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Table of Contents
About The Book
Leonard Wolf is a true eccentric. A tall, craggy, good-looking man in his early eighties, he's the kind of person who likes to use a medieval astrolabe, dress in Basque shepherd's clothing, and convince otherwise sensible people to quit their jobs and follow their passions. A gifted teacher, he's dedicated his life to honoring individualism, creativity, and the inspirational power of art. Leonard believes, and has made many others believe, that inside everyone is an artist, and success and happiness in life depend on whether or not one values and acts upon one's creative impulse. In The Treehouse, Naomi Wolf's most personal book yet, Naomi outlines her father's lessons in creating lasting happiness and offers inspiration for the artist in all of us.
The book begins when Naomi asks Leonard to help build a treehouse for his granddaughter. Inspired by his dedication to her daughter's imaginative world, Naomi asks her father to walk her through the lessons of his popular poetry class and show her how he teaches people to liberate their creative selves. Drawn from Leonard's handwritten lecture notes, the chapters of The Treehouse remind us to "Be Still and Listen," "Use Your Imagination," "Do Nothing Without Passion," and that "Your Only Wage Will Be Joy," and "Mistakes Are Part of the Draft." More than an education in poetry writing, this is a journey of self-discovery in which the creative endeavor is paramount.
Naomi also offers glimpses into her father's past -- from his youth during the Depression to his bohemian years as a poet in 1950s San Francisco -- and the evolution of Leonard's highly individualistic vision of the artist's way. She reconsiders her own childhood and realizes the transformative effect Leonard's philosophy has had on her own life, as well as the lives of her students and friends. The Treehouse is ultimately a stirring personal history, a meditation on fathers and daughters, an argument for honoring the creative impulse, and unique instruction in the art of personal happiness.
Product Details
- Publisher: Simon & Schuster (May 4, 2005)
- Length: 288 pages
- ISBN13: 9780743271943
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Raves and Reviews
"Part memoir, part biography, part self-help...The Treehouse is an admirable book -- a book about growing up and growing wise, about looking back so that one might move forward, about finding one's true place in life, as opposed to one's place in culture or society."
-- Beth Kephart, Chicago Tribune
"Naomi Wolf's portrait of her father is inspiring and heartwarming. But just as inspiring is the way The Treehouse liberates readers to find their own creativity. This book is a hard-earned gift. It is also the most transformative of Naomi Wolf's books."
-- Erica Jong
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High Resolution Images
- Book Cover Image (jpg): The Treehouse eBook 9780743271943
- Author Photo (jpg): Naomi Wolf Photo Credit:(0.1 MB)
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