What a wonderful, thoughtful post. I am also a great believer in lifelong learning. Jenn articulated why better than I could. Thank you! May we never lose our curiosity.
I consider myself a life-long learner, although not on the same level. I started a seven year college education when I was 51-years-old, and although I'm now retired from the career that gave me, I still write about it in order to continue to use what I learned. But I also love reading and online courses. I felt guilty about not implementing what I was learning fast enough, until I decided to just acknowledge that just the act of the learning of things is ok...I don't have to "produce" from it unless I want to. One of the things I do when I look at magazines that include photos of others' bookshelves is to zoom in (either my iPad or with an actual magnifying glass) at the books. What are "they" reading? I already put two of the books you mentioned onto my tbr list Beth. Thank you for those, and for this interview.
Interesting read. I first learned of the magic person concept when a film critic referred to one of a series of movies some years ago as reflecting “the magical negro” - once grasping the concept I then began seeing its other forms in films and books.
Wow - where to start. I was a teacher for 40 and have just retired this past school year. I have always enjoyed reading but with work, I never had time for it. Now that I'm retired, I'm on a couple of substacks where we read things. I'm going to be reading Richard III and The Iliad.
I always felt dumb in my family until I went to college and graduated with high honors. I also remember talking to a teacher this year whose student is having trouble in math. She invited the parents to come in and see her, they refused. It hurts to see parents closed off to learning because that translates to their kids.
No but it is a lot harder to get critical thinking skills from other places. But as a prof myself, I heartily agree that college is not all good, nor is it indeed for everybody.
How grateful I am to have been forced to be a life long learner - Secondary school disrupted at 13 by emigrating to the US then again at 16 by travelling back to UK. Then leaving school before A Levels because of an offer of an acting job followed by thirty years in theatre with no opportunity to go to drama school or university. Completing an MA without a BA, then teaching at University level. I could only survive any of this thanks to books, books and more books. I’m now retired and for the past four years have been on a whole new learning journey writing my first book - requiring me to read copiously, including here on Substack, sometimes the same books as I’ve read before but with a new eye providing a double lesson. I can’t imagine life without focusing on learning. How dull it would be. (And loved the peek at your bookshelf).
What a wonderful, thoughtful post. I am also a great believer in lifelong learning. Jenn articulated why better than I could. Thank you! May we never lose our curiosity.
I consider myself a life-long learner, although not on the same level. I started a seven year college education when I was 51-years-old, and although I'm now retired from the career that gave me, I still write about it in order to continue to use what I learned. But I also love reading and online courses. I felt guilty about not implementing what I was learning fast enough, until I decided to just acknowledge that just the act of the learning of things is ok...I don't have to "produce" from it unless I want to. One of the things I do when I look at magazines that include photos of others' bookshelves is to zoom in (either my iPad or with an actual magnifying glass) at the books. What are "they" reading? I already put two of the books you mentioned onto my tbr list Beth. Thank you for those, and for this interview.
“Good literature… works like either a mirror or a window” - I love this, such a great way of thinking about it! I think the same applies to film.
Yeah, for sure. Narratives across media.
Great essay. I love the "mirror or window" analogy, and how book banners are trying to make books only mirrors.
Thank you Jenn. Thank you, Matthew!
Interesting read. I first learned of the magic person concept when a film critic referred to one of a series of movies some years ago as reflecting “the magical negro” - once grasping the concept I then began seeing its other forms in films and books.
Wow - where to start. I was a teacher for 40 and have just retired this past school year. I have always enjoyed reading but with work, I never had time for it. Now that I'm retired, I'm on a couple of substacks where we read things. I'm going to be reading Richard III and The Iliad.
I always felt dumb in my family until I went to college and graduated with high honors. I also remember talking to a teacher this year whose student is having trouble in math. She invited the parents to come in and see her, they refused. It hurts to see parents closed off to learning because that translates to their kids.
College isn't all good, at least for critical thinking. The us good, them bad political climate will make you stupider, not smarter
I was a little crabby here Matthew. Shame on me but I had just finished a journalism textbook and was fit to be tied : )
No but it is a lot harder to get critical thinking skills from other places. But as a prof myself, I heartily agree that college is not all good, nor is it indeed for everybody.
How grateful I am to have been forced to be a life long learner - Secondary school disrupted at 13 by emigrating to the US then again at 16 by travelling back to UK. Then leaving school before A Levels because of an offer of an acting job followed by thirty years in theatre with no opportunity to go to drama school or university. Completing an MA without a BA, then teaching at University level. I could only survive any of this thanks to books, books and more books. I’m now retired and for the past four years have been on a whole new learning journey writing my first book - requiring me to read copiously, including here on Substack, sometimes the same books as I’ve read before but with a new eye providing a double lesson. I can’t imagine life without focusing on learning. How dull it would be. (And loved the peek at your bookshelf).