Comment by X on Friday, Dec 14 at 07:28 PM

"Greatest writer of his generation," somebody said. I thought the part about the talking anuses was rather tasteless. "Greatest writer of his generation." Is that a compliment or an insult? I jest. I concede he's an artist. He makes up for what life is missing. He gives tangibility to love, so you have something to latch onto when all is forsaken. He comes from a loving family. I can't say as much for myself. Maybe that's why I'm jealous. What do people need? I would say, a reason to live, a claim to evolution. Drawing lessons from him, love is necessary, but if I don't have love at my disposal, what else is there? Love is only number three on Maslow's hierarchy of needs. If you don't have a loving family like he does, you can still recognize yourself in humanity as an entity. You don't need to go, "food, shelter, love, self-esteem, self-actualization." You can just go straight from food and shelter to self-actualization, because it implies the other two, although in an abstract sense. But what are characters but abstractions of people? They can replace real people if your life is empty. If you're a fiction writer, you can be the loneliest person in the world without fear. You can attain "greatness" without anybody's help. This is the antithesis of Jonathan's message, but it's the only way out for me. So now Time is my only enemy. That simplifies everything.

Comment by lorraine white on Friday, May 11 at 01:37 PM

Your new website heightens my enjoyment & comprehension, understanding --today's archive Jonathon Foer remarkable in clarity, depth, connection. Thanks!