Book Report, part 2

After my last Book Report a month ago, I got into three more books this summer.

The first book I read was Moral Ambition by Rutger Bregman. Like most Americans, I discovered him on Instagram. His podcast is very popular but in his native language of Dutch. Over the past five years, I have become more interested in history and social issues. I've always been interested but now I'm seeking books to read on the topics. Moral Ambition covers a lot of topics to say one thing: do something with your life. But don't just do anything, do something that makes a positive impact on life, society, the planet. When I think of the question, I'm transported back in time to my Intro to Literature class in college. The professor would go off on these animated tangents that I found very entertaining. "I hate going to parties and being asked what I do. What do you do? What do I do? For a living? Oh, what's my job? Yes..." Your job doesn't necessarily make your identity but your job can make a difference in the world. As we all learned during the pandemic some jobs are really important: the essential jobs. But is there more? Do some jobs offer more impact than others? Yes but let's start at the bottom, the "bullshit jobs." "Language Mr. Doggett!" No, really: anthropologist David Graeber coined the technical term to describe a job that doesn't have much value. A job that if the workers went on strike, no one would care; an influencer, marketer, lobbyist, manager, consultant, corporate lawyer; those jobs. And here's the best part, the more immoral the job, the more money they pay. For example, if you work in the tobacco industry promoting cigarettes to kids , you're making bank! Despite the job that you currently have or might have in the future, you can still make a difference. So many people discussed in the book were ordinary until they decided to do something. Some were intrinsically motivated. Psychologist Cass Sunstein labeled them zeros because they required zero encouragement to take action. "The zeros ignite the ones, the ones ignite the twos, and then there's no stopping it." p. 37 I found the ones and twos to be most interesting. Let's be honest, we'd all like to be zeros but the truth is, we're not. The most interesting description of ones and twos was that they simply needed to be asked. "Do you disagree with slavery?" "Do you want to save this Jew?" "Do you want to participate in my charity?" By a zero asking the question, the ones and twos took action. That's what makes zeros so important; they ask questions. Maybe you're not a zero but you could act like one. That's the call to action and that's what the book is about.

The second book I read was What Art Does: An Unfinished Theory by Brian Eno with illistrations by Bette A. Another book that is also a call to action; to defend the arts. The opening words are "making art seems to be a universal human activity." On the second page he adds, "It's easy to understand why language is so universal, but we don't seem to have a very clear picture of why art should also be." And page 5, "If we can't answer that question then we shouldn't be surprised when governments marginalise the arts and humanities in education..." What follows is an enjoyable and logical reflection of what art does and why it is important. We interact with art every day and sometimes we don't realise it. As I write this, I'm looking around the room and identifying every functional object: door knob, door, light switch, ceiling light, lamp, table, chair, shoes, laptop computer, suitcase, bed, flower vase, laundry basket. All of those objects have a specific purpose and what makes them identifiable is their specific function. But then art steps in; that door doesn't look like every door, that door knob doesn't look like every door knob, that light switch doesn't look like every light switch. An artistic thought and action made the objects unique. This can be taken a step further; use the object in an unintended way. The shade of the ceiling lamp could be worn as a hat, the table could be played like a drum, or the chair could be a step to access the top of a shelf. That's art! The book is a fun read and a must-have for anyone that might find themselves trying to defend the arts...and that should be everyone.

And my third book was also by Brian Eno, A Year with Swollen Appendices. I revisit this book about every year. Some entries in A Year appear in What Art Does. It's nice to see an artist evolve and develop ideas. I think everything is worth revisiting even if the answer is "it's fine the way it is" but if not, why not see what can be done with it now that you've matured. Brian Eno is such a down-to-Earth artsy rock star; maybe I aspire to be like him. Not a bad role model. He cares for the planet and humanity, sees art in everything, and helps others make great art. Yeah,

As always, thank you for reading this and I hope it inspires you to read.