it's a topic that really needs to be talked about. Intuition is a real thing, people. Get used to it. I have always been high in intuition and have learned to pay more and more attention to it over the years. But, it has been very difficult because so many people, including other women who should know better, don't believe in it. Intuition gets brushed off very easily as so many things: being over emotional, being fearful or superstitious, being silly. Sometimes it's just outright ignored for no good reason except that people don't understand it.
This collection of essays talks about how to discern the difference between what really is your inner voice and what may actually be one of the above mentioned things. It's compared to a muscle that we all need to strengthen. I've never been able to just ignore my intuition because the reaction is not just in my mind, but in my body also - it's just a feeling of push back. As a result, I was amazed to read the essays that talked about similar bodily reactions. Amber's in particular, about her writing process, I could really relate to.
However, if you have been ignoring your gut feelings for years you may have some work to do to tap into it. Amber and her friend America Ferrera talk about how to get started in that process in a fun conversation at the end of the book.
All of the essays in this book are good. There are some very interesting stories of intuition at work, and I think 2 of the best ones come from Amber herself and her mom Bonnie Tamblyn.
Of course, intuition is a human thing, it's not just for women. But I think the main reason why men don't have it more often is because one needs to be in touch with their feminine side to easily access it. So many men are still not comfortable with that. And they are not comfortable being around women who can access it.
I highly recommend this long overdue book! And I look forward to whatever Amber decides to tackle next. :)
I was very excited to get this new book because it's a topic that really needs to be talked about. Intuition is a real thing, people. Get used to it. I have always been high in intuition and have learned to pay more and more attention to it over the years. But, it has been very difficult because so many people, including other women who should know better, don't believe in it. Intuition gets brushed off very easily as so many things: being over emotional, being fearful or superstitious, being silly. Sometimes it's just outright ignored for no good reason except that people don't understand it.
This collection of essays talks about how to discern the difference between what really is your inner voice and what may actually be one of the above mentioned things. It's compared to a muscle that we all need to strengthen. I've never been able to just ignore my intuition because the reaction is not just in my mind, but in my body also - it's just a feeling of push back. As a result, I was amazed to read the essays that talked about similar bodily reactions. Amber's in particular, about her writing process, I could really relate to.
However, if you have been ignoring your gut feelings for years you may have some work to do to tap into it. Amber and her friend America Ferrera talk about how to get started in that process in a fun conversation at the end of the book.
All of the essays in this book are good. There are some very interesting stories of intuition at work, and I think 2 of the best ones come from Amber herself and her mom Bonnie Tamblyn.
Of course, intuition is a human thing, it's not just for women. But I think the main reason why men don't have it more often is because one needs to be in touch with their feminine side to easily access it. So many men are still not comfortable with that. And they are not comfortable being around women who can access it.
I highly recommend this long overdue book! And I look forward to whatever Amber decides to tackle next. :)
November 29, 2024
Nah, szóval az van, hogy nagyon régóta akarom ezt olvasni, és végülis örülök, hogy elolvastam, de nem fogom ajánlani olyanoknak, akiknek limitált olvasásidejük van. Az esszék nagyobb része nem vont be, nem találtam se izginek, se iránymutatónak. És nem is találtam elég konzisztensnek az összeállítást.
A kedvencem az America Ferrara - Amber Tamblyn beszélgetés volt. Kettejükből együtt sokat tudnék fogyasztani.
Annyit azért elért a könyv, hogy megpróbáljak nevet adni az intuícióimnak, visszatekintve és a jövőben is.
A kedvencem az America Ferrara - Amber Tamblyn beszélgetés volt. Kettejükből együtt sokat tudnék fogyasztani.
Annyit azért elért a könyv, hogy megpróbáljak nevet adni az intuícióimnak, visszatekintve és a jövőben is.
January 9, 2023
Overall I didn’t love this essay collection. Some of them were great (always love Samantha Irby & Jia Tolentino!) but most of the essays were not particularly enlightening or thought provoking. Wouldn’t recommend the whole book - just a few of the essays.
May 8, 2025
Samantha Irby my beloved
February 2, 2023
I did the audiobook version and the voices reading added an extra component to the theme.
It felt like a stage play with all these female characters.
It felt like a stage play with all these female characters.
November 28, 2022
I didn't actually finish the book, but I won't finish it as well. It is a compilation of many short stories - or rather, essays - about women listening to intuition and "inner voice". It is difficult to compile such stories without veering into the unreal, and some of the stories cross that line more than others. I am more practical than this - I got bored, though the stories tended to be beautiful.
December 24, 2022
5 stars for the Samantha Irby and Amy Poehler essays. The rest were mixed. Intuition as in listening to your gut, yes, absolutely. Intuition as in having a “sense” that something bad is happening far away, no. That’s a coincidence.
October 25, 2022
I’ll read anything Samantha Irby contributes to and she gets 5 stars. The rest was okay.
January 1, 2024
Each of us has access to a window which unlocks our intuitive process, and for each of us, there is a road map that points to exactly how we can harness it, each and every time. It is both a window you must learn to look and listen out from, and a window of time in which you have to do it. Time.
Follow your arms, outstretched, to find the answer and the bravery to bring it to fruition. See your fingers reaching, pushing up, until that window is no longer closed. Trust that gravitation: a pulling which makes you and only you its orbit. Trust yourself; trust your process; trust your map. See the stories from this collection—their triumphs, reckonings, and revelations—as a compass which can show you a direction—a way to begin.
So begin. Follow your map. Find your window. Take in what your body can hear and your mind can achieve when you’re wide open, listening in the dark. Amber Tamblyn
This was an interesting collection of essays from interesting women and how they learned and tapped into their intuition as a way for all women to find theirs. It didn’t resonate with me as much as I thought it would, but worth reading as it opens our minds into a vast and beautiful way. Intuition can mean a few different things, and I have used it to describe some things that have happened in my life, a type of knowing they would happen, which some would say is some sort of psychic second sight, but it doesn’t feel that way to me.
Each time I have felt it, the experience has been both in a way: a knowing or prediction and what the book is about, a gut feeling or instinct that helps us made decisions. It is so paradoxical, with layers of meaning, and words fail at describing it. I have looked into both to see if I could harness either and cultivate it, and failed spectacularly, it just occurs when it occurs, and I think it is beautiful and unknown. The guiding part of intuition is something that occurs most frequently in my work, and sometimes I forget it, like right now I can’t think of a recent example. I say my spidey senses are tingling, and it is not always accurate. As unspeakable and incoherent we are in trying to speak it, I respect it and appreciate these stories.
Some women don’t want to be in the psychic desert. They hate the frailty, the spareness of it. They keep trying to crank a rusty car and find their own way down the road to the fantasized shining city of the psyche. They are disappointed for the lush and the wild is not there. Go back to the one red flower and walk straight ahead for the last hard mile. Go up and knock on every door. Climb up to the cave. Crawl through the window of the dream. Sift the desert and see what you find. It is the only work we have to do. Clarissa Pinkola Estes
Follow your arms, outstretched, to find the answer and the bravery to bring it to fruition. See your fingers reaching, pushing up, until that window is no longer closed. Trust that gravitation: a pulling which makes you and only you its orbit. Trust yourself; trust your process; trust your map. See the stories from this collection—their triumphs, reckonings, and revelations—as a compass which can show you a direction—a way to begin.
So begin. Follow your map. Find your window. Take in what your body can hear and your mind can achieve when you’re wide open, listening in the dark. Amber Tamblyn
This was an interesting collection of essays from interesting women and how they learned and tapped into their intuition as a way for all women to find theirs. It didn’t resonate with me as much as I thought it would, but worth reading as it opens our minds into a vast and beautiful way. Intuition can mean a few different things, and I have used it to describe some things that have happened in my life, a type of knowing they would happen, which some would say is some sort of psychic second sight, but it doesn’t feel that way to me.
Each time I have felt it, the experience has been both in a way: a knowing or prediction and what the book is about, a gut feeling or instinct that helps us made decisions. It is so paradoxical, with layers of meaning, and words fail at describing it. I have looked into both to see if I could harness either and cultivate it, and failed spectacularly, it just occurs when it occurs, and I think it is beautiful and unknown. The guiding part of intuition is something that occurs most frequently in my work, and sometimes I forget it, like right now I can’t think of a recent example. I say my spidey senses are tingling, and it is not always accurate. As unspeakable and incoherent we are in trying to speak it, I respect it and appreciate these stories.
Some women don’t want to be in the psychic desert. They hate the frailty, the spareness of it. They keep trying to crank a rusty car and find their own way down the road to the fantasized shining city of the psyche. They are disappointed for the lush and the wild is not there. Go back to the one red flower and walk straight ahead for the last hard mile. Go up and knock on every door. Climb up to the cave. Crawl through the window of the dream. Sift the desert and see what you find. It is the only work we have to do. Clarissa Pinkola Estes
August 25, 2025
At first, I picked up Listening in the Dark out of a quiet curiosity—drawn by names I recognized: Amy Poehler, America Ferrera, Amber Tamblyn. The last two, etched in my memory from the tender sisterhood of a beloved film, and Poehler—forever vibrant, sharp, and joyously irreverent. I didn’t quite know what I was stepping into, what these women might reveal when they set aside scripts and spoke from within.
What I found were intimate, luminous reflections on the quiet power of female intuition—so often whispered, so rarely trusted. Their stories felt like echoes of my own: moments where my inner voice had stirred, warning or wondering, only to be silenced by doubt. I’ve been in places lately where I’ve seen the red flags waving, felt them deep in my gut, and yet... I didn’t listen. And in not listening, I stumbled. These stories reminded me I’m not alone in that.
Time and again, the writers explored the way women’s instincts are questioned—by others, yes, but also by ourselves. How often we hear, “You’re overthinking,” or “It’s not as bad as you think.” I’ve heard those words. I’ve internalized them. But until reading this, I never realized how those small dismissals chip away at something vital: our right to trust our own knowing.
The writing throughout the collection was tender and fierce in equal measure—thoughtfully woven, deeply human. It’s easy to place public figures in neat, glittering boxes, but Amber Tamblyn in particular reminded me that artistry lives in many forms. Her piece on friendship, intuition, and the ache of loss was especially moving—raw and revelatory. Another essay stayed with me too: a mother torn between two instincts, one that saved, one that faltered. Even in heartbreak, she found grace, and in grace, a deeper understanding of the world—and herself.
I’ve always claimed to be good at reading people, and trusting my own discernment. And oddly, with age, that trust hasn’t always grown stronger. But Listening in the Dark has left me changed—quietly, insistently. It urges me to believe that gut feeling, even when it whispers something different from what others say is right. It’s a beautifully woven tapestry of women’s voices, each one a lantern in the dark.
What I found were intimate, luminous reflections on the quiet power of female intuition—so often whispered, so rarely trusted. Their stories felt like echoes of my own: moments where my inner voice had stirred, warning or wondering, only to be silenced by doubt. I’ve been in places lately where I’ve seen the red flags waving, felt them deep in my gut, and yet... I didn’t listen. And in not listening, I stumbled. These stories reminded me I’m not alone in that.
Time and again, the writers explored the way women’s instincts are questioned—by others, yes, but also by ourselves. How often we hear, “You’re overthinking,” or “It’s not as bad as you think.” I’ve heard those words. I’ve internalized them. But until reading this, I never realized how those small dismissals chip away at something vital: our right to trust our own knowing.
The writing throughout the collection was tender and fierce in equal measure—thoughtfully woven, deeply human. It’s easy to place public figures in neat, glittering boxes, but Amber Tamblyn in particular reminded me that artistry lives in many forms. Her piece on friendship, intuition, and the ache of loss was especially moving—raw and revelatory. Another essay stayed with me too: a mother torn between two instincts, one that saved, one that faltered. Even in heartbreak, she found grace, and in grace, a deeper understanding of the world—and herself.
I’ve always claimed to be good at reading people, and trusting my own discernment. And oddly, with age, that trust hasn’t always grown stronger. But Listening in the Dark has left me changed—quietly, insistently. It urges me to believe that gut feeling, even when it whispers something different from what others say is right. It’s a beautifully woven tapestry of women’s voices, each one a lantern in the dark.
April 6, 2023
After listening to Amber Tamblyn's interview with Dan Harris on his podcast Ten Percent Happier, I immediately looked up her new book Listening in the Dark. The premise really intrigued me, but I had a tough time getting through the book. Overall, this book was a 3.5 for me. I really liked the message, but some moments didn't quite connect for me. However, I'm glad this book exists, and I think we should absolutely have more conversations about the importance of listening to your intuition and how this kind of self-knowledge is repeatedly stifled in women. These are some of the notes I jotted down while reading.
First, I had difficulty going through Amber Tamblyn's essay because the subject matter was harder to read emotionally and literarily. I found myself rereading sentence after sentence trying to find the gems - and boy, are there some gems! But at times, it feels a bit self-indulgent. Ah! The tortured creative, the writer and their process, yesss! My words, a gift to you!
I preferred the more casual style of writing that the other contributors offered, but Tamblyn offered up some vulnerable insights that punched me in the gut.
I don't understand the deep reverence to Brittany Murphy, but I appreciate how vulnerable Tamblyn is about feeling that connection. It's something that's deeply personal for her and has impacted her in a way that I don't understand but also I'm ok with that. I think we all have life events that jolt us and mean everything to us and change the trajectory of our lives and Tamblyn has actually sat down and introspected and done the work to put meaning to what that moment has meant for her.
I'm in the middle of the book but find it a little funny that despite many mentions of St. Joan of Arc, there's no mention of Tamblyn playing the titular character on Joan of Arcadia. I do sort of get it though, especially considering how she's made strides to step away from her identity as an actress. But it is a specific parallel I thought she might've mentioned.
I love learning more about feminine divinity.
Loooved Amy Poehler's essay.
Really enjoyed America Ferrera and Amber Tamblyn's interview. Two besties supporting one another!
First, I had difficulty going through Amber Tamblyn's essay because the subject matter was harder to read emotionally and literarily. I found myself rereading sentence after sentence trying to find the gems - and boy, are there some gems! But at times, it feels a bit self-indulgent. Ah! The tortured creative, the writer and their process, yesss! My words, a gift to you!
I preferred the more casual style of writing that the other contributors offered, but Tamblyn offered up some vulnerable insights that punched me in the gut.
I don't understand the deep reverence to Brittany Murphy, but I appreciate how vulnerable Tamblyn is about feeling that connection. It's something that's deeply personal for her and has impacted her in a way that I don't understand but also I'm ok with that. I think we all have life events that jolt us and mean everything to us and change the trajectory of our lives and Tamblyn has actually sat down and introspected and done the work to put meaning to what that moment has meant for her.
I'm in the middle of the book but find it a little funny that despite many mentions of St. Joan of Arc, there's no mention of Tamblyn playing the titular character on Joan of Arcadia. I do sort of get it though, especially considering how she's made strides to step away from her identity as an actress. But it is a specific parallel I thought she might've mentioned.
I love learning more about feminine divinity.
Loooved Amy Poehler's essay.
Really enjoyed America Ferrera and Amber Tamblyn's interview. Two besties supporting one another!
December 23, 2022
Originally reviewed for Chick Lit Central (www.chicklitcentral.com)
Initially, I wanted to read Listening in the Dark because there were a few names I’d recognized, like Amy Poehler, America Ferrera and Amber Tamblyn–the latter two actresses who I loved seeing in The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants franchise. And Amy Poehler is so fun to watch, and so funny. I wasn’t sure what to expect from their written reflections, or any of the stories from the other authors, too.
What I found were intimate accounts of what it’s like to rely on your female intuition, and how often, we don’t trust it. I can really relate to that right now, given recent situations I’ve been in where I had felt red flags, yet I didn’t listen to that inner gut intuition. This led to issues that might have been avoided had I relied on trusting myself. Many of the writers point out that often, women can feel stagnant when it comes to their intuition. If they speak up, they’re told, “Oh, it’s not as bad as you think it is.” Or, “That’s all in your head.” I’ve experienced that before, but never considered it as a way to diminish my inner voice. The authors shed an important light on that, and so much more, speaking directly from the heart. It really resonated with me.
The writing had been beautifully done. We often see celebrities as one-dimensional and stick them in a box depending on what we most associate them with, but Amber Tamblyn is as gifted an author as she is an actor. There was one particular story where she shared an interesting take on intuition when it comes to friendship, and I really felt for her and her experience with loss and grief, and recognition. Another author shared her own tragic story of how intuition had guided her towards assisting one of her children, but had seemed to fail her with her other child, and even in that desperate time, she managed to come through that experience with a better understanding of herself and of the world
I’m not always the best judge of character when it comes to using my best judgment, and it seems the older I get, the worse I can be at relying on my intuition. But after Listening in the Dark, I am more compelled to believe in myself and those gut feelings, even if it means at times diverting from what others think is the right decision, or the right path for me. I enjoyed this woman’s collaboration on such an important topic!
Initially, I wanted to read Listening in the Dark because there were a few names I’d recognized, like Amy Poehler, America Ferrera and Amber Tamblyn–the latter two actresses who I loved seeing in The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants franchise. And Amy Poehler is so fun to watch, and so funny. I wasn’t sure what to expect from their written reflections, or any of the stories from the other authors, too.
What I found were intimate accounts of what it’s like to rely on your female intuition, and how often, we don’t trust it. I can really relate to that right now, given recent situations I’ve been in where I had felt red flags, yet I didn’t listen to that inner gut intuition. This led to issues that might have been avoided had I relied on trusting myself. Many of the writers point out that often, women can feel stagnant when it comes to their intuition. If they speak up, they’re told, “Oh, it’s not as bad as you think it is.” Or, “That’s all in your head.” I’ve experienced that before, but never considered it as a way to diminish my inner voice. The authors shed an important light on that, and so much more, speaking directly from the heart. It really resonated with me.
The writing had been beautifully done. We often see celebrities as one-dimensional and stick them in a box depending on what we most associate them with, but Amber Tamblyn is as gifted an author as she is an actor. There was one particular story where she shared an interesting take on intuition when it comes to friendship, and I really felt for her and her experience with loss and grief, and recognition. Another author shared her own tragic story of how intuition had guided her towards assisting one of her children, but had seemed to fail her with her other child, and even in that desperate time, she managed to come through that experience with a better understanding of herself and of the world
I’m not always the best judge of character when it comes to using my best judgment, and it seems the older I get, the worse I can be at relying on my intuition. But after Listening in the Dark, I am more compelled to believe in myself and those gut feelings, even if it means at times diverting from what others think is the right decision, or the right path for me. I enjoyed this woman’s collaboration on such an important topic!
November 14, 2022
(Warning: This review ended up as much about me as the book, but I mean that as a compliment. It means the book make me think, made me consider much about life and myself.)
Listening in the Dark collects stories from various women (such as Amy Poehler, Ayanna Pressley, Emily Wells, America Ferrera, and Ms. Tamblyn) about when they listened to their intuition (and sometimes when they didn’t) and how it affected their lives. The stories are all well-written, engaging, enlightening. The lesson is, not surprising, don’t ignore your gut. In fact, learn to listen to it. It may well know more than your brain.
I have to admit that, as a man, I wondered a bit about how this related to me. On the one hand, I consider myself a student of psychology, so the stories were all interesting and educational. The best psychology comes from individual stories, after all. From that angle, I thoroughly enjoyed it.
But I never felt like the intended audience. At no point does the book declare that intuition is exclusively a woman thing, but that is certainly the focus, the notion that women should be further tuned into it. (I do think men’s intuition exists, but it is usually relabelled as “street-smarts��� or “business sense,” something that implies it is based on intelligence rather than emotion.)
Do I have that sort of intuition? I’m not sure. I’ve certainly made a number of decisions in my life that were not fully thought out. Some of them worked out quite well, others not so well. But any intuition involved usually came in hindsight, a sort of “that was definitely the right thing to do.”
Still, Listening in the Dark gave me plenty of food for thought. Especially as I am right now on the verge of a totally new phase of my life, and am pondering how to approach that.
Listening in the Dark collects stories from various women (such as Amy Poehler, Ayanna Pressley, Emily Wells, America Ferrera, and Ms. Tamblyn) about when they listened to their intuition (and sometimes when they didn’t) and how it affected their lives. The stories are all well-written, engaging, enlightening. The lesson is, not surprising, don’t ignore your gut. In fact, learn to listen to it. It may well know more than your brain.
I have to admit that, as a man, I wondered a bit about how this related to me. On the one hand, I consider myself a student of psychology, so the stories were all interesting and educational. The best psychology comes from individual stories, after all. From that angle, I thoroughly enjoyed it.
But I never felt like the intended audience. At no point does the book declare that intuition is exclusively a woman thing, but that is certainly the focus, the notion that women should be further tuned into it. (I do think men’s intuition exists, but it is usually relabelled as “street-smarts��� or “business sense,” something that implies it is based on intelligence rather than emotion.)
Do I have that sort of intuition? I’m not sure. I’ve certainly made a number of decisions in my life that were not fully thought out. Some of them worked out quite well, others not so well. But any intuition involved usually came in hindsight, a sort of “that was definitely the right thing to do.”
Still, Listening in the Dark gave me plenty of food for thought. Especially as I am right now on the verge of a totally new phase of my life, and am pondering how to approach that.
April 23, 2024
I picked this up in a Little Free Library yesterday afternoon, and when I woke up this morning, I read it straight through before coffee. I think it's worth checking out if you have had experiences with intuition, or gut instinct. It's not an exclusively female trait, but I agree with the essayists that under patriarchal/societal oppression that women and girls are pressed to conform and ignore that inner voice. From my own experience, I can say that listening in the dark kept me safe in some situations, and that not following my instincts didn't turn out well in other situations.
One contributor to the book, Dr. Nicole Apellan, survivalist (you might remember her on the series Alone) and anthropologist, points out that one needs to quiet the mind and be in your body to hear that voice. I really appreciate her list of ways to practice that form of mindfulness that is tied to nature. I find in my own life that being outside is keep to mental health, and that gardening provides a way of moving meditation that quiets my anxiety. Growing things and watching the turn of the seasons nourish the soul.
“Wakan Tanka” — Great Mystery
Teach me how to trust
my heart,
my mind,
my intuition,
my inner knowing,
the senses of my body,
the blessings of my spirit.
Teach me to trust these things
so that I may enter my Sacred Space
and love beyond my fear,
and thus Walk in Balance
with the passing of each glorious Sun.
~Lakota Prayer
Note that the quote Apellan attributed to Albert Einstein should be to Samples.
https://quoteinvestigator.com/2013/09...
“The intuitive mind is a sacred gift and the rational mind is a faithful servant. We have created a society that honors the servant and has forgotten the gift.”
― Bob Samples
One contributor to the book, Dr. Nicole Apellan, survivalist (you might remember her on the series Alone) and anthropologist, points out that one needs to quiet the mind and be in your body to hear that voice. I really appreciate her list of ways to practice that form of mindfulness that is tied to nature. I find in my own life that being outside is keep to mental health, and that gardening provides a way of moving meditation that quiets my anxiety. Growing things and watching the turn of the seasons nourish the soul.
“Wakan Tanka” — Great Mystery
Teach me how to trust
my heart,
my mind,
my intuition,
my inner knowing,
the senses of my body,
the blessings of my spirit.
Teach me to trust these things
so that I may enter my Sacred Space
and love beyond my fear,
and thus Walk in Balance
with the passing of each glorious Sun.
~Lakota Prayer
Note that the quote Apellan attributed to Albert Einstein should be to Samples.
https://quoteinvestigator.com/2013/09...
“The intuitive mind is a sacred gift and the rational mind is a faithful servant. We have created a society that honors the servant and has forgotten the gift.”
― Bob Samples
November 7, 2022
The first half of this book was excellent filled with the science of the mind-body connection and evidence pointing to the very real concept of 'intuition' as important as hard facts in making critical decisions. Most of this background info. was supplied by MDs and various professionals. The second half contained stories from various notable folks; here, I was disappointed as most of the examples shared re. how paying heeding to intuition was critical to good decision making, or by contrast ignoring that voice/gut feeling led to poor decision making were beyond relatable, too mystical, to be realistic for me. The one standout was Amy Poeller's contribution, which I felt was perfectly stated and most of which I highlighted and intend to read and reread. The other chapter that was excellent was at the end when Amber Tamblyn and her long-time friend, America Ferrara, engaged in one-on-one conversation with one another about the concept of intuition; this chapter too got lots of highlighting treatment from me - a perfect chapter with which to end the book.
So, while this was a bit of mixed bag for me - the second half not living up to its full potential, I do feel in the end I gained a fuller appreciation of how making an effort to tune in to one's intuition, no matter how scary it may be to trust one's gut, is a muscle that grows stronger with time and practice. Of course, time and time again, in my daily life, I'm reminded of this fact and often find myself regretting ignoring that all important inner voice.
So, while this was a bit of mixed bag for me - the second half not living up to its full potential, I do feel in the end I gained a fuller appreciation of how making an effort to tune in to one's intuition, no matter how scary it may be to trust one's gut, is a muscle that grows stronger with time and practice. Of course, time and time again, in my daily life, I'm reminded of this fact and often find myself regretting ignoring that all important inner voice.
June 8, 2023
Thank you to Libro FM for an audio arc of the essay collection, Listening in the Dark: Women Reclaiming the Power of Intuition, edited by Amber Tamblyn.
Writer and actress Amber Tamblyn edited this collection of essays from female contributors centered around the idea of women following their intuition. The contributors are from a wide variety of backgrounds and many narrated their own stories on the audio version of the book.
As with many essay collections, Listening in the Dark was a bit hit or miss. I was impressed by some of the contributors, especially our current Poet Laureate, Ada Limon, who just has a magical way with words. I love her writing.
A common thread is the historic distrust of women who follow their intuition or speak out. For example, women labeled as witches for talking about their intuition and it being considered magic and not verifiable. We may no longer kill women for witchcraft, but the essays in Listening in the Dark, reveal how society diminishes women’s voices and perspectives. Personally, I believe in the power of intuition and have found that following my own has served me well in life, or alternately, done me harm when I haven’t followed it. I’m not sure that women have a unique form of intuition, however, I can agree that women are often suppressed or silenced, even in seemingly progressive societies.
I enjoyed enough of the contributions to recommend this thought provoking collection.
Writer and actress Amber Tamblyn edited this collection of essays from female contributors centered around the idea of women following their intuition. The contributors are from a wide variety of backgrounds and many narrated their own stories on the audio version of the book.
As with many essay collections, Listening in the Dark was a bit hit or miss. I was impressed by some of the contributors, especially our current Poet Laureate, Ada Limon, who just has a magical way with words. I love her writing.
A common thread is the historic distrust of women who follow their intuition or speak out. For example, women labeled as witches for talking about their intuition and it being considered magic and not verifiable. We may no longer kill women for witchcraft, but the essays in Listening in the Dark, reveal how society diminishes women’s voices and perspectives. Personally, I believe in the power of intuition and have found that following my own has served me well in life, or alternately, done me harm when I haven’t followed it. I’m not sure that women have a unique form of intuition, however, I can agree that women are often suppressed or silenced, even in seemingly progressive societies.
I enjoyed enough of the contributions to recommend this thought provoking collection.
September 27, 2025
More than 25 years ago, I was working at a job where my primary responsibility was being physically present. As a result, it was not uncommon for my boss and I to have the television on. One of our shows was General Hospital which included Amber Tamblyn as Emily Quartermaine. The character was adjacent to a story line I was attached to and I occasionally watched the show that Amber left GH for, Joan of Arcadia. I didn't know that she was a writer until I found a book by her about the Me Too movement at the dollar store. It is on my TBR -- looking for an audiobook of that led me to this book.
I was intrigued by the subject matter here and the list of contributors. I have read quite a bit about the evolving understanding of intuition both as a physical manifestation in the body and as a psychological internal messaging system. And I was at least a little intrigued by the implicit relationship between intuition and religious feelings. The selection of essays was interesting and some of them included messages or themes gabe me ideas about changes I need to make in my life. I think I need to read more about the female mystics of the middle ages. And about Joan of Arc, who was part of the basis for the show that Amber was in.
I was intrigued by the subject matter here and the list of contributors. I have read quite a bit about the evolving understanding of intuition both as a physical manifestation in the body and as a psychological internal messaging system. And I was at least a little intrigued by the implicit relationship between intuition and religious feelings. The selection of essays was interesting and some of them included messages or themes gabe me ideas about changes I need to make in my life. I think I need to read more about the female mystics of the middle ages. And about Joan of Arc, who was part of the basis for the show that Amber was in.
October 26, 2022
This book came on my radar when I heard about the book signing at Powell’s. If I were to rename this book, it would be called either “The Inner Monologues” as the collection of essays echos The Vagina Monologues but instead of physical femininity, the book is an exploration of the inner voice with a focus on the female lens. Amber Tamblyn showcases a powerful cast of diverse women in this anthology of meditations on intuition. Many of the narratives resonated with me- some more memorable or grounded or relatable than others, but all interesting nonetheless. I read a bit about each author as I listened along as many of the women were unknown to me. I loved many of the take home messages about finding a sit spot, listening to that inner voice, quieting self doubt and more. There were moments that seemed a bit too dream-like for me and lacked cohesion which is why I docked it, but overall, this book (and especially the signing at Powell’s!) exceeded my expectations.
May 16, 2023
I’m really glad that I challenged myself to read a book like this. This type of topic is something I would normally wave my hand at or consider “stupid,” but I was pleasantly surprised by this book. There were some really profound essays, my favorites being the conversation between America Ferreira and Amber Tamblyn, Amy Poehler, and Huma Abedin. Because of these certain essays/conversation, this book will stay on my shelf for my lifetime and I’ll refer back to them.
However, I give this book 3 stars because some of the essays were a bit dry and wordy. I found myself zoning out and having to re-read certain parts. Additionally, I felt that some essays just repeated the same things over and over but using different wording. I almost set this book aside halfway through because I was losing interest and didn’t relate to a lot of the stories. I am glad I finished though, but I feel like this book could have been better if some of the essays weren’t included and if it was less wordy.
However, I give this book 3 stars because some of the essays were a bit dry and wordy. I found myself zoning out and having to re-read certain parts. Additionally, I felt that some essays just repeated the same things over and over but using different wording. I almost set this book aside halfway through because I was losing interest and didn’t relate to a lot of the stories. I am glad I finished though, but I feel like this book could have been better if some of the essays weren’t included and if it was less wordy.
November 2, 2022
Powerful, interesting stories about women learning to trust their intuition. This past summer, I found myself as a mom, doubting my 14 year old’s intuition. She told me a story about a boy in a very passionate way. I felt she was being dramatic, annoying, overboard, in all honesty…kind of a b. I couldn’t help feeling sorry for that boy who didn’t seemingly do anything wrong. My daughter was so mad and upset with me. It was to this date, one of our biggest fights. My dear friend (and her aunt), listened to me vent about this fight and calmly said, “I don’t offer parenting advice to you often, but please don’t make her doubt her intuition.” It was EXACTLY what I needed to hear. I’ll never forget that. Since then, I’ve certainly listened and approached these situations with that goal of protecting her ability to trust her gut.
January 27, 2023
Actress and producer Amber Tamblyn put this collection together, several women sharing stories about intuition. I especially liked Amy Poehler and Dr. Nicole Apelian’s chapters. Amy talked about the feeling of knowing something is wrong but not being able to identify what it is, and how that is frustrating but ultimately life saving.
Dr. Apelian talked about finding intuition in nature and gave some great suggestions on increasing that intuition—a walk with no phone or watch, practicing a solo sit spot in nature. She shared her recovery from MS symptoms that came from following her intuition about how to care for her body. Her work was based in science and alternative health, and I found it fascinating.
There are a few I haven’t read yet, and I didn’t connect with any of Amber’s several contributions, but overall some good work being done in this book.
Thank you HTP books for the arc!
Dr. Apelian talked about finding intuition in nature and gave some great suggestions on increasing that intuition—a walk with no phone or watch, practicing a solo sit spot in nature. She shared her recovery from MS symptoms that came from following her intuition about how to care for her body. Her work was based in science and alternative health, and I found it fascinating.
There are a few I haven’t read yet, and I didn’t connect with any of Amber’s several contributions, but overall some good work being done in this book.
Thank you HTP books for the arc!
May 21, 2025
Listening in the Dark is a compilation of stories written by women of times when they had to listen to their intuition. There are so many different types of stories from so many different women that there is sure to be a story for everyone to relate to!I found myself relating most to the stories about children but there is something for everyone.
My favorite essay was that from a nurse during the start of the pandemic. She had a child who had a liver transplant and needed to be careful. So before the lockdowns and before anyone knew anything about the virus, she listened to her intuition and had her children moved to her parents house. She goes into detail of what she went through in the hospital she worked in and I grew a greater respect for our healthcare professionals after reading her story!
My favorite essay was that from a nurse during the start of the pandemic. She had a child who had a liver transplant and needed to be careful. So before the lockdowns and before anyone knew anything about the virus, she listened to her intuition and had her children moved to her parents house. She goes into detail of what she went through in the hospital she worked in and I grew a greater respect for our healthcare professionals after reading her story!
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