What Light Can Do Essays on Art Imagination and the Natural World

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Sep 17, 2012 Laura Leaney rated it information technology was astonishing

I wish I could while away more than hours inside the mind of Robert Hass. His essays on art, literature, motion picture, philosophy, photography, homo beings, and the very earth we stand on, are uplifting, enlightening. As a poet, Hass's critical eye may exist more attuned to beauty than the average reader, and then following him as he reads, watches, or observes a particular slice of art is like existence taught by a principal. Best of all, the pieces he chooses to discuss are oftentimes created past artists who are not that I wish I could while abroad more than hours inside the heed of Robert Hass. His essays on art, literature, film, philosophy, photography, human beings, and the very earth we stand up on, are uplifting, enlightening. As a poet, Hass's disquisitional eye may be more attuned to beauty than the average reader, so following him equally he reads, watches, or observes a particular piece of art is similar being taught past a master. All-time of all, the pieces he chooses to discuss are oftentimes created by artists who are not that well known - or at least not to me. I had to pause to read the poesy of Ko Un and Ernesto Cardenal so that I could understand the point of Hass's essay on each. The process was one of delightful discovery.

Every bit for the artists I knew, I found something to larn at every turn. Edward Taylor, Wallace Stevens, Mary Austin, Chekhov, Kant, Ginsburg, Louise Gluck, Cormac McCarthy, and Robinson Jeffers, are just to name a few. Reading What Calorie-free Can Do forced me back to my volume shelves (again and over again) to savour anew words I'd already read once but needed to read again.

All of the material in this book is a celebration of artistry and the human spirit. Hass'south sensibility, sensitivity, and wide range of cognition is apparent on each folio.

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Nov 05, 2016 Ken rated information technology actually liked information technology

Robert Hass, professor and lecturer at Cal-Berkeley, is the kind of guy I could sit and mind to forever, if his essays are any indication. He puts the "well" in "-read" (by that I hateful he's "deep").

Every bit yous would wait, many of these essays care for on poetry and poets-- Wallace Stevens, Allen Ginsberg, Ernesto Cardenal, Robinson Jeffers, Ko Un, Czeslaw Milosz, Walt Whitman, etc. But just as many have to exercise with prose writers-- Cormac McCarthy, Maxine Hong Kingston, Mary Austin, Jack London, and

Robert Hass, professor and lecturer at Cal-Berkeley, is the kind of guy I could sit and mind to forever, if his essays are whatever indication. He puts the "well" in "-read" (by that I mean he'southward "deep").

Equally you would look, many of these essays care for on poesy and poets-- Wallace Stevens, Allen Ginsberg, Ernesto Cardenal, Robinson Jeffers, Ko Un, Czeslaw Milosz, Walt Whitman, etc. Only just equally many have to do with prose writers-- Cormac McCarthy, Maxine Hong Kingston, Mary Austin, Jack London, and Anton Chekhov, to name a few.

Hass's is an erudite yet avuncular style. His literary acumen is highbrow, merely he speaks the language of middlebrows. Thus, the likes of me are able to follow forth. Information technology's a "dip" type of book. Information technology rides shotgun every bit y'all are reading a novel, say, and when you're in the mood to learn more about, for instance, Chinese or Korean poetry, or possibly California writers, or perhaps literature and war or literature and rivers or mayhap literature and spirituality/organized religion, you open What Light Tin Do, dip in, and feel elucidated for your troubles.

Movement over, MOOCS. Robert Hass's essays see your on-line courses and heighten them to the warm comforts of a 476-page book that's like a companion y'all tin trust and have your time listening to.

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Oct 29, 2012 Jeremy Garber rated information technology it was amazing

Robert Hass proves he tin apply his mastery of the evocative paradigm in a few words to the wide breadth of homo experience. Hass has been one of the Poet Laureates of the U.s., a prolific translator of haiku (the expert ones), and a stellar poet in his own right (Field Guide was my showtime introduction to his work). Now he collects his finely crafted essays on everything from Howl to Kant'south "Essay on Perpetual Peace" (my personal favorite), from photography to the Epistles of John, from Corm Robert Hass proves he can utilize his mastery of the evocative prototype in a few words to the wide latitude of man experience. Hass has been one of the Poet Laureates of the United States, a prolific translator of haiku (the good ones), and a stellar poet in his own right (Field Guide was my first introduction to his work). Now he collects his finely crafted essays on everything from Howl to Kant's "Essay on Perpetual Peace" (my personal favorite), from photography to the Epistles of John, from Cormac McCarthy to how to teach verse. ("The truth is, I am much more interested in poems than in the nature of poetry in more or less the same way that someone might be more interested in eating than the theory of cuisine.") You may non exist interested in every essay in the volume, simply at that place will exist one that will reverberate in your attic a long time later reading it. Specially recommended for poets, theorists of organized religion, revolutionaries, artists, and anyone who possesses a soul and a brain simultaneously. ...more

I've always loved the poesy of Robert Hass, (I have his Apple Trees at Olema) though I had never read any of his essays. Now, this is rapidly becoming one of my favourite books - on Kindle - and I'k buying a hard copy to read and re-read and underline and scribble in the margins - it'due south that kind of volume. What he says, and the manner he says it, makes it a must-read.

In a week when Sharon Olds won the TS Eliot prize for poesy I re-read an essay sub-titled 'Poor Monkeys and the White Business in the

I've always loved the poetry of Robert Hass, (I have his Apple Trees at Olema) though I had never read whatsoever of his essays. Now, this is quickly becoming ane of my favourite books - on Kindle - and I'chiliad buying a hard copy to read and re-read and underline and scribble in the margins - it's that kind of book. What he says, and the way he says information technology, makes it a must-read.

In a calendar week when Sharon Olds won the TS Eliot prize for poetry I re-read an essay sub-titled 'Poor Monkeys and the White Business organisation in the Copse'. It'southward a thoughtful discussion of autobiographical poetry about families. Hass points out that it was a new bailiwick when Robert Lowell published 'Life Studies' in 1959. 'It is a fact,' Hass observes, 'that [you] can acquire nothing most the aunts or the grandmothers of John Donne, Thomas Traherne, Anne Finch, Alexander Pope... John Keats, Emily Dickinson or Robert Browning' from their poesy. He also feels that it may exist a particularly American miracle. 'American poetry is total of aunts and grandmothers, but French poetry isn't, or Serbian poesy or Arabic or Brazilian or for that thing, English language verse'. Robert Hass takes u.s. through some theories of Why this might be, which I found fascinating.

One of the essays is a deliberation on state of war - particularly the Republic of iraq war. 'How did this happen?' Hass asks. 'And why are ordinary Americans not beingness driven crazy by it?' The answer he supplies is 'fear, acrimony and ignorance'. How could ordinary people be expected to know that 'bombing Saddam Hussein because of a terrorist act perpetrated by Saudi Arabian Wahhabi Muslim terrorists would seem to the people in the Center E an human activity of pure assailment against all Islamic cultures by a ability that could non distinguish among them.' But government and the educated media should have been able to and Hass castigates them for their failure to do and so, accusing them of 'morally culpable ignorance'. He states that 'The moral and intellectual failure of American journalists and of political and policy intellectuals was scenic'.

There are several 'major' essays in the book; one of them on 'Chekhov's Anger', which told me quite a lot I didn't know about the author'due south life besides every bit providing an illuminating assay of the work. Chekhov apparently began his career writing for comic newspapers and magazines in 19th century Russian federation - the same kind of 'penny dreadfuls' that Herbert Allingham wrote for in Britain. Chekhov's grandfather had been a serf who had bought his liberty and become a bailiff - the classic case of poacher turning gamekeeper. Chekhov's begetter was a small shop-keeper who went bankrupt when he was only sixteen and the family moved to Moscow. Chekhov began publishing stories, sketches and jokes to pay his way through a medical degree. Soon he was keeping the whole family.

Robert Hass is very good on these early mass-market place stories which were the 'equivalent of newspaper cartoons'. it taught Chekhov a lot about writing - especially economic system. This is Chekhov writing to Gorky - 'cross out as many adjectives and adverbs as you like. You have so many modifiers that the reader has trouble understanding and gets worn out'.

Hass points out that these early commercial stories accept the same structure as the afterwards stories that Chekhov is famous for. 'They depend on a surprise ending, usually, though not e'er on dramatic reversal, and the surprise in in i way or another wounding . . . The gasp that the story evokes, the little cry of surprise and discovery, comes out not just considering the ending surprises, but because information technology fits'. The stories are as well witty and it is 'the terrible presence of wit' that takes the stories from desolation into tragedy. Chekhov knew what he was doing in his fiction and his drama. 'I finish every human activity as I do my stories; I keep the action calm and tranquillity till the end, then I punch the audience in the face.'

Chekhov'south anger came from the tearing handling meted out by his father, which he couldn't forgive, too every bit the social injustice he witnessed in a Russia building up to civil war. Acrimony, Hass observes, can be 'the wellspring of art'. Information technology reminds me of Katherine Mansfield, who said that one of the 'boot offs' for her was a 'cry against corruption'. Anger motivated many of her stories, and Chekhov was ane of her large influences. She too, wrote but short stories, never a novel.

In that location are other wonderful essays in this book - 'Howl at L' takes some other await at Ginsberg 50 years on and compares the manner of it to passages from the Waste Land (I'd never fabricated the connection with Eliot before, but it's so obvious I now experience stupid!). He describes Howl as 'a kind of exploded, hallucinatory autobiography'. He talks nearly the genesis of Moloch and observes that 'Moloch has still got concord of a good chunk of the American soul'.

I likewise loved 'Imagining the Earth' - his essays on eco-poetry and literature, and one on 'Education Poetry' which I can't fifty-fifty begin to precis. It touches on the oral nature of poetry on the page - poetry is 'a kind of spoken communication that'south meant to be said past others'. In other essays he explores the connections betwixt poetry and the natural world. He is pessimistic nigh our generation'due south aegis of the planet. 'What a depleted world our students are inheriting'. Will they be able to relieve it? 'The task may be beyond u.s..' But 'Nosotros have to human activity as if we can attain information technology, every bit if nosotros can preserve that richness and diversity. We have to act every bit if the soul gets to choose.'

I'd recommend this volume to anyone who loves literature - it'south a bang-up companion volume to Robert Hass's collected poems as well. Thoughtful, profound, outspoken - the writings of a compassionate individual who is also a great poet.

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Aug 29, 2013 David Sumner rated it it was astonishing

I can't recommend this highly plenty. Equally much as what Hass writes well-nigh how he writes is fascinating. His essay on Howl is written in the voice of a crush poet. His insights & observations are astute, refreshing. Read this book! Re-read it! Write in the margins, underline. Carry it effectually, read it in a buffet and proceed it on the table as you begin writing a verse form while watching the afternoon light plow to an amber glow. I can't recommend this highly enough. Every bit much as what Hass writes about how he writes is fascinating. His essay on Howl is written in the voice of a crush poet. His insights & observations are acute, refreshing. Read this volume! Re-read it! Write in the margins, underline. Bear information technology around, read it in a cafe and continue it on the table as yous begin writing a poem while watching the afternoon light plow to an bister glow. ...more

Oct 06, 2012 Angelo rated information technology it was astonishing

An excellent book of essays covering everything from verse, to photography, to the Cormac McCarthy Borders trilogy, to the protest of the cutting downward of oak trees at the University of Berkeley campus. Throughout, the vox of Robert Hass, measured, self-reflective, intelligent. If this book had twenty more manufactures I could have kept on without a thought.

Oct 28, 2016 Ted Morgan rated it information technology was amazing

Remarkably astute essayist who varies is essays to accommodate their subjects. This collection draws me to desire to read more of his work.

Nov 12, 2016 Amanda rated it it was amazing

There are and so many undercurrents and connections beyond what is simply on the surface in these essays, which make for rigorous and delightful reading.

January 26, 2018 Wendy rated it it was amazing

Brilliant.
Poet, philosopher, acute observer of the unseen, Hass is the type of writer I long to detect in my reading. What a gift.

These essays are brilliant. Literature, photography, verse, the natural world come up alive in a totally refreshing and nuanced articulation. My reading list doubled as I read about authors and playwrights that I now considered in a wholly different low-cal.

What the light tin do, indeed!

Very nice collection of essays that is fairly various, at that place'southward non a lot holding them together except that Hass wrote them. Some of them seem like they belong under the title, others don't. But books of essays are dandy considering you tin can but read around in them and find the things you want. I would propose reading this if you would like some insightful essays on literature, writers, and painting. Ther are some very overnice essays in at that place on these topics. Very nice collection of essays that is fairly diverse, there'due south not a lot holding them together except that Hass wrote them. Some of them seem like they vest under the title, others don't. But books of essays are great because you lot can but read around in them and detect the things you want. I would suggest reading this if you would like some insightful essays on literature, writers, and painting. Ther are some very nice essays in there on these topics. ...more

"They were trying to invent in language, trying to say what life was like for them, to bear witness to it, to sing, to detect fresh ways of embodying the experiences of thinking and feeling and living amid others, to make new and surprising kinds of exact artifacts."

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I was having a really good time with this when the library reclaimed it. Will come back to it at some indicate.

Side-note: This book is a writer I don't know writing virtually other writers I don't know; it ought

"They were trying to invent in linguistic communication, trying to say what life was like for them, to bear witness to it, to sing, to find fresh ways of embodying the experiences of thinking and feeling and living among others, to make new and surprising kinds of verbal artifacts."

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I was having a really good time with this when the library reclaimed it. Will come back to it at some betoken.

Side-note: This volume is a author I don't know writing about other writers I don't know; information technology ought to be impossible. But a) Hass is very proficient, obviously, and b) How to Talk About Books You Oasis't Read has basically given me superpowers. <three

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Oct 23, 2014 Michael rated information technology it was amazing

I finished reading what light can do: Essays on Art, Imagination, And the Natural Globe by Robert Hass on Lord's day afternoon at the cottage in Three Rivers, Michigan (after a walk in a snowstorm effectually the lake). This is a wonderful collection of essays on a wide diverseness of interesting topics. Considering Hass is a poet, there is a lot of stuff on poetry here. But the work is mainly about his meet with the world, both inner and outer. The writing is cute and reveals a hidden globe. I had a v I finished reading what light tin can practise: Essays on Art, Imagination, And the Natural World by Robert Hass on Lord's day afternoon at the cottage in Three Rivers, Michigan (afterward a walk in a snowstorm effectually the lake). This is a wonderful collection of essays on a wide variety of interesting topics. Considering Hass is a poet, at that place is a lot of stuff on poetry here. Only the work is mainly about his encounter with the earth, both inner and outer. The writing is cute and reveals a hidden world. I had a visit with the author in November and I wish I had read this whole book by that time. It would have added to a delightful conversation. Information technology was a long read, but well worth it. ...more

"The nouns in the subtitle of Robert Hass's new book are abstract plenty to comprehend the wide diverseness of its topics, but they barely suggest the range of innuendo, the depth of some of the readings, the consistent eloquence and easy confidence of the way, and the author'due south ability to blend personal and critical viewpoints." - Robert Murray Davis, University of Oklahoma

This book was reviewed in the May 2013 issue of World Literature Today. Read the total review by visiting our site: http://bit.ly/18

"The nouns in the subtitle of Robert Hass's new book are abstract enough to encompass the wide variety of its topics, just they barely propose the range of allusion, the depth of some of the readings, the consistent eloquence and piece of cake conviction of the way, and the writer's ability to blend personal and critical viewpoints." - Robert Murray Davis, University of Oklahoma

This book was reviewed in the May 2013 outcome of World Literature Today. Read the full review by visiting our site: http://scrap.ly/18JxneR

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Mar 25, 2014 Jenny rated it liked it

I actually enjoyed this book for a while - but information technology'due south taken me a long time to get through it, and I'll acknowledge I did skip a few essays in the last one-half of information technology. Not really my thing, just good for me and he'due south an first-class writer about things that I know only a little near....which makes it a tough slog at times, even though I want to want to read it...you know? Ah well....it fabricated me feel adept when a complete stranger on the bus saw information technology and asked me about it and she wrote down the championship so that she could f I actually enjoyed this volume for a while - but it's taken me a long time to get through information technology, and I'll admit I did skip a few essays in the concluding half of information technology. Non really my affair, simply expert for me and he's an first-class writer well-nigh things that I know only a little about....which makes it a tough slog at times, even though I desire to want to read it...you know? Ah well....it fabricated me feel expert when a complete stranger on the bus saw it and asked me about it and she wrote downwardly the title and then that she could discover a copy for herself. ...more

May 23, 2013 Katlyn rated information technology actually liked it

I've never read any of Hass's prose earlier, but I picked upwardly this book at the library because of his bright poetry. The pros is equally insightful, lyrical and worldly. It was difficult for me to finish, which is not surprising given that the writings in this collection were not originally intended for reading all at one time, merely at that place's a topical cohesiveness in the club of the pieces that I appreciated. I've never read whatsoever of Hass's prose before, but I picked up this book at the library because of his vivid poetry. The pros is every bit insightful, lyrical and worldly. Information technology was difficult for me to stop, which is not surprising given that the writings in this collection were not originally intended for reading all at once, but there's a topical cohesiveness in the order of the pieces that I appreciated. ...more

Oct thirty, 2013 Michelle rated it liked information technology

Recommends it for: those interested in artistic or literary critcism

This was obviously meant for someone passionate about poetry and artistic/literary criticism, neither of which is me. The author is obviously brilliant, but since I don't share his passion for poetic criticism, information technology kind of left me in the dust.

The iii stars are not for the quality of the volume, but more a reflection of whether the book was a skilful fit for me, which it actually wasn't. Like wearing a size 7 shoe, but putting on a ten. :)

This was obviously meant for someone passionate about verse and artistic/literary criticism, neither of which is me. The writer is obviously bright, but since I don't share his passion for poetic criticism, information technology kind of left me in the dust.

The three stars are not for the quality of the book, simply more a reflection of whether the book was a expert fit for me, which information technology really wasn't. Like wearing a size vii shoe, but putting on a ten. :)

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Jun 12, 2016 Carolyn rated it really liked it

I slowly induldged in this cracking book of essays and ideas. I am a huge fan of this poets piece of work. And so a tad leary of his essays at beginning. But every bit I finished it the other night I realized I could read whatever this homo wrote. A fleck of an academic, but one doesn't choke on an overbearing vocabulary. This volume was interesting through and through. Even on some of the criticism of authors I'g not well addicted of, smashing job. I slowly induldged in this great volume of essays and ideas. I am a huge fan of this poets work. And so a tad leary of his essays at first. Only as I finished it the other night I realized I could read whatsoever this human wrote. A bit of an academic, simply i doesn't choke on an overbearing vocabulary. This book was interesting through and through. Fifty-fifty on some of the criticism of authors I'one thousand not well fond of, great task. ...more

A drove of talks and essays of uneven finish, some of whose provenance is frustratingly unidentified. At his best Hass writes with a sharp clarity, a humble profundity and a broad curiosity – often in the same sentence. Likewise as beingness usefully introduced to unfamiliar vistas, I found myself surprisingly often (and frequently surprisingly) moved to reflection.

Dec 07, 2014 Greta rated information technology actually liked information technology

Robert Hass is a very engaging and knowledgeable critic as well as a poet. While exact in the points he makes, he has a rather conversational style and sense of organization to lead you from one to the next. Essays on Chekhov, Howl" at l, Jack London, Milosz (of course), war and peace in poetry, American prisons, nature, and photography. Robert Hass is a very engaging and knowledgeable critic as well equally a poet. While exact in the points he makes, he has a rather conversational manner and sense of system to lead you from one to the adjacent. Essays on Chekhov, Howl" at 50, Jack London, Milosz (of course), war and peace in poetry, American prisons, nature, and photography. ...more

I picked this upwards at City Lights in 2013 based on my loved for the imagery in Robert Hass'due south poem "Privilege of Being." I've read only a handful of essays so far, just I'g keeping information technology nearby at present. Highlights are essays on pedagogy poetry and on Chekhov's anger. It's hard to become too far without being compelled to go off and read some of the actual stuff Hass is writing about. I picked this up at City Lights in 2013 based on my loved for the imagery in Robert Hass'due south poem "Privilege of Being." I've read only a handful of essays and then far, but I'grand keeping information technology nearby at present. Highlights are essays on pedagogy poetry and on Chekhov's acrimony. Information technology's difficult to go too far without being compelled to go off and read some of the actual stuff Hass is writing about. ...more

Apr 01, 2013 Marion rated information technology it was astonishing

I've enjoyed Mr. Hass's verse for years and was eager to read this book. It did not disappoint. It is luminous, to say the least, and a book that I dip into to over and over again. If you lot're a Robert Hass fan, and so this is a MUST READ. I've enjoyed Mr. Hass's poetry for years and was eager to read this book. It did not disappoint. It is luminous, to say the least, and a book that I dip into to over and over once again. If you're a Robert Hass fan, and then this is a MUST READ. ...more

Some wonderful pieces, some I found a little less so.

Jan 23, 2013 Naomi rated information technology liked information technology

A fine volume of literary essays, much to engage and mull over, and much to disagree with.

Aug 05, 2013 Terri marked it equally to-read

Starting with the three chapters on photographers.

Jan xix, 2017 Carolyn rated it it was amazing

That merely took three years to finish (which, I think, is pretty reasonable for a 500-page book of essays). Time to start the reread!

Jul 28, 2017 Michelle marked it as fractional-read-likely-will-restart

What a bright, inspiring mind Hass wields... But I can only dip in and out of this tome i essay at a time, and alas, library loans only concluding and so long. Will return for more literary analysis, introspection, and incredible writing.

Robert Hass was born in San Francisco and lives in Berkeley, California, where he teaches at the University of California. He served as Poet Laureate of the United States from 1995 to 1997. A MacArthur Boyfriend and a ii-fourth dimension winner of the National Book Critics Circumvolve Award, he has published poems, literary essays, and translations. He is married to the poet Brenda Hillman.

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His idiom is spare, he ways to say what he knows, equally just as possible, and the simpler the poems the more mysterious they are. For clear water,...

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