by John H. Lienhard at the University of Houston
"Great Nations," wrote John Ruskin, "write their autobiogra-
phies in three manuscripts, the book of their deeds, the
book of their words, and the book of their art. Not one of
these books can be read unless we read the other two, but of
the three the only trusworthy one is the [book of their art.]"
Seven years ago I naively began this series. Since then I've
read the book of our art, of the things we make. I've read it
long and carefully. I set out to tell 65 stories -- enough to run
three months. The idea of reaching a thousand hardly crossed my
mind. Nor could I have understood, back then, the central mes-
sage that would gel from this long process of story-telling.
But gel it has. You see, the book of our art starkly contra-
dicts what we write in the books of our deeds and words! Ask most
people how we're doing and, like the media around them, they'll
bring up crime and war -- the decline of courtesy and good will.
When a Massachusetts insurance company recently surveyed
American attitudes, most people were quick to say that the under-
pinnings of society are collapsing. Yet those same people were
happy with their neighborhoods, their schools, and their friends.
Politicians tell us we're living in some latter-day Sodom
from which only they can save us. The media join in with all the
well-documented horrors of 20th century America: deceit, rape,
murder. The books of our words and deeds make grim reading
indeed, but it is misleading reading. Take the number of murders
per capita, for example: It's just the same as it was when I was
a baby. Evil remains but it is not getting worse. We do have a
moral center of gravity, and we do keep evil in check.
So, for a change, read the book of our art and of the things
we make. That truest autobiography tells an overwhelmingly posi-
tive story. The very word technology means the lore, or the shar-
ing, of technique. Technology is our essential act of sharing --
of generosity. It defines us as a species. I meet that generosi-
ty of spirit everywhere I'm willing to see it. So do you. Every
act of rudeness is balanced by a hundred quiet acts of kindness.
By that same token, we overlook the goodness of intent
behind all the invisible technology that serves us. We've dis-
torted the record by using the competitive lives of a few Famous
Inventors, or a few machines of war, to tell the history of tech-
nology. Look closer, and those few pale against the instinct for
creative sharing that's shaped our technological civilization.
Seven years of story-telling has bent me to that lesson. A
resonance forms between teller and listeners. Your generosity of
spirit echoes in this series as you too reveal that face of crea-
tive kindness. For seven years you and I have read the book of
our art together, and I am left with a fine hope for our future.
I'm John Lienhard at the University of Houston, where we're
interested in the way inventive minds work.
Donn, J., "Americans polled believe 'I'm OK, but you're not,'"
Houston Chronicle, Monday, Nov. 21, 1994, pg. 5A.
"Murder rate little changed in six decades," Houston Chronicle,
Thursday, Feb. 2, 1995, pg. 8A.
See also Episodes No. 560 and 861 for more on this theme. I
am grateful to N. Shamsundar, UH College of Engineering, for pro-
viding the Donn article and to Herman Detering, Detering's Book
Gallery, for providing the Chronicle article as well as critical
commentary on the idea of the episode.