14 Comments

"The author of Ecclesiastes" -- now THAT'S a dinner guest!

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It would indeed be interesting to ask who’s on the right path, the written because of divine inspiration crowd, the writer as vessel for the Deity group, or the in-betweeners.

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I’ve asked this question to all of my Q&A guests and Steve’s the first to bring him up. “Chasing after the wind…” I was also delighted to see—for all his complications—Woody Allen.

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“I didn’t plan it this way but everyone I’ve written about has been a questioner, a thinker and someone who has grappled with the classic Big Questions.”

We often talk about how authors write books that grapple with the Big Questions. It’s good to be reminded that literature is not the only medium for exploring questions; music and all other types of art can wrestle with them too. The discernment comes in finding those interested in asking the Big Questions, as Steve said.

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He’s got a knack for it.

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Turner is prolific and versatile- a rare combination.

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So true. I’m astonished by his range.

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Thank you, Joel, for a great interview and article. I recently took my sixteen year old daughter to a Beatles convention in Chicago. She knows more about sixties music than me who grew up in that decade. Thanks to your interview I know why I prefer the later Beatles to the earlier songs. They were searching for answers to the big spiritual questions.

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I’m with you on later vs. earlier. The lyrical depth is greater and compositionally the music is richer as well.

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I've taken part in BeatleFests in LA and Chicago.

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I haven't been to the Fest for Beatles Fans for many years, but I really enjoyed it when I went! :)

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This one was #50. Mostly old hippies like me.

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Great interview, Joel. Love biographies and learned a lot from this piece and was exposed to a few works I will have to pick up. Thank you!

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My pleasure! Steve’s a remarkable writer. It was fun to share his work.

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