If you haven’t read Verlyn Klinkenborg’s piece in today’s New York Times, here’s a chance to read it now.
Called ‘The Decline and Fall of the English Major,” it considers the tangible and intangible benefits of reading good literature.
Klinkenborg is one of my favorite writers, and in this piece he seems to be speaking for me as well as for himself. Click the link above and enjoy.
You Knew What I Meant 
June 23rd, 2013 at 1:45 pm
Thanks for sharing the Times article. The price for not being readers is corrupting our culture.
June 23rd, 2013 at 2:32 pm
Absolutely. Not only impoverishing us as writers and thinkers, but also stunting the development of empathy. Three ESSENTIALS for culture and the common good.
June 25th, 2013 at 10:28 am
So true! Ditto completely
June 23rd, 2013 at 2:51 pm
I agree with you and this article tenfold. The humanities are essential to making us better contributors to mankind.
June 23rd, 2013 at 2:57 pm
Now that I’m back from pitbull paradise, I’ll be devouring the Times article. Danke!
June 24th, 2013 at 12:19 am
Thank you. I missed this today. J.
June 24th, 2013 at 9:08 am
Thanks, John. And I miss you!
June 24th, 2013 at 10:15 pm
Great reading. Thanks for the link. But, oh, that shrinking number of English majors.
June 25th, 2013 at 12:04 am
I think of it as a shrinking quotient of happiness.
June 25th, 2013 at 10:27 am
Thanks for the wonderful article. As I watch/listen/read these days, I can only shake my head…so many just don’t seem to get it: what writing/communicating is about. Stringing big impressive words (ego trip?) which, yes, say something – and sounds “elevated” or knowledgable – but the message’s meaning isn’t served well. Then there are those who can’t string words into any intelligent messages at all.
In an attempt to make “education” relevant, it looks like much has been lost. Not only the ability to communicate, but what is in good literature has been ignored: lessons on life (like bullying, cause and effect, responsibilities, sense of duty and loyalty, overcoming adversity)
And of course, literature is a reflection of society – history….and those who don’t know it are doomed…..)
Terrific post
July 15th, 2013 at 10:29 pm
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