About the Author

An acclaimed art critic, columnist, and editor, KAYLARSON began her career in journalism in Cambridge, Massachusetts, at "The Real Paper," then served as an associate editor at "ARTnews" and an art critic for the "Village Voice." She was the art critic for "New York" magazine for fourteen years, and has been a frequent contributor to the "New York Times." In 1994, she entered Zen practice at a Buddhist monastery in upstate New York. Though Larson has written for many types of publications, "Where the Heart Beats" is her first book."

Reviews

Heroic fascinating. --"New York Times"
Inspirational exuberant. --"Los Angeles Times"
"Revelatory "Where the Heart Beats" may not just be the best book written yet about John Cage; it s probably also one of the most substantive-yet-readable entryways into the nexus of 20th-century American art and the immortal qualities of Eastern thought one of the most profound, not to mention unexpected, gifts imaginable."--"Slate"
"Absorbing no future commentator on Cage's work or influence will be able to ignore Larson's contribution a milestone in contemporary cultural criticism."" --San Francisco Chronicle"
"Remarkable without a doubt the richest, most stimulating, most absorbing book I ve read in the past year, if not decade remarkably researched, exquisitely written, weaving together a great many threads of cultural history into a holistic understanding of both Cage as an artist and Zen as a lens on existence Not unlike Cage s music, "Where the Heart Beats: John Cage, Zen Buddhism, and the Inner Life of Artists" is impossible to distill, to synthesize, to relay. Rather, its goodness is best experienced in full, with complete surrender." --"Brain Pickings"
"Strange and wonderful... a gloriously rich reading experience, studded with layers upon layers of deeply inspiring and endlessly fascinating paths. One of the best books of the year in any category." --NPR.org (A Favorie Music Book of the Year)
Kay Larson's groundbreaking work makes for spellbinding reading. Her understanding of John Cage is profound and her capacity to make Cage's own voice come alive is an enormous achievement. Cage, for whom Buddhism was a central catalyst, made music his meditation. "Where the Heart Beats "opens up Cage's creative process and connects us to Cage's most wonderful heart and mind. This book is a deep well of inspiration that will be treasured forever.
--Mark Epstein, MD; author of "Thoughts without a Thinker"
In her thoughtful and eloquent writing, Kay Larson beautifully conveys John Cage s playful elegance, his love of contradiction and the originality of his thinking. She describes his method as a balance between rigor and freedom, a synchronization of body and mind. Cage s arduous yet ultimately joyful path of discovery influenced generations of artists. The multi-faceted, layered form of the book reflects his process and elucidates the profound Buddhist and aesthetic principles that informed his life and art. "Where the Heart Beats" is a stunning achievement.
--Meredith Monk, composer/director/performer
"This book is beautiful. It takes my breath away."
--Pat Steir, painter"

"Heroic... fascinating." --"New York Times"
"Inspirational... exuberant." --"Los Angeles Times"
"Revelatory... "Where the Heart Beats" may not just be the best book written yet about John Cage; it's probably also one of the most substantive-yet-readable entryways into the nexus of 20th-century American art and the immortal qualities of Eastern thought... one of the most profound, not to mention unexpected, gifts imaginable."--"Slate"
"Absorbing... no future commentator on Cage's work or influence will be able to ignore Larson's contribution...a milestone in contemporary cultural criticism."" --San Francisco Chronicle"
"Remarkable... without a doubt the richest, most stimulating, most absorbing book I've read in the past year, if not decade -- remarkably researched, exquisitely written, weaving together a great many threads of cultural history into a holistic understanding of both Cage as an artist and Zen as a lens on existence... Not unlike Cage's music, "Where the Heart Beats: John Cage, Zen Buddhism, and the Inner Life of Artists" is impossible to distill, to synthesize, to relay. Rather, its goodness is best experienced in full, with complete surrender." --"Brain Pickings"
"Strange and wonderful... a gloriously rich reading experience, studded with layers upon layers of deeply inspiring and endlessly fascinating paths. One of the best books of the year in any category." --NPR.org (A Favorie Music Book of the Year)

"Heroic... fascinating." --"New York Times"

"Inspirational... exuberant." --"Los Angeles Times"

"Revelatory... "Where the Heart Beats" may not just be the best book written yet about John Cage; it's probably also one of the most substantive-yet-readable entryways into the nexus of 20th-century American art and the immortal qualities of Eastern thought... one of the most profound, not to mention unexpected, gifts imaginable."--"Slate"

"Absorbing... no future commentator on Cage's work or influence will be able to ignore Larson's contribution...a milestone in contemporary cultural criticism."" --San Francisco Chronicle"

"Remarkable... without a doubt the richest, most stimulating, most absorbing book I've read in the past year, if not decade -- remarkably researched, exquisitely written, weaving together a great many threads of cultural history into a holistic understanding of both Cage as an artist and Zen as a lens on existence... Not unlike Cage's music, "Where the Heart Beats: John Cage, Zen Buddhism, and the Inner Life of Artists" is impossible to distill, to synthesize, to relay. Rather, its goodness is best experienced in full, with complete surrender." --"Brain Pickings"

"Strange and wonderful... a gloriously rich reading experience, studded with layers upon layers of deeply inspiring and endlessly fascinating paths. One of the best books of the year in any category." --NPR.org (A Favorie Music Book of the Year)


"Kay Larson's groundbreaking work makes for spellbinding reading. Her understanding of John Cage is profound and her capacity to make Cage's own voice come alive is an enormous achievement. Cage, for whom Buddhism was a central catalyst, made music his meditation. "Where the Heart Beats "opens up Cage's creative process and connects us to Cage's most wonderful heart and mind. This book is a deep well of inspiration that will be treasured forever."
--Mark Epstein, MD; author of "Thoughts without a Thinker "


"In her thoughtful and eloquent writing, Kay Larson beautifully conveys John Cage's playful elegance, his love of contradiction and the originality of his thinking. She describes his method as a balance between rigor and freedom, a synchronization of body and mind. Cage's arduous yet ultimately joyful path of discovery influenced generations of artists. The multi-faceted, layered form of the book reflects his process and elucidates the profound Buddhist and aesthetic principles that informed his life and art. "Where the Heart Beats" is a stunning achievement."
--Meredith Monk, composer/director/performer


"This book is beautiful. It takes my breath away."
--Pat Steir, painter

"Revelatory... "Where the Heart Beats" may not just be the best book written yet about John Cage; it's probably also one of the most substantive-yet-readable entryways into the nexus of 20th-century American art and the immortal qualities of Eastern thought... one of the most profound, not to mention unexpected, gifts imaginable during John Cage's centenary year."--"Slate"

"Remarkable... without a doubt the richest, most stimulating, most absorbing book I've read in the past year, if not decade -- remarkably researched, exquisitely written, weaving together a great many threads of cultural history into a holistic understanding of both Cage as an artist and Zen as a lens on existence... Not unlike Cage's music, Where the Heart Beats: John Cage, Zen Buddhism, and the Inner Life of Artists is impossible to distill, to synthesize, to relay. Rather, its goodness is best experienced in full, with complete surrender. "--"Brain Pickings"

"Inventive and contemplative... Weaving threads of the teachings of Zen Buddhist writer D.T. Suzuki and Alan Watts, along with Cage's own reflections and writings on art, music, dance, and life, Larson patches together a brilliant quilt that covers Cage's growing understanding of the nature of noise and silence and the roles that each plays in music." --"Publishers Weekly"