League of Inveterate Poets

Foolish Sage | August 21, 2010

It’s been a while since I read a novel that truly fit the old cliche “page turner.” I can truly say, though, that I only ever put my copy of Gates of Fire down because of the necessities of life. It gripped me from page one and did not let go.

Gates of Fire is so much more than an attempt to recreate the legendary last stand of a handful of Spartan warriors against multitudes of Persian invaders, though it accomplishes that task beautifully. It also manages to serve as a philosophical treatise on courage, brotherhood, sacrifice, dedication, love, and a host of other themes without ever becoming pedantic or boring.

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Tags: books, historical fiction, Literature, review gates of fire by steven pressfield, reviews

Foolish Sage | August 20, 2010

One approach to innovation and brainstorming is to wait for the muse to appear, to hope that it alights on your shoulder, to be ready to write down whatever comes to you.

The other is to seek it out, will it to appear, train it to arrive on time and on command.

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Tags: books, creativity, inspiration, seth godin, the war of art by steven pressfield, The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles, writer's block, writing

Foolish Sage | July 27, 2010

I’ve never before used a post here to promote  a product or service, but I’m going to make an exception for an exciting new concept: Bookswim: Unlimited Book Rentals, Delivered to Your Door. Bookswim is like Netflix for books. You “rent” an unlimited number of books per month, delivered right to your door, for one [...]

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Tags: books, Bookswim, Netflix

Foolish Sage | July 7, 2010

I wrote previously about the profound influence of raconteur, radio host, author, etc. Jean Shepherd on my feckless youth (a frequent Shepherdism for “kid types”). Here’s a little sampling of his descriptive powers (VIDEO: “Life is in bad taste” 1977) Today I’m stepping out to recommend a book I haven’t even read yet (but will [...]

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Tags: books, Eugene Bergmann, Excelisor You Fathead, Jean Shepherd, Jean Shepherd bio, Jean Shepherd biography, Jean Shepherd book, jean shepherd live, jean shepherd video, reviews

Foolish Sage | July 2, 2010

“…schism in the soul, schism in the body social, will not be resolved by any scheme of return to the good old days (archaism), or by programs guaranteed to render an ideal projected future (futurism), or even by the most realistic, hardheaded work to weld together again the deteriorating elements. Only birth can conquer death—the [...]

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Tags: books, hero with a thousand faces, joseph campbell, joseph campbell quotations, joseph campbell quotes, myth, mythology, quotations