marginalia001

For Debra, Christmas 1992
Well, it’s Christmas again, which means it’s time for another Hesse novel. This year’s selection is the absolute best. As before, in order to make this modest gift a bit more personal, I’ve included the underlining and notations that I made during my initial reading. So when you read, you can see what ideas appealed to me and think something like, “Jason WOULD like something like this.”
I really do recommend that you read this one, Debrah. There’s no better or more enlightening book on the development of self, the repudiation of convention, and the value of authenticity. As you’ve been told, the unexamined life is not worth living.
I hope you’ll give the book a try. I’m sure it would speak to you, as you are too valuable to be just a part of any herd. Self actualization is seldom pleasant and never easy, but the greatest among us are capable of it.
Affectionately,
Jason