Although the book is full of truths both timely and
necessary, You Are Not Special . . . and
Other Encouragements by David McCullough, Jr. violates one cardinal rule
for writers: know your audience. An expansion of his 12-minute high school
commencement speech (view it at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_lfxYhtf8o4),
McCullough’s book, as stated in the foreword, “[is] for teenagers and anyone
with an interest in them.” Aside from eating fast food and sleeping in, I can’t
think of too many things that appeal to both teens and adults, much less reading
the same book—even if it is a guide to living a life of engagement and
experience in a society that only recognizes accolades and achievements.
The author addresses the reader as “you.” Early on,
sentences like “You watch television, flip through magazines, explore the web,
hear what your parents and siblings and aunts and uncles and grandparents and
teachers and coaches have to say” make it clear he is talking exclusively to
teens. And I understand why: it feels more personal, and it is fitting in a
book that is an extension of McCullough’s speech to his audience of young
graduates at Wellesley High School, his audience that he addressed as “you.”
But his diction tells us otherwise. Using words like
ovine, vituperative, and lissome, which
are hardly in the hip pockets of the post-Millennials’ lexicon, makes this
otherwise instructive and worthwhile work a stumbling block to his intended
readers. In addition, McCullough uses long- ago cultural figures (i.e., Wolfman
Jack), politicians (i.e., Herman Mann), literature (“Richard Cory”), and other references
and allusions familiar only to some middle-aged and older adults and, most
especially, to English teachers. Which of course, McCullough is. But
his intended audience is not. (Although hats off to McCullough as a teacher if
his students have as rich a vocabulary and knowledge of literature necessary to
fully understand this book.)
Anyway, I’m not advocating that the book be dumbed
down. With the decline of reading and comprehension, writers and educators need
to work together to increase not decrease reading levels. I am all for
elevating our collective intellect; however, the book could have easily been
divided into three sections: one for teens, one for parents, and one for
educators and those who have the power/influence to improve/reform standardized
education. McCullough could still have used “you,” but tailored each section to
his intended audience, using appropriate words and references. After all, it’s
the message that matters.
And McCullough does have many good messages. He
writes on the hazards of overprotective parenting, the need for teens to know
who they are and to choose friends wisely, the joy of learning, and the
slippery slope of ” [confusing] net worth with self-worth” among other topics. For
example, he writes:
·
On parenting – “Any intercession, even
the feathery light, can come at a cost to the child’s emerging sense of
autonomy and the myriad benefits of fending for himself or herself.”
·
On teaching – “[A teacher’s] job is to
help [his or her] students recognize and value what’s best in themselves, then
to learn to build on it.”
·
On living – “Love everything.”
So if you’re
a teenager, watch the speech on YouTube. If you’re a parent, educator,
education administrator or politician, read the book. McCullough, drawing on
his years of teaching and parenting, has a lot to say that is worth not only
reading, but putting into practice and sharing with those positioned to enact change
in our schools, our communities, and our nation.
Just be sure to have a dictionary handy.
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