WRITING REVIEWS

By Chet Yarbrough

Writer, Photographer, & Editor

Blogging is brain exercise like walking the dog is physical exercise.  In theory, the more you write the brainier you get; the more you exercise, the stronger you become; i.e. doubtful about the first and definitely not true for the second.  Age destroys the theory; the best you can do is mitigate the inevitable.  The general public is a tough audience to please but hope springs—-something.

As a book reviewer and observer, an objective is to improve memory of what you hear, see, or read; second is to learn something about someone or something that appears interesting to others, and finally, most egoistically important, is being rewarded by increasing numbers of people who read what you review or observe.

Places visited, places lived, and books reviewed are better remembered because of writing about them.  More importantly, a sense of perspective rises from the clutter of every day living.

Knowing something about physics, even a little, offers perspective on how earth compares to the vast cosmos.  To hear that fundamental elements of mass and energy are so small they cannot be seen or measured except as a mathematical function of quantum mechanics is mind numbing and perversely interesting.

It is fascinating to see how different genius is from most of mankind but how similar genius is in human nature; how important God is to some and not to others; how cultures are different but human nature is the same; how mankind is equally greedy in elitist and egalitarian countries; how accurate facts can be distorted by history; and how inhumane man can be to man.

Classics from Charlotte Bronte to Tolstoy to Dostoevsky to Ray Bradbury to Nabokov to Richard Wright have been read by millions.  They are revisited to understand why they are classics.

Occasionally, articles are written about living in Las Vegas.  In the future, there may be articles about visiting New York, Philadelphia, Chicago,WashingtonD.C., Boston,Portland or some other interesting place.

The measure of success will be an increasing number of people who read, comment, and continue following the blog.  After blogging for many months, readership is averaging over 200 visits per day.  Returning readers are increasing.  I have received very few comments which may mean nothing or everything.

Ego and ambition drive this bus with no definitive destination but a fervent hope that readers will continue to come along.  Please join me.