I'm with you on biographies and fiction reads. I absolutely love biographies/memoirs and find that I can resonate best with the author through this deeply personal style of writing. I also agree with what you're saying about self-help books - I've been playing with this idea myself. I find that the authors tend to have a dogmatic view on their principles and I often question the validity of their claims/advice. Thank you for a solid read!
Your (always wonderful) piece reminded me of a book which I can sum up into “The life of a common man, written in an uncommon and perfect way”. It’s “Stoner” by John Williams. You can’t ask yourself what’s so interesting about this uninteresting man. That’s the power of writing.
This is why I wrote my own book. I wanted to talk about ideas important to me, through my own stories.
I'm curious if you've read Ben Hur and your thoughts on it? It was the first fiction book I have read in a long time. It helped me see that truth you put so succinctly:
"these made-up stories are always the reflection of real stuff"
I haven't read it. But I know about it. It used to be a movie they'd always show on tv when I was little. One of those ancient films, you know. I'll have to pick it up one day -- I'm intrigued by what you say about it. "It was the first fiction book I have read in a long time. It helped me see that truth you put so succinctly" -- this is no small feat. Thank you for always being here, Steven! :)
I’m totally with you on this idea. “Why would a biography of an ordinary individual be less interesting to read?” Though in a way, these blog-newsletters we share as writers succeed based on this principle, that we crave to hear each other's stories. In fact, sometimes the more ordinary the better. Ordinariness, in a way, less obscures the miracle of just being human in its report. I think that's why so many of us are fans of yours.
Yes, I think these substacks have filled a void, as far as I'm concerned. And craving to hear each others' stories, as you rightly pointed out, is a tangible desire, almost a hidden portion of our consciousness. Thank you for a profound and interesting thought, as always. I so look forward to reading your comments every time. :)
I'm very intrigued by this idea that the craving to hear each other stories is a hidden portion of our consciousness. As you know I've been running this Pivot to the Podium project, so my radar is piqued for insights related to our lives as storytellers, and story consumers. Your comment strikes a cord. So much of our lives and attention gravitate to human stories, with the media often serving a kind story junk food, some of the entertainment industry serving more nutrient dense story snacks, and the best writing, literature, and personal friendships providing the most healthy and enriching story nutrition. Just playing with the idea, but there is something in this. It occurs to me we'd be better off being more conscious consumers of our story food, because I think you're right, its an under-acknowledged facet of our well-being.
Totally. And I couldn’t have articulated it better. Thank you for expanding on something I was clearly struggling to find the right words for. And, again, I’d love to discuss all this and more live, one day.
Thank you Silvio!! The prompt of your essay and our dialogue has given me something very useful to work with for my own writing. That's why I keep coming back my friend. : )
Oct 2, 2023·edited Oct 2, 2023Liked by Silvio Castelletti
I'm also fascinated by biographies, especially the ones written by Isaacson, and now more fascinated by the ordinary biographies you propose. I'm not sure I'd read a random one, I think I'd have to be invested in the person to pick it up first, but I would definitely read one by you or people I've met that are more "ordinary". I'm all for the mundane, for the everyday, and think what you say is spot-on.
By the way, read this sort of mini-review of Musk's biography which seemingly has a lot of truth in it, after we've both read that biography we can comment ;)
Thank you so much, Oscar. Punctual and intriguing, as always. I'll check out the link, although I wouldn't want to spoil my reading of it. "But I would definitely read one by you or people I've met that are more "ordinary". I'm all for the mundane, for the everyday" -- likewise, I'd be intrigued by yours! :)
I bristle at this at first, Silvio, but then I realize that I may be coming up against my own biases. It reminds me of those eras of painting where suddenly common people were depicted, and everything changed. Or when Andy Warhol made art out of pop-culture, and declared that everyone would get their 15 minutes of fame.
Maybe as Rick pointed out, we are living through a time like that.
Ah! Interesting thought. I know very little about paintings (and eras of painting), but I see how your idea fits what I tried to convey. Thank you so much for this intriguing remark, Taylor. I really appreciate your reading this. :)
I avoid the kind of self help non-fiction you mention. I like some biographies, but many I skip over. The kind of non-fiction I really like is narrative non-fiction, where a good writer skilfully weaves real life events into a good story. That, when done well, is better than fiction. At least to me.
I can't wait to read your autobiography
That might be a long wait lol. Thank you, Yehudis! :)
I'm with you on biographies and fiction reads. I absolutely love biographies/memoirs and find that I can resonate best with the author through this deeply personal style of writing. I also agree with what you're saying about self-help books - I've been playing with this idea myself. I find that the authors tend to have a dogmatic view on their principles and I often question the validity of their claims/advice. Thank you for a solid read!
Thank you so much for reading, Olivia. Glad this resonated and that we're in sync on these themes. :)
Your (always wonderful) piece reminded me of a book which I can sum up into “The life of a common man, written in an uncommon and perfect way”. It’s “Stoner” by John Williams. You can’t ask yourself what’s so interesting about this uninteresting man. That’s the power of writing.
Yes! I know Stoner. I've read it years ago and loved it. Great parallel, Martino. I wouldn't expect any less from you, after all. Thank you!
Thank you Silvio!
This is why I wrote my own book. I wanted to talk about ideas important to me, through my own stories.
I'm curious if you've read Ben Hur and your thoughts on it? It was the first fiction book I have read in a long time. It helped me see that truth you put so succinctly:
"these made-up stories are always the reflection of real stuff"
I haven't read it. But I know about it. It used to be a movie they'd always show on tv when I was little. One of those ancient films, you know. I'll have to pick it up one day -- I'm intrigued by what you say about it. "It was the first fiction book I have read in a long time. It helped me see that truth you put so succinctly" -- this is no small feat. Thank you for always being here, Steven! :)
I’m totally with you on this idea. “Why would a biography of an ordinary individual be less interesting to read?” Though in a way, these blog-newsletters we share as writers succeed based on this principle, that we crave to hear each other's stories. In fact, sometimes the more ordinary the better. Ordinariness, in a way, less obscures the miracle of just being human in its report. I think that's why so many of us are fans of yours.
Yes, I think these substacks have filled a void, as far as I'm concerned. And craving to hear each others' stories, as you rightly pointed out, is a tangible desire, almost a hidden portion of our consciousness. Thank you for a profound and interesting thought, as always. I so look forward to reading your comments every time. :)
I'm very intrigued by this idea that the craving to hear each other stories is a hidden portion of our consciousness. As you know I've been running this Pivot to the Podium project, so my radar is piqued for insights related to our lives as storytellers, and story consumers. Your comment strikes a cord. So much of our lives and attention gravitate to human stories, with the media often serving a kind story junk food, some of the entertainment industry serving more nutrient dense story snacks, and the best writing, literature, and personal friendships providing the most healthy and enriching story nutrition. Just playing with the idea, but there is something in this. It occurs to me we'd be better off being more conscious consumers of our story food, because I think you're right, its an under-acknowledged facet of our well-being.
Totally. And I couldn’t have articulated it better. Thank you for expanding on something I was clearly struggling to find the right words for. And, again, I’d love to discuss all this and more live, one day.
Thank you Silvio!! The prompt of your essay and our dialogue has given me something very useful to work with for my own writing. That's why I keep coming back my friend. : )
Always welcome here :)
I agree - biographies can be inspiring. They also add shade and texture to the works (or deeds) they are famous for.
They do, I agree. Thank you, David.
I'm also fascinated by biographies, especially the ones written by Isaacson, and now more fascinated by the ordinary biographies you propose. I'm not sure I'd read a random one, I think I'd have to be invested in the person to pick it up first, but I would definitely read one by you or people I've met that are more "ordinary". I'm all for the mundane, for the everyday, and think what you say is spot-on.
By the way, read this sort of mini-review of Musk's biography which seemingly has a lot of truth in it, after we've both read that biography we can comment ;)
https://twitter.com/TinkeredThinker/status/1702649576396898729
Thank you so much, Oscar. Punctual and intriguing, as always. I'll check out the link, although I wouldn't want to spoil my reading of it. "But I would definitely read one by you or people I've met that are more "ordinary". I'm all for the mundane, for the everyday" -- likewise, I'd be intrigued by yours! :)
I bristle at this at first, Silvio, but then I realize that I may be coming up against my own biases. It reminds me of those eras of painting where suddenly common people were depicted, and everything changed. Or when Andy Warhol made art out of pop-culture, and declared that everyone would get their 15 minutes of fame.
Maybe as Rick pointed out, we are living through a time like that.
Thank you for the perspective
Ah! Interesting thought. I know very little about paintings (and eras of painting), but I see how your idea fits what I tried to convey. Thank you so much for this intriguing remark, Taylor. I really appreciate your reading this. :)
I avoid the kind of self help non-fiction you mention. I like some biographies, but many I skip over. The kind of non-fiction I really like is narrative non-fiction, where a good writer skilfully weaves real life events into a good story. That, when done well, is better than fiction. At least to me.