Lost in Thought, Part 7
Dear Reader,
Turning to the Epilogue, I should probably note its title: “The Everyday Intellectual.” That title is one I personally have no interest in. This is largely because of two things—an acquaintance with far too many pseudo-intellectuals in undergrad and an awareness of the myriad errors of intellectual culture. I am not, perhaps to the surprise of some readers, attached to being an intellectual of any stripe, nor will I accept that title.
But a good reader reads past titles that may not be auspicious, and Zena Hitz’s Epilogue does indeed have something worth our continued attention:
”One of the diseases of our spectacle-ridden culture is that we forget that the invisible life has all the human splendor of the visible one, and often more. I have had in mind all along, and have appealed to where possible, the humble bookworm, the amateur naturalist, the contemplative taxi driver. If you, like me, are naturally drawn to achievement, collect examples of ordinary thinkers—human beings whose splendor is known only to a few, their family, their neighbors, their coworkers.”
As it’s part of the Epilogue, the quote is best supported by the pages of text that went before, but even without that context, it’s a lovely thought. It’s among the reasons I have enjoyed sharing parts of the book in this newsletter and recommended it to so many readers.
A thread through the book is invitingness. It possesses an egalitarian spirit only too rare among those who value the life of the mind, and, more narrowly, reading. Even if it’s only the bits I’ve highlighted from Hitz’s book, I hope you’ve found the invitation a warm and encouraging one.
Here’s to the invisible lives,
Kreigh
P.S. That’s it! While I technically have one more piece coming that interacts with Lost in Thought, we’re down to once-a-week posting starting next week and no more pieces directly inspired by Lost in Thought.