Why should businessmen read great literature?
I am reading “Rallying the Really Human Things” by Vigen Guroin. He has a wonderful chapter entitled “Why Should Businessmen read Great Literature”. The chapter, in my opinion, is worth the cost of the book. Below is a quote from the book, which I hope wets your appetite for the whole work.
“In every society, power must be humanized and used morally in order that free and civilized life might prosper. And in a commercial society, businessmen and businesswomen wield especially great power and are frequently called into roles of civil and political leadership. This fact makes the question that serves as this chapter’s title especially significant. A half-century ago, Russell Kirk, author of The Conservative Mind, penned as article titled “The Inhumane Businessman.” Kirk did not argue that businessmen are, as a lot, more inhumane, mean, or cruel than the average bank clerk, schoolteacher, or construction worker. But he was persuaded that businessmen are “deficient in the disciplines which nurture sound imagination and strong moral character,” and that this does not augur well for the nation.”
“Kirk lamented the turn to business education in our colleges and universities, which, he argued, contributes to the cultural illiteracy of the business class. This trend toward specialized business education accelerated during the concluding decades of the twentieth century, leaving fewer and fewer of those engaged in business educated in the liberal arts. That is principal reason why businessmen so often do no read great literature.”
Rallying the Really Human Things, Vigen Guroian, pg. 177-178
I have also notice the specializing tendency of our schools. There was a day when people carried the title, “Jack of all trades” as a badge of honor. May be he was not as well versed in a specific task, but he understood the whole. Let me give an illustration.
A scientist of microbiology spends his day in his specialty by look for long hours in his microscope. He sees the small particles and can name them one by one. He can’t talk to others about his findings because they would not understand. During the day his shoe becomes untied, but with his eye to the scope he does not know. Finally the day comes to an end and he must go home. As he turns to walk away he trips and falls flat on his face…he never knew what was coming.
This is our modern businessman or manager. Versed in business, he has no ability to enjoy life outside his work. You can see him…he is the one on vacation with the computer in his lap and cell phone in his ear. Steve