Hello, friends!

I recently had the pleasure of attending Amy Herman’s Art of Perception seminar. Her website describes it as follows:

“The Art of Perception^® is a proprietary training seminar that teaches professionals how to enhance their observation and communication skills. Since its inception in 2000, the Art of Perception has successfully trained thousands of professionals from a broad range of fields, including law enforcement, medicine, industry, and education. The program’s dual objectives are achieved by removing participants from their daily work environment and developing and improving observational skills that are relevant to their specific professions. Participants analyze works of art in a museum setting and present their observations to their colleagues, thereby improving their individual and collective abilities to discern the distinctions between perception and inference. As a result of this process, they learn to analyze, expand upon, and reconsider the skills necessary to perform their professional responsibilities.”

Yes, honing and heightening one’s observational powers, not letting any minute detail escape, and learning to clearly communicate observations to other people. She has trained detectives, doctors, CIA and FBI agents, emergency response personnel and more to be more aware and observant. YES, IT’S A CLASS ON HOW TO BE SHERLOCK HOLMES. Using photographs, paintings and other works of art, Herman shares her techniques on perception to see less and observe more. “I don’t like the words ‘obviously’ and ‘clearly’…what’s obvious to you may not be to other people. It’s your job to observe and  communicate – observation is a 24-hour job”, Herman remarked during an exercise. Several hours later, I felt like I could spot everything and anything. I hope I can utilize my skills even further!

Feel free to check out her site while I go solves some mysteries!

Stay Perceptive,

Justin Brasher, Brash Librarian