Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #2235121 in Books
• Published on: 1993-03
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 64 pages

From Publishers Weekly
Novelist Davies, master of Massey College of the University of Toronto, delivered this volume's two essays in the Tanner Lectures series at Yale in 1991. In them he surprises, delights and educates with his views of literature's power to "reveal marvelous things about life." His use of that power and his spirited wit entertain even as he decries readers satisfied by "junk food for the mind" and other kinds of bad writing. Making unexpected links--e.g., comparing Tom Wolfe's Bonfire of the Vanities to St. Paul's principles--Davies argues convincingly that writing of genuine merit is rooted in lasting moral standards. This small volume's merit amply supports his argument.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Customer Reviews

Insightful to Motivating
As indicated, these essays were originally given as lectures. Forturnately they were saved and published. That in itself illustrates the various ways information can be produced and distributed. Being a communicator, I found what Davies had to say to be, what I would consider to be "informative to motivational."

In responding to inquiries about how to be a writer, Davies basically says writers are born. You either have the talent or your don't. He goes on to point out that art is elitist, not democratic, and in fact is older than the idea of democracy. The lesson one could infer from this is, discover your gift and cultivate it. Don't seek to be what you're not, build on your God given strengths.