In 'A Primer for Forgetting,' Lewis Hyde explores the intricate relationship between memory and forgetfulness, proposing that forgetting is not merely a loss, but rather an essential part of the human experience. Through a blend of philosophy, art, and personal anecdotes, Hyde invites readers to reflect on how forgetting can liberate us from the burdens of the past. Each chapter delves into the transformative power of letting go, encouraging a deeper understanding of who we are without the weight of our memories. Hyde's lyrical prose and thought-provoking insights leave readers questioning the value of their own recollections. Ultimately, this book challenges us to embrace the art of forgetting as a pathway to renewal and creativity.
By Lewis Hyde
Published: 2019
"To forget is not to lose; it is to allow the mind to move freely, to create space for new memories and new possibilities."
“One of our true superstars of nonfiction” (David Foster Wallace), Lewis Hyde, author of The Gift and Trickster Makes the World, offers a playful and melancholy defense of forgetfulness by exploring the healing effect it can have on the human psyche. We live in a culture that prizes memory—how much we can store, the quality of what’s preserved, how we might better document and retain the moments of our life while fighting off the nightmare of losing all that we have experienced. But what if forgetfulness were seen not as something to fear—be it in the form of illness or simple absentmindedness—but rather as a blessing, a balm, a path to peace and forgiveness? A Primer for Forgetting is a remarkable experiment in scholarship, autobiography, and social criticism by the author of the classics The Gift and Trickster Makes This World. It forges a new “history of forgetfulness” by assembling fragments of art and writing from the ancient world to the modern, weighing the potential boons forgetfulness might offer the present moment as a philosophical and political force. It also turns inward, using the author’s own life and memory as a canvas upon which to extol the virtues of a concept too long taken as an evil. Drawing material from Hesiod to Jorge Luis Borges to Elizabeth Bishop to Archbishop Desmond Tutu, from myths and legends to very real and recent traumas both personal and historical, A Primer for Forgetting is a unique and remarkable synthesis that only Lewis Hyde could have produced. Includes black-and-white illustrations
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“To forget is not to lose; it is to allow the mind to move freely, to create space for new memories and new possibilities.”
A Primer for Forgetting
By Lewis Hyde
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Lewis Hyde is an acclaimed American writer and cultural critic, known for his explorations of creativity, art, and the role of the artist in society. His notable works include 'The Gift: Imagination and the Erotic Life of Property', 'Trickster Makes This World: Mischief, Myth, and Art', and 'A Primer for Forgetting: Getting Past the Past'. Hyde's writing is characterized by its blending of philosophical inquiry with engaging storytelling, drawing on a wide range of disciplines from folklore to economics, and encouraging readers to think deeply about the nature of value and creativity.
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