Reading is as reading does
Finished listening to the audio version of Philip Roth's "Everyman". It's unabridged and 4 CDs long, so I was a little shocked that it took a full 2 CDs for the novel to snowball into something addictive. Luckily I was stubborn enough to hold out. :) That said, it's depressing. And (of course), so was Weisel's "Night", which I also just finished.
And now I'm reading "The Great Influenza", which is both enlightening and informative -- but also terrifying.
Not surprisingly, I'm a little blue.
However, I'm glad I'm reading "The Great Influenza" -- there many ruminations on the cause of scientific genius, and they seem to apply to any field. Yes, even writing.
The author's theory, summarized, is this -- a truly innovative genius connects his work both horizontally (across many fields of study) and vertically (deeply into one question). And what most people seem to lack is that one question, that driving quest for an answer that pushes down to the heart of the matter. However, that question (and its answers), without being connected to the rest of the world, is useless.
I think there is quite a bit to think about human nature here, and the nature of progress. But there is also something of art there, and the nature of knowledge.
I need to go deeper and broader. Find my weaknesses and rebuild my skills again.
So that by a calculus of words I can bring myself infinitesimally closer to the answers I seek.
And now I'm reading "The Great Influenza", which is both enlightening and informative -- but also terrifying.
Not surprisingly, I'm a little blue.
However, I'm glad I'm reading "The Great Influenza" -- there many ruminations on the cause of scientific genius, and they seem to apply to any field. Yes, even writing.
The author's theory, summarized, is this -- a truly innovative genius connects his work both horizontally (across many fields of study) and vertically (deeply into one question). And what most people seem to lack is that one question, that driving quest for an answer that pushes down to the heart of the matter. However, that question (and its answers), without being connected to the rest of the world, is useless.
I think there is quite a bit to think about human nature here, and the nature of progress. But there is also something of art there, and the nature of knowledge.
I need to go deeper and broader. Find my weaknesses and rebuild my skills again.
So that by a calculus of words I can bring myself infinitesimally closer to the answers I seek.