We live in a world that provides no end to the frustration, irritation, and antagonism of genuine and humane understanding. Given the ever-multiplying obstacles to understanding which our civilization generates and throws in our path–when we encounter authors for whom we are genuinely thankful, when we encounter writings from which we glean insights that strike us as genuinely and personally valuable it may be appropriate for us to compose and record this appreciation. It may be a good and necessary thing for our general well-being that we celebrate that which is worthy of celebration.

The format of such composition might resemble that of the 3 minute or “elevator-ride” thesis. A short paragraph, in colloquial language, the recitation of which might take no more than 3-5 minutes and which would serve to relate to a listener–one who was entirely unfamiliar with the author or work in question–a general sense of the nature of the author’s accomplishment or of the work’s message/insight and its personal importance/value to us.