I suppose that a critic will advise you to edit your material in a way that would appeal to the Bell curve of readers, and I'm sure that this is what your friend intended. But at the same time, I will respectfully disagree. If your audience is a reader of the Great Books, then your quotes from philosophers are of tremendous importance to place your ideas on Civility within the context of the Great Conversation. I would beg you for a copy with all those quotes because for me, it places your book at a certain location within the constellation of Great Ideas. Secondly, personal stories are not "self-indulgent" because a great many of your readers will relate to the material better that way than any other. Without personal narrative, (to many readers) the information is useless and distant. This reader would be defined as Mary Belenky's "Situated Knower," the person who understands by seeing themselves inside the story. Empathically connecting to the principles you describe in your own life. Therefore, your friend may be right about connecting to the Bell curve of readership, but arent they also capable of grasping the concepts that you set forth naturally from your writing soul? Isnt that the point of the Great Ideas, that the common man can grasp them and see their beauty? Therefore, I implore you to keep those elements of your creative soul (in some way), and leave them as gems that some may find.
Well, I always appreciate the research you do for me on so many subjects, priceless but forgotten, until you re-exposed me to matters that really count and should be perpetuated. I will email you about your 'journey' through the book - which is nothing short of incredible. Your mind is so special!
Hi Lexi,
I hope to share with you my thoughts https://madhukrishnadasa.substack.com/ and potentially collaborate.
Here is the "Treatise" available for discussion, https://madhukrishnadasa.substack.com/p/sovereigntree-new-wayold-way-together
I hope this meets you well, Madhu
I suppose that a critic will advise you to edit your material in a way that would appeal to the Bell curve of readers, and I'm sure that this is what your friend intended. But at the same time, I will respectfully disagree. If your audience is a reader of the Great Books, then your quotes from philosophers are of tremendous importance to place your ideas on Civility within the context of the Great Conversation. I would beg you for a copy with all those quotes because for me, it places your book at a certain location within the constellation of Great Ideas. Secondly, personal stories are not "self-indulgent" because a great many of your readers will relate to the material better that way than any other. Without personal narrative, (to many readers) the information is useless and distant. This reader would be defined as Mary Belenky's "Situated Knower," the person who understands by seeing themselves inside the story. Empathically connecting to the principles you describe in your own life. Therefore, your friend may be right about connecting to the Bell curve of readership, but arent they also capable of grasping the concepts that you set forth naturally from your writing soul? Isnt that the point of the Great Ideas, that the common man can grasp them and see their beauty? Therefore, I implore you to keep those elements of your creative soul (in some way), and leave them as gems that some may find.
Well, I always appreciate the research you do for me on so many subjects, priceless but forgotten, until you re-exposed me to matters that really count and should be perpetuated. I will email you about your 'journey' through the book - which is nothing short of incredible. Your mind is so special!