For the Time Being by Annie Dillard

For the Time Being by Annie Dillard is a contemplative and philosophical work that blends memoir, nature writing, and spiritual reflection. In this book, Dillard explores profound questions about existence, the human experience, and the meaning of life through an exploration of both the intimate and the vast—ranging from personal encounters with people and places to the big questions about time, mortality, and the universe.

The book is divided into different thematic sections, with Dillard examining a variety of topics, such as the nature of time, the mystery of life, and the fleeting nature of human existence. One key aspect of the book is Dillard’s reflections on her time spent in the remote areas of the world, including her meditations on the daily rhythms of nature, her observations of people struggling with life’s challenges, and her own grappling with the unknowability of the universe.

Dillard’s writing style is lyrical and poetic, filled with detailed observations and vivid descriptions that make the ordinary extraordinary. She reflects on the act of living and how small moments, while fleeting, carry profound meaning, offering a sense of wonder and awe. There is also a strong undercurrent of spirituality throughout For the Time Being, as Dillard examines the tension between the temporary nature of human life and the larger, enduring forces of the world.

For the Time Being was unlike any other book we read as a group thus far. The profound contemplation of spirituality, temporality, and nature made for deep and philosophical questions, including pondering the meaning of the title itself.

The opening (and comical) question for our discussion excellently summed our overall experience: What is this book even about? We talked about how the book made (or didn't make) us reflect on our own life and existence and about existential questions like: Why do we exist? How can one person matter? What is the point of human suffering? How does Dillard reconcile the beauty and brutality of existence? What does it mean to "be" human, especially? What does it mean to say that God "is"? What sort of creature "is" God, anyway?

We didn't exactly have a group existential crisis, but this book did a great job at getting us to chat about the profound meaning of life and our place in it. However, our members would not recommend listening to this as an audiobook.

Group mean rating: 7.7/10