I’m reading Dean Young’s new nonfiction book, The Art of Recklessness, part of The Art Of Series from Graywolf Press. Only 30 pages in, and I feel like I’ve swan dived into the swirling, dangerous waters of Young’s unbelievably complex collector’s brain. I love it. Here’s a review.
On page 12, Young quotes Wallace Stevens:
It is necessary to any originality to have the courage to be an amateur.
This is the exact idea I want to relay to my students when school starts next week. Not being shackled to rules, allowing poems to fall out of you un-self-consciously, is what makes great art. Learning craft so that you don’t have to think about it should probably happen simultaneously, but without imagination, recklessness, fire you’re fucked.
This is a different kind of book, one that might be the most important kind. I’ll follow up when I’ve actually finished reading it.
Tags: dean young, Graywolf Press, the art of recklessness
I used to see Dean Young around town a lot. He rode a bicycle. Drank a lot of coffee. Then he got a great teaching gig at a university that could pay him a ‘handsome’ salary. Way to go, Dean. I’m all for poets getting their fair share. I want to read this book.
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That’s awesome. Good to hear.
That’s awesome. Good to hear.
i like that wallace stevens quote.
i like that wallace stevens quote.
yeah, lucky for Young he was able to ditch that low-level gig he had at iowa for UT. whew–dude can finally go out for a meal.
yeah, lucky for Young he was able to ditch that low-level gig he had at iowa for UT. whew–dude can finally go out for a meal.
Fitting title coming from him.
Fitting title coming from him.
Love that Wallace Stevens quote.
Love that Wallace Stevens quote.
That’s awesome. Good to hear.
I like that Wallace Stevens ” Love that Wallace Stevens ”
Behold the hybrid comment.
On a more related note, excited to pick up a copy of this book. I’m a big fan of Lewis Hyde’s The Gift and have been exposed to dream journals, zen drawing, meditation, meditative journaling, etc (in school, oddly enough) as well as the more traditional craft of poetry, and whenever my writing falls short it is usually due to a lack of spontineity or trepidation. It will be good to read a well articulated presentation of the “courage to be an ameteur (I.e. fail)” to kick me in the ass.
Thanks!
I like that Wallace Stevens ” Love that Wallace Stevens ”
Behold the hybrid comment.
On a more related note, excited to pick up a copy of this book. I’m a big fan of Lewis Hyde’s The Gift and have been exposed to dream journals, zen drawing, meditation, meditative journaling, etc (in school, oddly enough) as well as the more traditional craft of poetry, and whenever my writing falls short it is usually due to a lack of spontineity or trepidation. It will be good to read a well articulated presentation of the “courage to be an ameteur (I.e. fail)” to kick me in the ass.
Thanks!
i like that wallace stevens quote.
yeah, lucky for Young he was able to ditch that low-level gig he had at iowa for UT. whew–dude can finally go out for a meal.
Fitting title coming from him.
Love that Wallace Stevens quote.
I like that Wallace Stevens ” Love that Wallace Stevens ”
Behold the hybrid comment.
On a more related note, excited to pick up a copy of this book. I’m a big fan of Lewis Hyde’s The Gift and have been exposed to dream journals, zen drawing, meditation, meditative journaling, etc (in school, oddly enough) as well as the more traditional craft of poetry, and whenever my writing falls short it is usually due to a lack of spontineity or trepidation. It will be good to read a well articulated presentation of the “courage to be an ameteur (I.e. fail)” to kick me in the ass.
Thanks!
Hater.
Hater.
Hater.
Jeremiah, I’m a big fan of The Gift as well. Also Trickster Makes This World. I’ll be curious to hear your opinion on Art of Recklessness.
Jeremiah, I’m a big fan of The Gift as well. Also Trickster Makes This World. I’ll be curious to hear your opinion on Art of Recklessness.
Jeremiah, I’m a big fan of The Gift as well. Also Trickster Makes This World. I’ll be curious to hear your opinion on Art of Recklessness.
I just picked up this book as well. Going to read it next week before starts up. Glad to be able to hear from the man behind the poems.
I just picked up this book as well. Going to read it next week before starts up. Glad to be able to hear from the man behind the poems.
I just picked up this book as well. Going to read it next week before starts up. Glad to be able to hear from the man behind the poems.