I read your article in the Trib and was reminded that I should thank you for writing about "The History of Sound". I finished it a few days ago, having read it slowly to savor it. Your description of the stories as "braided" was perfect.
Really appreciated all the bits and bobs here - I agree that Oreo by Fran Ross is amazing and should be much better known! I cackled so often reading it.
And your review of The Present Professor was helpful and I’ve added it to my lists. This last semester, I’ve been repeating a mantra to myself as I wander around campus and get to and from my classes: “Be present. Be open. Be engaged.” I’m confident I am not going to be an expert teacher of composition despite my years of experience - I don’t think that’s even a goal worth having. Writing is not about expertise, it’s much more about all of us being open to what writing can do - as well as being present to what real relationships and communication can do. That approach is also much more fun!
Thank you for this column and for your other writing.
I have not been a paid subscriber since discovering you on Substack (via Autin Kleon), but I just became one, after reflecting on your question about what a resistance movement to preserve humanity looks like now.
For me, one stream of nourishing a resistance required is in reading. I look to Victor Frankl, a psychiatrist imprisoned in Auschwitz. He was curious about the people who weren't outright murdered during the Holocaust, why did some live and some die? His answer was that somehow they found a meaning to keep living, that their suffering had a purpose. His meaning was to stay alive so he could bear witness to what he was witnessed so the world would know what happened.
Your writing is grounded, whole-hearted truth telling and has become an important voice in my continuing search for a meaning to live the dark days we are living in. Two weeks ago today, I lost my husband of 50 to a terrible fast growing cancer. This sorrow, along with the mess of our world, has pushed me to keep the reasons to stay alive forefront in my mind and heart…..to be of use to others, to let love lead as much as I can, to channel the goodness I have received from my beloved and so many dear friends. I read Timothy Snyder, Rebecca Solnit, Parker Palmer, Hannah Arendt; people who believe in democracy and will stand up (and stand out) by telling the truth that others may not want to hear. In "On Tyranny" Tim Snyder asks "if none of us is prepared to die for freedom, all of us will die under tyranny".
His the preface of his most recent book "On Freedom", he says "Freedom is not just an absence of evil, but the presence of good".
Another way to nourish a resistance is support intelligent, courageous writers and journalists who are sounding the alarm and sharing resources for ways be active and stay hopeful (just on Substack: Heather Cox Richardson, Jessica Craven, Robert Hubbel, the Meidas Touch).
I think our "resistance" in this time of crises is to continue to BE that presence of good in whatever way we can, with everyone we can. Biblioracle in my email every week is one “presence of good" that strengthens me in this bleakness. Your courageous writing is "Hope in the Dark" (thank you Rebeca Solnit). Keep writing, you ARE part of the resistance.
Mary Kay: My condolences on your husband's passing, and my thanks for these deep and thoughtful words about my writing and the world. I think there is hope as long as we keep putting our humanity forward and insisting it matters, even in the face of so much that indicates otherwise. Your note has truly touched me, this holiday season. I hope your husband's memory is a blessing for all days.
I read your article in the Trib and was reminded that I should thank you for writing about "The History of Sound". I finished it a few days ago, having read it slowly to savor it. Your description of the stories as "braided" was perfect.
Really appreciated all the bits and bobs here - I agree that Oreo by Fran Ross is amazing and should be much better known! I cackled so often reading it.
And your review of The Present Professor was helpful and I’ve added it to my lists. This last semester, I’ve been repeating a mantra to myself as I wander around campus and get to and from my classes: “Be present. Be open. Be engaged.” I’m confident I am not going to be an expert teacher of composition despite my years of experience - I don’t think that’s even a goal worth having. Writing is not about expertise, it’s much more about all of us being open to what writing can do - as well as being present to what real relationships and communication can do. That approach is also much more fun!
Thank you for this column and for your other writing.
In K12 land the insistence on AI makes me want to puke. Our students are neither literate nor computer literate, but let's worry about AI literacy.
I don't mind praising it when praising is due. It has uses. (I'm no Luddite.) But goodness.
Thanks as always for the thoughtful read!
Dear John Warner,
I have not been a paid subscriber since discovering you on Substack (via Autin Kleon), but I just became one, after reflecting on your question about what a resistance movement to preserve humanity looks like now.
For me, one stream of nourishing a resistance required is in reading. I look to Victor Frankl, a psychiatrist imprisoned in Auschwitz. He was curious about the people who weren't outright murdered during the Holocaust, why did some live and some die? His answer was that somehow they found a meaning to keep living, that their suffering had a purpose. His meaning was to stay alive so he could bear witness to what he was witnessed so the world would know what happened.
Your writing is grounded, whole-hearted truth telling and has become an important voice in my continuing search for a meaning to live the dark days we are living in. Two weeks ago today, I lost my husband of 50 to a terrible fast growing cancer. This sorrow, along with the mess of our world, has pushed me to keep the reasons to stay alive forefront in my mind and heart…..to be of use to others, to let love lead as much as I can, to channel the goodness I have received from my beloved and so many dear friends. I read Timothy Snyder, Rebecca Solnit, Parker Palmer, Hannah Arendt; people who believe in democracy and will stand up (and stand out) by telling the truth that others may not want to hear. In "On Tyranny" Tim Snyder asks "if none of us is prepared to die for freedom, all of us will die under tyranny".
His the preface of his most recent book "On Freedom", he says "Freedom is not just an absence of evil, but the presence of good".
Another way to nourish a resistance is support intelligent, courageous writers and journalists who are sounding the alarm and sharing resources for ways be active and stay hopeful (just on Substack: Heather Cox Richardson, Jessica Craven, Robert Hubbel, the Meidas Touch).
I think our "resistance" in this time of crises is to continue to BE that presence of good in whatever way we can, with everyone we can. Biblioracle in my email every week is one “presence of good" that strengthens me in this bleakness. Your courageous writing is "Hope in the Dark" (thank you Rebeca Solnit). Keep writing, you ARE part of the resistance.
Thank you, thank you. Mary Kay Neumann
Mary Kay: My condolences on your husband's passing, and my thanks for these deep and thoughtful words about my writing and the world. I think there is hope as long as we keep putting our humanity forward and insisting it matters, even in the face of so much that indicates otherwise. Your note has truly touched me, this holiday season. I hope your husband's memory is a blessing for all days.
When did we start believing that the most human of professions should mimic the cold logic of machines?
I’ve literally commented this morning on another post that described the internet as the ‘greatest learning invention’ because I disagree.
Most efficient? Broadest ranging? Yes.
But I Google all sorts out of pure curiosity and I remember none of it long-term.
The inconvenient path leads to much more meaningful, sticky learning.
The lesson learnt the hard way teaches us the most.
Streamlining is a way to eliminate learning and make education meaningless.
I think.