Samuel Johnson once said that a man will turn over a half a library to write a book. I read tons & tons in order to bring forth these three minute talks. Recently I found two books that will feed me ideas for at least thirty of these talks -- sixty if I even try to tell you half of the wonderful things in these books. What books?
Most of you know of Bill Moyers, who appears on Public television and conducts interviews. Over the years he must have conducted hundreds of interviews; recently he came out with two books -- out now in paperback -- the text of some of the interviews he conducted.
There is no point in listing the many, many people whose words are presented in these books. Names are just names -- you'll recognize some, not recognize others. But what these people have to say is wonderful -- and wonderfully diverse -- there are artists, scientists, politicians, teachers, activists -- prominent people from all fields.
I will throw at you just a few -- a very few of the ideas contained in these two wonderfully thick books of interviews. “There is a history of complicity in Science with the forces of aggression." Think about it. Isn't that a terrible truth: Science does, in many ways, help aggressive countries, people, be more aggressive."Every real dialogue is loving combat" If you are arguing with someone, it is because they are someone worth convincing. If you hated them, or had contempt for them -- you wouldn't bother. "Every real dialogue is loving combat."
“A performer can cause people Not to remember that they must cough." What a funny definition of a great performer--the audience is so mesmerized, it forgets to cough. Or, if people are coughing the performance can't be that good.
"Six of the ten warmest years of the last century occurred in the 1980’s. Shouldn't that tell all of us something? And for those of you who say -- hasn't this been a cold summer after a cold winter -- Global warming experts said, long ago, that global warming will be characterized by wild fluctuations in weather.
I'll end this series of examples with a puzzling statement -- one I won't explain -- maybe that will make you buy the books. The statement is made by Robert Bly -- and the interview is so good, I xeroxed two copies -- one for my son who is in counseling psychology, and one for a friend who long ago recommended Robert Bly to me. "In order to become an American, it's necessary, first of all, to reject your father."
I cannot recommend these two books highly enough. Bill Moyers' Interviews--Volume one & Volume two.
Copyright © 2004 Henry Morgenstein