Likely Stories - Life In Five Senses by Gretchen Rubin

Our senses are so a part of who we are- that we think about them about as much as we think about breathing. We barely notice them- that is, until they become impaired.

In 'Life in Five Senses', author Gretchen Rubin, bestselling author of "The Happiness Project" opens the book with a trip to the eye doctor. What was a fairly normal visit took a turn when her doctor mentioned on her way out that she is at risk of having detached retinas. The doctor said it very casually, but it stopped Gretchen in her tracks. On her 20 minute walk home through the streets of Manhattan, something happened. She felt fear, fear of losing her sight, but also a heightened sense of awareness of her sight. She writes "I realized it had been a long time since I noticed the New York City streetscape that I loved. What if it dimmed or even vanished for me? I turned a corner and in an instant, all my senses seemed to sharpen. It was as if every knob in my brain had suddenly been dialed to its maximum setting of awareness". The sights, sounds and even smells of her New York City block suddenly came alive for her, and she wondered how she had barely noticed any of these sensations the day before. Were the trees always this vibrant? Were there always birds chirping like this?

The book starts here but then continues on a journey of exploration, as Gretchen devotes one section of the book to each of the 5 senses and the profound joy, depth and meaning they can add to our lives. "So many times we miss what is in front of us because our brain is focused on something else", she muses.

This book is such a unique blend of science based research, and personal experiments and realizations. Gretchen does fun experiments like eating dinner blindfolded and taking a perfume making class but she is most transformed by the every day. Stopping a moment to realize how the smell of a certain soap reminded her of her grandfather, slowing down to notice the clothes her husband chooses, or really looking someone in the eyes when they talk and choosing to listen, instead of waiting to talk.

I loved that this book is applicable to truly anyone, anywhere in the world. Every human being has senses, but how much do we really notice and appreciate them? This book made me realize how much time I spend in my head, oblivious to the beautiful, the interesting and the odd around me. I highly recommend Life in 5 Senses to anyone who would love to be reminded of how to live more in the moment and find more depth and meaning in the every day.

RECENT EPISODES OF LIKELY STORIES

Likely Stories - Roman Stories by Jhumpa Lahiri

Hello, I'm Rebecca Flavin, director of engaged learning curriculum and senior lecturer of political science at Baylor University. My friends will all attest. Two of my favorite things are reading and traveling. And when I can combine the two by reading books about places I travel, I am in heaven.

Likely Stories - The Blues Brothers: An Epic Friendship, The Rise of Improv and The Making of an American Film Classic by Daniel De Vise

Kevin Tankersley is in the host seat for this weeks Likely Stories. Behind the music, the comedy, and the car chases, The Blues Brothers was a passion project fueled by friendship. The Blues Brothers: An Epic Friendship explores the rise of Belushi and Aykroyd, the film’s impact, and the legends it helped reignite.

Likely Stories - A Daughter of Fair Verona by Christina Dodd

As an English teacher. Shakespeare has been in my lesson plans for years. I could teach the bard with my eyes closed. But what if we could reimagine one of the most classic plays in a new light, and take the famous couplet 'for never was there a story of more woe than this of Juliet and her Romeo', and flip it on its end. For never was a story of more whimsy than this. Of the Montagues and their daughter Rosie.

Likely Stories - Hope by Pope Francis

Host - Likely Stories

Likely Stories - The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows by John Koenig

Have you ever found yourself inexplicably moved by something incredibly simple and innocuous? A blinking street light in the dead of night. A solitary shopping cart in an empty parking lot. If so, then you might like to know, that sudden shift of emotion is known as a heartspur.

Likely Stories - Bitter Soil by Mahasweta Devi

This is Guilherme Feitosa DeAlmeida, senior lecturer of Musical Theatre at Baylor University. I'm here with this week's edition of Likely Stories. Award winning author Mahasweta Devi is an environmental crusader. Bitter Soil is her narrative manifesto.

Likely Stories - You're Not Listening: What You're Missing and Why It Matters by Kate Murphy

In my goal to read more nonfiction books, I picked up You’re Not Listening – what you’re missing and why it matters by Kate Murphy. I admit I can’t remember who recommended this book, I probably wasn’t listening… but reading it is a great opportunity to learn how to become a better listener and who doesn’t want that.I’m Lucy Petter. Welcome to today’s Likely Stories.

Likely Stories - I Who Have Never Known Men by Jaqueline Harpman

My name is Heather White, I teach Art History classes at Baylor and manage my household, I have two toddlers and a ten year old. Today I am reviewing, “I Who Have Never Known Men,” by Jaqueline Harpman. If you’ve never heard of it, don’t worry, it’s an older, obscure book with a somewhat wordy title.

Likely Stories - Midnight Cowboy by James Kendrick

If you haven’t seen the movie Midnight Cowboy, don’t read Baylor professor James Kendrick’s new book Midnight Cowboy. It is full of spoilers…full.

Likely Stories - The Favorites by Layne Fargo

You know, investing my soul into a story about fictional competitive ice dancers was not what I had on my 2025 BINGO card, yet there I was, poring over the pages of this book and pouring out my emotions over this debut that is an homage to Wuthering Heights and reads like part fictional account and part Netflix Olympic documentary. Dig in your toepicks to 'The Favorites' by Layne Fargo and get ready for one heck of a spin.