Banvard’s Folly

I randomly ordered Banvard’s Folly: Thirteen Tales of People Who Didn’t Change the World because I was placing an order for a lot of books for my thesis, and I wanted some “fun” reading. I have started reading more non-fiction lately, but I like my non-fiction like I like my fiction – weird and slightly depressing. This was a fun read. Describes thirteen people who are basically forgotten today. Their accomplishments range from silly and worthless to great but completely unrecognized.

It is an interesting book for me at this point, because I feel like I am in the middle of this very crazy world, where everyone has such big ideas, and everyone is in a hurry to be 18 steps ahead of everyone else. Five years ago, I’m certain very few people could have imagined what was in store for us now. What will it be like 50 years from now, 500 years? Who and what, that is so important right now, will fade into obscurity?

It is also an interesting book for me, because in listening to other people talk about their theses, I feel like a lot of people neglect their historical counterparts for the things they are thinking of. They may be putting in the research time, but I feel like it is cursory, and not deeply examined. I am certainly as guilty of it as anyone else.

In any case, some of the people in the book have stories that are very sad, and others are pretty funny. It’s a worthwhile read, I think.