Lately I’ve been more inclined towards long-form — both in writing and in reading. I’m back in the rhythm I had in 2007: writing actual essays at a rate of one-per-week.
Maybe that’s the last thing people want, but it’s where I perceive a need. It’s also where I’m most likely to add unique value and distinguish myself.
I’m also playing with formats a little: maybe, if I’m going through with more comprehensive pieces, it might be good to incorporate audio and visual elements so different types of learners have opportunities to get more out of it.
As for content:
- I’m close to finishing an essay on creativity (expanding on Saturday’s talk).
- I have a substantial portion of an essay on education (expanding on Monday’s EduPunk panel).
- Following some discussion on Twitter about the local transit strike, I have some fresh insights into the question of unions — something that I’ve struggled to get a rational handle on for years.
As for reading:
The Craftsman, Richard Sennett – I’ve anticipated this for a long time. Finished it the other day and it didn’t disappoint — both for quality and appropriateness to what I’m working on:
Defining craftsmanship far more broadly than “skilled manual labor,” Richard Sennett maintains that the computer programmer, the doctor, the artist, and even the parent and citizen engage in a craftsman’s work. Craftsmanship names the basic human impulse to do a job well for its own sake, says the author, and good craftsmanship involves developing skills and focusing on the work rather than ourselves. In this thought-provoking book, one of our most distinguished public intellectuals explores the work of craftsmen past and present, identifies deep connections between material consciousness and ethical values, and challenges received ideas about what constitutes good work in today’s world. [Yale Press | interview]
Say Everything: How Blogging Began, Where It’s Going, and Why It Matters, Scott Rosenberg – I grabbed this for the sake of “covering the literature” — thinking I’d just peruse it — and I got sucked into the personality-driven stories of how blogging evolved.
Glimmer: How Design Can Transform Your Life, and Maybe Even the World, Warren Berger – I mentioned this on Saturday. It’s about design thinking, specifically through the lens of Bruce Mau Design [interview], a studio I’ve taken a lot of inspiration from and was grateful to have visited last week.
What I’m really excited about is getting back into philosophy. The recent talks have drawn me back to José Ortega y Gasset, John Dewey, William James, and especially A.N. Whitehead. I also found a giant volume of Charles Sanders Peirce’s most important work, which I’m picking apart for the essay on creativity.
Ultimately, by revisiting those influences (and relearning how to read that stuff!) my feeling is that I’m moving another step closer to capping off (and capitalizing on) all the work I’ve done in the past 5 – 7 years… as I’ve said before.
Background: A Bunch of Stuff I’ve Read.
