“The reward of a thing well done, is to have done it.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson In his book Second Nature: A Gardener’s Education, Michael Pollan explores the dichotomy between natural growth and deliberate cultivation. He recounts his gardening experiences, beginning in childhood, and explores ethical questions that arise from altering nature for the sake … More Earthly Entitlements
I’d like to offer a comic video from Steve Simeone. He jokes about sibling rivalry and I’m going to loosely connect it with Paul Kalinithi’s book When Breath Becomes Air, which explores the meaning of life through his experience as a neurosurgeon who develops lung cancer at the age of 36. Here’s a link to Kalinithi’s NYT … More Get Lit with Kit #24
Children’s books are often dismissed by “serious readers” yet these picture stories frequently offer sophisticated wisdoms. It’s a shame to think that they have nothing to offer. One of my favorite picture book authors is Allen Say, you can see in these interviews what a special soul he is (I strongly recommend watching all of the clips). … More Get Lit with Kit #20
“Life and death are in the hands of the tongue.” – Proverbs 18:21 Judaism stresses the dangers and destructive nature of Lashon HaRa (evil speech). It is an egregious infraction that, when committed, has the potential to reap irreparable harm. Indeed, once a person has been defamed, it is nearly impossible for him to reclaim … More Pretty Little Liars
It seems like our world is tearing at the seams. The regression of ideas and behavior, after years of effort and sacrifice, is discouraging. We are losing our ability to connect with others and with ourselves. Yet, “we can’t change a situation if we haven’t taken responsibility for our share of it.” (I lament that … More Histories
Caught between two worlds, the children of refugees seek to reconcile the old and the new. They live in a dichotomy where deep-rooted culture clashes with progressive dynamism. At home are the vestiges of a life left behind; in the streets, novel experiences. I recently met Ify, the daughter of Nigerian refugees (her art is … More The Lost Children
I read Gordon Parks’s biography 15 years ago. I was teaching in the South Bronx at the time, and was holed up in the disheveled, musty book room trying to find a book to teach my Sophomores. Sitting on the shelf, next to several tattered editions of the 1971 paperback The Negro in the City was a lone copy … More A Choice of Weapons
Find the balance. 