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  • The Poetry Pharmacy

  • Tried-and-True Prescriptions for the Heart, Mind and Soul
  • By: William Sieghart
  • Narrated by: William Sieghart
  • Length: 3 hrs and 7 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (59 ratings)
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The Poetry Pharmacy cover art

The Poetry Pharmacy

By: William Sieghart
Narrated by: William Sieghart
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Summary

Penguin presents the audiobook edition of The Poetry Pharmacy by William Sieghart.

As heard on BBC Radio 4, the essential prescriptions from William Sieghart's poetic dispensary

Sometimes only a poem will do. These poetic prescriptions and wise words of advice offer comfort, delight and inspiration for all; a space for reflection, and that precious realization - I'm not the only one who feels like this.

In the years since he first had the idea of prescribing short, powerful poems for all manner of spiritual ailments, William Sieghart has taken his Poetry Pharmacy around the length and breadth of Britain, into the pages of the Guardian, onto BBC Radio 4 and onto the television, honing his prescriptions all the time. This audiobook presents the most essential poems in his dispensary: those which, again and again, have really shown themselves to work. Whether you are suffering from loneliness, lack of courage, heartbreak, hopelessness, or even from an excess of ego, there is something here to ease your pain.

©2018 William Sieghart (P)2018 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

"The book is delightful; it rightly resituates poetry in relation to its biggest and most serious task: helping us to live and die well." (Alain de Botton) 

"Truly a marvellous collection...There is balm for the soul, fire for the belly, a cooling compress for the fevered brow, solace for the wounded, an arm around the lonely shoulder - the whole collection is a matchless compound of hug, tonic and kiss." (Stephen Fry) 

What listeners say about The Poetry Pharmacy

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The poems are only half of it

The poems are beautiful but this audiobook is for listening to the author's comforting narration and discussion of the situations, whether happy or sad, that may suit a particular poem. Relatable, well read and most of all, reassuring.

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  • Overall
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wonderfully therapeutic, thank you!

this is a wonderfully therapeutic collection, with the poems beautifully introduced and read by William Siekhart

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3 people found this helpful

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A Memorable Read

As the title suggests, I found this book very soothing and hopeful. It was also great to hear some of the poems I know shared in this meaningful way. It sure is a book I'll remember in times of need, and also recommend to others.

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2 people found this helpful

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No chapter descriptions

I wanted this book but the chapters are just numbers in the index and I just don’t want to trawl through all the chapters to decide which one to read.

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4 people found this helpful

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Rather boring

I didn’t enjoy anything about this book, except for Mary Oliver’s poem “Wild Geese”; and that was not read with feeling, nor well read. The author reads without expression and there are many dull words prior to the poems; and some of the poems are only four lines long. There is no index to see what the poems are or what “condition” you need help with, and it would be much better to get the proper hard copy book. But I won’t be buying it for sure.

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