The Way We Are

This is a collection of micro-essays on being human, on being "The Way We Are". It is an apt title. John Fraser, in his foreword to the book, describes this type of work as a "visserism", and says: "more 'hmmms' have been uttered at the end of a Visser column than after anything else published in the magazine [Saturday Night]." That perfectly describes these wandering explorations. It is an unpredictable and eclectic mix of topics, such as High Heels, Greetings, The Fireplace, Christmas Pudding, Crossword Puzzles, Vacations, Bells, etc. In just several brief pages (always accompanied by several references, for brevity does not excuse a lack of academic rigor), she is able to convey concisely why a particular subject is of interest, and show more outlines its appropriate etymology, anthropologic signficance, and evolution into modern usage, replete with interesting anecdotal examples. She places the subject in its ancient history and describes how it has echoed through the ages and sometimes achieved a symbolism. It is a marriage of enthusiastic curiosity with a love of research. show less

This is a collection of micro-essays on being human, on being "The Way We Are". It is an apt title. John Fraser, in his foreword to the book, describes this type of work as a "visserism", and says: "more 'hmmms' have been uttered at the end of a Visser column than after anything else published in the magazine [Saturday Night]." That perfectly describes these wandering explorations. It is an unpredictable and eclectic mix of topics, such as High Heels, Greetings, The Fireplace, Christmas Pudding, Crossword Puzzles, Vacations, Bells, etc. In just several brief pages (always accompanied by several references, for brevity does not excuse a lack of academic rigor), she is able to convey concisely why a particular subject is of interest, and show more outlines its appropriate etymology, anthropologic signficance, and evolution into modern usage, replete with interesting anecdotal examples. She places the subject in its ancient history and describes how it has echoed through the ages and sometimes achieved a symbolism. It is a marriage of enthusiastic curiosity with a love of research. show less

This volume is a collection of newspaper columns written by Margaret Visser, containing interesting historical facts and the author's own keen observations about ordinary things in life. Each column is brief and entertaining, but I generally felt unsatisfied after reading each one, wishing that there was more. If you're new to Margaret Visser, I'd recommend reading instead Much Depends on Dinner or The Rituals of Dinner.

Both Mr. Awesome and I have read it, now. We both enjoyed it. It's a collection of essays printed in the Globe and Mail in the 1990's. Ms Visser has an interesting take on the world, and looks at everyday objects and rituals with an eye to its deeper meaning and symbolism. I don't always agree with her interpretations, but it did make me look around myself to ask why we do what we do.
:)

As other reviewers point out, these snippets are too short, too superficial. The author comes across and smug, yes. And she is definitely guilty of overgeneralizing. But I do absolutely enormously appreciate that the bibliographical notes are at the end of each piece... I do not have to page to the back to find either a sense that I trust her research or to find further reading. There is also an index, so a reader casually interested in some topics of pop psychology might want to just dip in to the topics of interest to them.

I'm about 1/3 in. It'll take awhile to get through, reading just a few pieces at a time. Good thing the library has generous renewal policies... I would *not* want to have boughten this.... ;)
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Ok done. Not too show more excited to read other works by the author, even those less likely to suffer from being 'vignette' superficial.

Avocados: sugared and eaten for dessert in Brazil; unusual in that it becomes less sweet as it ripens more... so maybe I should take the hard ones that go on sale at the grocery and make a sort of cobbler or parfait....

Want to read [b:Of Plants And People|4330084|Of Plants And People|Charles Bixler Heiser|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/book/50x75-a91bf249278a81aabab721ef782c4a74.png|4377896] by [a:Charles Bixler Heiser|251805|Charles Bixler Heiser|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png].

Tap-dancing: want to find video of John W. Bibbles or maybe someone doing homage to this Black man from the 1920s; want to learn what 'jazz ballet' is that took over the musicals and so pushed Donald O'Connor, Gene Kelly, Eleanor Powell, and others out of fashion. show less