Description

pp. 276, “Wolf, celebrated feminist writer and activist, introduces her father, Leonard Wolf, “a wild old visionary poet,” in this lovely personal memoir about an unconventional, openhearted man. After buying a dilapidated house in the wilderness, Wolf asks her father to help build a tree house for her children. This project becomes the conduit by which Leonard imparts his wisdom to his daughter–and to anyone else who cares to listen and learn. A teacher by profession, Leonard believes that there is an artist at everyone’s core, and it is our responsibility to find the means to express that artistic essence–whether through traditional methods such as music or poetry or through more seemingly mundane activities, like working with one’s hands or computer programming. Over 12 chapters titled for lessons learned, such as “Speak in Your Own Voice” and “Your Only Wage Will Be Joy,” Wolf effectively combines a useful, inspirational self-help book with a tender portrait of a passionate soul. “