Pat Wictor

By Pat Wictor . . . . . . .  Subscribe: https://patwictor.com

• Not Just for Experts
  
• Ears and Eyes: What I'm listening to and reading
  

     -Jimmie Rodgers, Donald Westlake, and more

• Upcoming Gigs & appearances
  

     full calendar: https://patwictor.com
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Not Just for Experts

I've mentioned over the years that I've been reading the classics--Homer, Herodotus, Thucydides, and most recently, Aristotle.  I don't have any background or expertise in Greek and Roman history, language, or literature.  But a lack of expertise has never stopped me from learning.  :-)  In fact, it's what allows me to learn.  It's sometimes easiest to learn when you can't possibly pretend you already know about something.

Of course, there are very few societal rewards for a lack of expertise.  None of us needs much effort to recall the times we've been made to feel stupid, in school and elsewhere.    

But I'm not reading the classics to become an expert, or to impress anyone.  I'm reading them to be touched by the best ideas of humanity, which can only make me a better, more capable, and creative person--even if my knowledge remains entirely superficial.   All the brilliant creations of the human race--the classics, art, music, theatre, and more--belong to all of us, and can touch and transform all of us.

A few years ago, my best friend, Phil Terry, invited me to read the classics with him.  Neither of us had a classical education.  All we had was curiosity, a reading list (borrowed from Mortimer Adler's "How to Read a Book"), and the hunger to discuss big ideas we were reading about.  The five years since we started reading together have been the richest of my life.  I've written my best songs, and I've been able to take a longer view of the momentous and unsettling events of our times.

Our reading odyssey has snowballed, and taught us something about learning.   With minimal support--some others to read with, monthly conference calls to discuss the books, and a manageable pace for the reading-- and a welcoming environment for discussing and asking questions, almost anyone can read and get something out of classic literature.  

Phil's organizational skill has turned our informal reading odyssey into a non-profit organization called the Reading Odyssey, dedicated to reigniting adults' curiosity and creativity through many activities, including reading the classics.  There are currently four reading groups exploring Homer, Aristotle, and Darwin's "Origin of Species."  We've even attracted the attention of academic experts and classicists who want to be part of an ongoing conversation with non-specialists.  And Reading Odyssey is sponsoring Slow Art, where all over the world people meet at art museums to check out beautiful and brilliant works of art for themselves, without worrying about whether they know much about art.

I'd like to invite you to see what the Reading Odyssey is up to, attend a Slow Art event (there's several this weekend, on Saturday October 17), or sign up for one of our reading groups (I'll be leading a reading of Homer's "Odyssey" in January).   It's a great antidote to the difficult news of the day, better than television, and helps maintain our confidence in humanity's brilliance and creativity.

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Links:
The Reading Odyssey website:  http://www.readingodyssey.com
Mortimer Adler and Charles Van Doren, "How to Read a Book"  http://tinyurl.com/yfkv6o7
Slow Art events:  http://tinyurl.com/mzjvyc
Signup to read Homer's "Odyssey" with Pat:  http://homer2010-1.eventbrite.com/
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Ears and Eyes:  What Im Listening to, Reading, and Watching:
•-Music:
    Jimmie Rodgers, "The Essential Jimmie Rodgers." http://tinyurl.com/yl7d57z
    Holly Cole, "Holly Cole."  http://tinyurl.com/ygd2kb9
•-Books:
    Czeslaw Milosz, ed.  "A Book of Luminous Things:  An International Anthology of Poetry."
         http://tinyurl.com/yfcfmw7
    Donald Westlake, "Get Real."  http://tinyurl.com/ylcc7zy
•-Movies:
  "Sunshine Cleaning"  http://tinyurl.com/yhkoouk
  "Saint Ralph"  http://tinyurl.com/yf5vjq7
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Upcoming Pat Wictor gigs and appearances.  
Full calendar details and links:  https://patwictor.com

October 15    Uptown Concerts, Sykesville, MD  co-bill w/ David Jacobs-Strain  
October 17    Winterstream House Concert, Centre Hall, PA
October 18    Lake Effect Shows, Rochester, NY
October 20    House Concert, Perrysburg, OH    [Toledo area]
October 23    Madison Folk Music Society, Madison, WI  w/ Phil Ochs Song Night
October 24   Old Town School of Music, Chicago, IL  w/ Phil Ochs Song Night
October 25   The Ark, Ann Arbor, MI  w/ Phil Ochs Song Night
November 6  Me and Thee, Marblehead, MA w/ Jon Shain
November 7 Circle of Friends, Franklin, MA  "Saints and Sinners" w/ Toby Walker
November 8  Jalopy, Brooklyn, NY
November 13  Uncle Calvin's, Dallas, TX  opening for Harvey Reid
November 19  Anderson Fair, Houston, TX  w/ Billy Bourbon, Ken Gaines, Wayne Wilkerson
November 20  Barnes House Concert, Houston, TX
November 21 House Concerts in the Hill Country, Boerne, TX
November 22 House Concert, Austin, TX
December 12  Laurel Mountain Coffeehouse, Kingwood, WV  w/ John Lilly
January 10, 2010  University Cafe, Stony Brook, NY   w/ Harry Manx
January 16, 2010  Coffee With Conscience, Westfield, NJ  "Saints & Sinners," w/ Toby Walker
January 17, 2010  WXPN Radio, Philadelphia, PA  "The Folk Show," hosted by Gene Shay
January 24, 2010  Acoustic Celebration, Ridgefield, CT  
February 5, 2010  TrueWind House Concert, Campbell, CA  

More dates being added all the time!
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Until next time:  many thanks, and warm regards,

Pat Wictor
patwictor@earthlink.net

www.patwictor.com
http://tinyurl.com/facebookpatwictor
http://twitter.com/patwictor
www.reverbnation.com/patwictor
www.youtube.com/patwictor
www.myspace.com/patwictor

• - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
  
• Lessons:  I now give one-on-one lessons and group classes in guitar, songwriting,
  

song interpretation, improvisation, and performance, in Brooklyn and on the road.  
Email me for rates and scheduling:    patwictor@earthlink.net

• I'm now on Twitter--for brief thoughts in between newsletters:   http://twitter.com/patwictor
  
• Buy Pat Wictor's latest CD "Sunset Waltz" at
  

CD Baby.com: http://www.cdbaby.com/wictor5
Amazon.com:  http://tinyurl.com/Amazon-Sunset  
    and
iTunes:  http://tinyurl.com/iTunes-Sunset

Tell your friends to subscribe. Point them here:  https://patwictor.com

Do you want me to perform in your area, in your home, or at your event?
Contact my booking agent, McShane Glover   tel. 410-268-8232, or mcshane@mcnote.com

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                        contact info
•---------------------------------------------------------------
If you are interested in booking Pat Wictor, contact McShane Glover:  
tel. 410-268-8232, or mcshane@mcnote.com

• Bio: https://patwictor.com
  
• YouTube Videos: http://youtube.com/patwictor
  
• Contact Pat Wictor directly: patwictor@earthlink.net
  

. . .

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