I just finished the book on audio the other day. It was a great listen. I knew a lot of what he talked about from doing history with my kids (we homeschool) but I really liked how he connected everything. That's my favorite thing about a classical education. See how cultures connect to each other.
Loved this interview! Especially love the insights about homogenization and how borrowing from other cultures has actually produced the opposite effect throughout history.
It’s all about innovation. You need new inputs to create new ideas, products, etc. Other cultures have always provided societies with those all-important new inputs. What’s fascinating is that sometimes an idea that doesn’t get much traction in one culture gets widespread adoption in another. The Chinese invented printing, but 15th/16th century Europe is where it took off.
I'm super late to this one, but I'm glad I found it. I added several of Martin Puchner's books to my list. My MA is in Humanities so his work is well within my area of interest. Cultures have been borrowing from one another for as long as their has been culture to borrow from. One could say that this very act of borrowing and sharing and comingling and intertwining is precisely what culture is. Really enjoyed this interview!
Such a great conversation. I'll definitely be looking for this book.
If you liked that convo, you’ll love the book. I think it’s my favorite so far this year.
I just finished the book on audio the other day. It was a great listen. I knew a lot of what he talked about from doing history with my kids (we homeschool) but I really liked how he connected everything. That's my favorite thing about a classical education. See how cultures connect to each other.
Loved this interview! Especially love the insights about homogenization and how borrowing from other cultures has actually produced the opposite effect throughout history.
It’s all about innovation. You need new inputs to create new ideas, products, etc. Other cultures have always provided societies with those all-important new inputs. What’s fascinating is that sometimes an idea that doesn’t get much traction in one culture gets widespread adoption in another. The Chinese invented printing, but 15th/16th century Europe is where it took off.
Such an interesting conversation! Thank you for sharing with us.
A quick aside, should the title of the piece be "Culture is What We Make It"?
LOL. Yes, indeed. I used the upside down W! 🤦♂️ Thanks for catching that—and letting me know.
I'm super late to this one, but I'm glad I found it. I added several of Martin Puchner's books to my list. My MA is in Humanities so his work is well within my area of interest. Cultures have been borrowing from one another for as long as their has been culture to borrow from. One could say that this very act of borrowing and sharing and comingling and intertwining is precisely what culture is. Really enjoyed this interview!