Wednesday, April 28, 2004
Better Books
My dad's reading all these business books now. For pleasure. So, you got it right: he works a longer-than-40-hour week; upon leaving for home he takes more work home with him; and then when he's got pleasure time . . . he reads books about how to turn a good company into a great one.
Damn it, I know that if it makes him happy, I should just shut up about it. But enough's enough. That's not the point. The point is, he still likes movies. He's kind of at that Jay Leno phase of movie-watching. He wants an uplifting film. He knows what he likes. He knows what he doesn't like. He wants to see, "A good picture." He wants to see something that's "not too far out there", meaning, none of that comic book or fantasy or horror stuff. He wants to see something with a good message. He doesn't want something depressing or graphic. "A nice picture."
Fine. There are still plenty of nice pictures. Just because he's narrowed his movie choices shouldn't leave him with business reading. How are these two things connected? Well, I don't know. I'm making this point up as I go. It's a free site, who are you to complain? Anyway, the point I'm making is there IS something out there redeeming beyond non-fiction business reading.
Maybe he needs some Steinbeck. You can't lose with Steinbeck. A craftsman of words, but none of that showy business. Always a "nice story" but not carrying any of the schmaltz that Hollywood lugs. Father's Day's coming up. I may be onto something.
Damn it, I know that if it makes him happy, I should just shut up about it. But enough's enough. That's not the point. The point is, he still likes movies. He's kind of at that Jay Leno phase of movie-watching. He wants an uplifting film. He knows what he likes. He knows what he doesn't like. He wants to see, "A good picture." He wants to see something that's "not too far out there", meaning, none of that comic book or fantasy or horror stuff. He wants to see something with a good message. He doesn't want something depressing or graphic. "A nice picture."
Fine. There are still plenty of nice pictures. Just because he's narrowed his movie choices shouldn't leave him with business reading. How are these two things connected? Well, I don't know. I'm making this point up as I go. It's a free site, who are you to complain? Anyway, the point I'm making is there IS something out there redeeming beyond non-fiction business reading.
Maybe he needs some Steinbeck. You can't lose with Steinbeck. A craftsman of words, but none of that showy business. Always a "nice story" but not carrying any of the schmaltz that Hollywood lugs. Father's Day's coming up. I may be onto something.
