How Literature Can Change Your Life | Joseph Luzzi | TEDxAlbany
In my talk, I hope to change the way people feel about literature. My aim is to show that literature is not just an elitist collection of “classics, something you are “supposed” to read or have to study in school, but which are difficult, remote, and otherwise disconnected from everyday life. Rather, I will propose that audience members can and should make literature a part of their everyday. I will go ever further and say that, when you are facing extraordinary difficulties and challenges, literature can save your life.
I will base my talk on a personal experience. On November 29, 2007, I left my home in upstate New York at 8:30am to teach a class at Bard College, where I am a professor. Around 10am, as I was settling into my classroom and joking with my students, a security guard showed up at the door and asked, “Are you Professor Luzzi?” The smile disappeared from my face, as I sensed something had gone horribly wrong; that intuition was confirmed when I saw a dean and vice president of the college come tearing up the stairs to fetch me and deliver the news: my wife, Katherine, had had a terrible car accident. I raced to the hospital, but it was too late: Katherine died that morning. She was 8 1/2 months pregnant. Forty-five minutes before her death, our daughter Isabel was miraculously delivered by emergency cesarian. I had left the house at 8:30am; by noon, I was both a widower and a father.
At noon, I had also entered what the poet Dante called “the dark wood,” that universal space of suffering that unfortunately all of us, at one point in our lives, must enter. For my TEDx Albany talk, I would like to speak of how literature in general, and Dante’s poetry in particular, helped save my life during the years of grief and mourning that followed Katherine’s death. Joseph Luzzi (PhD, Yale) is Professor of Comparative Literature at Bard College. His books include “My Two Italies,” a New York Times Book Review Editors’ Choice, and “In a Dark Wood: What Dante Taught Me About Grief, Healing, and the Mysteries of Love,” which has been translated into Italian, German, and Korean. Luzzi is a frequent contributor to publications including the New York Times, Chronicle of Higher Education, Times Literary Supplement, and American Scholar. His work has also appeared in the Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Review of Books, Bookforum, and Times of London.
Dr. Luzzi is the founder of DeepRead, which offers a radically new approach to leadership and business education by basing its teaching and “test cases” on the great ideas of literature, history, and philosophy. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at www.ted.com/tedx
Пікірлер: 122
This probably the most beautiful talk I’ve heard, regardless of the beautiful way of putting literature, I also enjoyed listening and empathising with him; it was healing as it was educational. Thank you.
@lizannewhitlow1085
Жыл бұрын
The Divine is apparent, no?
@JoshuaKabita
7 ай бұрын
Hello
I can relate to this, we were too poor to afford books. I remember the joy I felt when our teacher took us to the library. I couldn't believe they let me take books home! Things were never the same again. I love this man's voice!
This gave me goosebumps. I need a teacher like him.😭
This is underwhelmingly underrated. Respect to you, sir.
Salute to Dr.Joseph Luzzi.Thanks.
Great talk indeed. We call books as best friends on earth because as Luzzi mentioned, they can take you to any part of earth, talk to you, laugh and grieve with you, questioning, loving with beauties, relevance, and whatnot. In fact, here I am remembered of a remarkable story "THE BET" written by great Soviet author Anton Chekov. It was the power of literature and reading that helped Luzzi to overcome the tragic passing away of his wife before leaving behind a beautiful doll with whom he loves to read. Thanks for such a powerful speech. Regards.
Great talk!!! Dr. Luzzi nails it... He really motivated me to go back to books and enjoy the world of literature. His personal story is so touching and vivid. The rule of fours is so interesting!!! Thank you, Dr. Luzzi.
@anjalisingh-bh1gi
2 жыл бұрын
How should I practice this rule of fours, if say, I cannot finish one book in forty five minutes?
The amount of passion this man has for literature is palpable. The experience rolling of in waves and now all I wanna do is hold a book and get lost in it after this listening him.
I want him to be my professor in Master of Arts in Literature
@abdellahouaala9321
2 жыл бұрын
Me also I loved him from the very begining; he inspired me to see what is unkown to ordinary people.
@maggiedunbar5947
Жыл бұрын
A new look at literature. Exciting Lecture.
What a great teacher, great speaker and strong man. Thankful to hear this.
What a beautiful talk Dr. Luzzi, truly the literature can change our lives.
I never got so immersed in a TED talk ever before ! so charismatic he is and all the perspectives are worth consideration as well.
one o the best TEDx videos about literature I have ever seen!!!!! Bravo!!
Simply suuuperb, I don't have words to describe... You have kindled back my love for literature .
Don't know how I missed this video for an year... ♥️ Such a deep vision but a simple one...
What a beautiful, touching video. It's the kind of video that help us feel less lost, more connected to others, and more appreciative of life. Thank you for sharing your story, Joseph. ❤
Surprises me to see such less views on such a brilliant talk. Truly inspirational. 👍
@waqasmaqsood7768
Жыл бұрын
If a girl bounces up n down n shake sideways, it will attract more likes n views. That tells a lot about us
@ReadingLiterature22
Жыл бұрын
Agreed! This should definitely have more views!
@johnnietaylor5517
Күн бұрын
Anything that’s educational in America people shouldn’t expect abundance of views or likes.
What a beautiful talk. Thank you so much Dr. Luzzi - I left this video totally inspired.
What a great speaker! I want to hear more from him
My all time favourite ted talk....Can not count how many times I watched it!
Amazing!! Touching stories like these are so encouraging. Thank you
I really loved it! This talk is the most inspiring and stunning one I've watched recently! Thank you, Dr. Luzzi!
I like his talk so much, It is fluent and very very confident. I think he is the greatest person who attracts me a lot
I fell in love with his storytelling, in like 45 seconds.
One of the best Ted talks so far..
Joseph Luzzi: Inspiring professor, Inspiring human being. Dio ti benedica, Giuseppe.
Dr. Luzzi is so calm and collected with such an inspiring story to tell. Literature can be the cure to life's many problems.
@mo3aznow580
Жыл бұрын
multi hardships ..Yes, You are right
Wow. Great talk. Definitely life-changing
I loved this show!! thank you so much
Beautiful story, beautifully told. Thank you!!!
Thank you sir!! What a wonderful talk indeed, inspirational all around!!
wow. I could listen to this man talk for hours
Thank you for this great talk, Sir!! ❤️🇵🇭
Hi thank you for this great, beautiful message 🙏I felt so compelled by this speech that I took notes 📝🫶
There was a very serenity in this video which I can not exactly explain, loved to hear him : )
Best prof for literature. Maybe I'll be lost in an alternative world if I were in his classes.
I enjoyed this very much. I spent weekends at my Nani's, would bring books, and could easily finish one on a Saturday morning. You brought a smile to my face as I remember her telling me to put the books down because I was going to get a headache. I too did not listen. :)
@SatyamBonaparte
2 жыл бұрын
Are u Albanian
Even since elementary days, I'm already fond of reading books. I remember, when my aunt asked me to watch her store, I would be so happy knowing that there were books that were filed up inside. I would lock myself inside and read all those books. I remember I love reading poetry back then, even pocketbooks. I was in high school when I got to read novels for it was only that time that I have the money to buy those kinds of books. I was also into crime fiction and nonfiction. I read Harry Potter series, The Nation, books of Dan Brown. The best part was I fell in love with Edgar Allan Poe, Dante Alighieri, Robert Frost, William Ernest Henley, Shakespeare, Rizal, and more. I read all genres of books. I just love them, they are my best confidant ever.📚💙💙💕🥰
What an insight towards literature. In this great speech I'm happy to know some books and authors that he mentioned ,more over after watching this video most of the people willl start reading books . Wonderful speech, v surprised to see less number of views !!!
O my this is one of the greatest and cute talk I ever heard.
What an amazing talk!
It's the passion for me! Beautiful
Brilliant talk. Very inspirational
There is always a kernal of truth in fictions or else you wouldn't care about what happened to a character or how he felt and what motivated people in doing things. Human nature and human experience are the same in any age and in any place. It is relatable and cross borders and timeless. I can imagine Joseph Luzzi as a teacher, inspiring and passionate. Love literature. When you have a good book, you've got good company. And you don't feel lonely.
The best ted talk EVERR
Thanks for sharing ❤🙏🏻
Just loved it ❤️🥺
Coming from an italian background I could relate to Professore Luzzi's story it was a joy to be reminded of our peasant family stories .My Aunt and Father have stories we love to hear again and again ! And so good to hear Professor Luzzi's great take on literature ,Grazie Professore! It would be amazing to have you as a teacher! Long life to you ! .
So underrated and inspiring 👏🔥🔥
I have been asking this question for years thank you
Wow. I love this.
This is a must-watch! The image of Machiavelli putting on his best outfit to sit-down and read for hours is hilarious/awesome.
Thank you for this engaging and immersive presentation. Such a funny and informative way to explore the beauty and the transcendence of literature upon our lives ❤️
Ti voglio bene Joseph!!! I found myself in a dark wood too...and I came out thanks to your articles...
Fiction gives us access to *empirical data* _without actually having to live through the experiments._ This is why it is critical to training our intuition, delivering wisdom, giving us *a feel for a situation* which may make _intuitive sense_ (aka *wisdom* ) to you, in relation to some _totally different_ *situation* in which you find yourself in your life. You can then “apply” this wisdom to that situation now. The data that cannot be acquired through direct experience, can be acquired through reading fiction. This additionally may cause a _self-fulfilling prophecy_ effect: basically, my own life has often felt like it resembles a combination of Yossarian and Zaphod Beeblebrox... possibly not a mere coincidence. Reading fiction is living vicariously, included with the deal is a dose of the hard-won wisdom of the protagonist. Amazing talk, thank you for this 🍻
Knowing that he's an Italian, my heart. Haha!! In reading books, Italy has become my favorite place. It was and is still the place I want to go to. Particularly in Florence, Italy.💕
Engaging and touching!
Loved it❤.
incredible! this is why I love being an English major
Its absolutely amazing ❤
Thank you for attending this Ted Talk
Fantastico Joseph. We started millennials123 fully appreciating the "power of story!" As you know, it's importance is timeless. Grazie mile!
I really enjoyed this talk. Thanks for sharing
@abdou7926
2 жыл бұрын
Yeah a great talk
Because of a book I was inspired to go study in Firenze where I met my Italian husband! Still together since 1971!
Beautiful
Such an amazing guy!
Wonderful.
One of the most enriching, beautiful Ted talks, teachings , words of wisdom I ´ve ever heard!. I´m from Argentina, come from an Italian family and italian was , is actuallly my mother tongue. I loved hearing those wise , short pieces of calabrese dialect!. The dialect I learned was parmesan, also full of wisdom , beauty , musicality...Thanks, Joseph, Giuseppe, Beppe!!!
BRAVO.
It's so good!
Great talk... Must read different literature📚 to improve on thinking.... and reality
Great teacher
I found it very very interesting!
This is what literature does. Thank you,sir.
"Storytelling is the most powerful way to put ideas into the world.” - Robert McKee
I envy every and all students who get to be his students Great professor and Ted Talker, keep it uppp!!!
Can we all just listen to this Ted 🎉❤
To love of literature🧡✨
These Last 19 minutes were really worth investing in
Brilliant talk 💚
I was here to see what makes English literature guys so wise.
"Literature is the opposite of fake news. Fake news pretends it's true and tries to manipulate you into believing it. Literature is imaginative, tells you that it is and it leads you to the truth. An Imaginative situation that leads to the truth." - Joseph Luzzi As a journalism student, I really want to put this as my personal quote. People nowadays are narrow minded and blinded by the amount of information on the internet and it filled their mind and heart with hatred if you told them the truth. I'm wishing here in my country that books will be meta once again. I'm afraid that banning our localize books closes our mind of what we think and interpret it to the reality or the state of the person living in. Books helped me realize the wrong doings from our world and authors are doing their best to create stories that gives a tale on how we, the readers are implenting this to reality so this kind of mistake will not happen and open our minds of what we think and preserving this memory and words for the future.
6:22, "I wanted my life back and you cannot get it back, you have to rebuild it". Strikes differently at the dark night of your downfall days.
nice ☘️☘️
reading is fundamental to develop critical thinking and to understand the meaning of life
Wonderful, indeed. Can someone please explain to me whether Dr L is advocating reading the different books at the same time, or consecutively?
Must be a great teacher too .
Watched this whole vid 2x🍃
I read the Bible and it came to life
4:24 That whistle was so irrespectful and unnecessary.
His face looks like a combination of The Hulk and Monica's boyfriend - Richard. Did you see it too? But, what an inspirational talk! So moving!
Book Review go BRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR😍😍😍😍😍😍
❤️
8:32 he said the about the diamond
Wow
Ritual of reading Story teller
Stories, telling stories… don’t miss the film Waterland with Jeremy Irons, Sinead Cusack and a very young Ethan Hawke.
Aristotle is the patron saint of literature. Interesting. 🤔
Without fiction there is no fact.
"There's no frigate like a book" Emily Dickinson