tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8205011361740478772.post6936094714828327376..comments2024-01-22T00:39:34.849-08:00Comments on melissa shook: "What Are Intellectuals Good For?" by George Scialabbamelissashookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02398008713376655570noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8205011361740478772.post-78793270665890780652009-06-14T14:07:26.905-07:002009-06-14T14:07:26.905-07:00Susan, I think you'd like George who is very s...Susan, I think you'd like George who is very soft-spoken, surprisingly charming in a modest way. I met him briefly at a book coming-out-party that Bill Corbett organized at Brookline Booksmith. George is truly an 'independent intellectual,' who works at a university in a non-academic capacity. I admire anyone who has kept himself free of the ordinary compromise that so many positions, including faculty, often demand. <br /><br />Mim, I think that if you read a bit of his book, you'd understand why he assumes that the sheer volume of knowledge that's available now (partly because of scientific and technical advances) makes it virtually impossible not to specialize in given area. That's why it's so interesting to read about the 40s and 50s, the New York writers.melissashookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02398008713376655570noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8205011361740478772.post-5929437743785188872009-06-14T06:39:06.685-07:002009-06-14T06:39:06.685-07:00"What Are Intellectuals Good For": to as..."What Are Intellectuals Good For": to ask the questions is defensive. What's made intellectuals defensive? Maybe all the criticism from the right directed at the "eastern establishment elite." Those New York intellectuals were not perfect masters of every subject. I believe "casual authority over a whole range of" subjects is still possible--with enough brilliance.Mimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13039776441665375475noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8205011361740478772.post-83112096987258149192009-06-14T05:53:02.172-07:002009-06-14T05:53:02.172-07:00The cover looks intriguing, for sure--but not sure...The cover looks intriguing, for sure--but not sure I would have read as much as you did.<br />Those Trillings! I picture being in their gracious upper-West side salon, listening to their high-toned conversation, and being secretly pleased whenever Norman Mailer shows up and proceeds to be boorish and drunk...susan t. landryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12454487318141469849noreply@blogger.com