A man called John Francis took a vow of silence that lasted 17 years in an effort to improve his listening skills. In those years he earned himself a bachelor’s degree, a master’s degree and a PHD.

"I said, you know what, I'm just going to shut up for the day," Dr Francis says.

That quiet day brought with it a revelation: that whenever he was speaking with someone with opinions different from his own, he would simply interrupt to press his point of view.

"I realised that I hadn't been listening to anyone, because … I was thinking all the time of what I was going to say back to them," he says.

"I had stopped learning."

That one day turned into 17 years of silent learning.

Herbdon.com