Do Listen

Why is it that we seem astonished, even grateful, when someone really hears us? When they lean in and give us their time and attention. How has this basic act become such a rare commodity? Has the one-way street of social media ‘broadcasting’ really marked the end of conversation and listening? 


Do Listen is about rediscovering the lost art of listening. How to form deeper connections, generate moments of wonder, and achieve breakthroughs after a stand-off or stalemate. 


Yes, listening can take time. And it can be uncomfortable. Yet it is a skill that can be cultivated and mastered. It can also be a strategy. And sometimes, it will be the most important thing you ever do. What if we each took five minutes a day to actively listen? How might our world change? 


Bobette Buster is the author of Do Story: How to Tell Your Story so the World Listens (Do Books 2013, Chronicle Books 2018); the writer and producer of Making Waves: The Art of Cinematic Sound, feature documentary (2019) and several feature narrative projects.


She is a story consultant to major studios including Pixar, Disney and Sony Animation and to leading production companies, as well as advertising and marketing agencies around the world. She has lectured internationally and is currently Professor of the Practice of Digital Storytelling at Northeastern University, Boston. She lives in Los Angeles, California.