Timothy Snyder: The "vertical magic" of the written word
Dr. Timothy Snyder writes about words and where, exactly, they live. A thought-provoking article. Here's a preview.
I learned of Dr. Timothy Snyder when I read his short but important book "On Tyranny." (If you haven't read it, you should.) I enjoyed his writing style – clear, concise, pointed.
So, I started reading other works of his, and especially commentary on current events. When I learned he was doing a newsletter on Substack, I signed up immediately.
What I didn't know was that he also was interested in writing itself. Today's newsletter (and the next few, where he will expand on the topic) digs into the magic of words, and why they are magic ... including an exploration of just where the words live.
On the page? In your brain? Somewhere between? And what, exactly, is a "book" – and what happens when you have "read the book" and the book then is burned or lost?
It's a good article, and a thought-provoking one. Go read it. And if you haven't signed up for his newsletter, do so. You'll be glad you did.
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