Second and Third Thoughts
Most importantly, Adams and Trump both offer the working class cheap, stupid, and forgettable entertainment that placates dissatisfaction for a moment before a swift return to late-capitalist dread. We deserve better.
Source: Dilbert creator Scott Adams is the worst blogger | The Outline
Ouch! I can’t say that I agree with every word of this. I have stopped reading Adams’ blog, but I still read Dilbert.
A recent post on Farnam Street drew my attention to a video of a talk by Cal Newport, ‘Follow Your Passion’ Is Bad Advice. I was reminded of Scott Adams’ book, How To Fail, etc. that I recently reviewed. Scott rather more bluntly (and with greater entertainment value, hence, my chosen title) writes “passion is bullshit”. While Scott writes about his own life, Cal according to the blurb about his book, distilled his ideas from talking to people from many different occupations. There’s a great deal of consonance in their thinking.
I have not read many self-help books. Something I pondered as I was writing this review and decided that’s because they are probably read by people who are more dissatisfied with their life than I have been—I am, by and large, content. So my motivation to read How to Fail at Almost Everything and Still Win Big: Kind of the Story of My Life by Scott Adams, the creator of Dilbert was more to find entertainment than inspiration to drive self-improvement. Right away, I’ll say the book is an entertaining and interesting read on, at least, two levels. How To Fail… is not a biography, but there are ample illustrations and examples drawn from the author’s own life and career from which we learn a lot about Scott.
Copyright © 2000-2023 Roger Cavanagh except where noted
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