On September 13, 2011, I attended a lecture by David McCullough. I was awestruck before the lecture even began. I stepped through metal detectors and into a quiet marble hall - the U.S. Capitol Visitors Center, after hours. There is something magical about historical places at night.
Congressmen and their staff, CEOs, and lucky randoms like me were treated to Mr. McCullough's insights on the Constitution, education in America, and lessons from history. As anyone who has read his books can attest, Mr. McCullough is brilliant! As he spoke, I could picture the entire contents of the Library of Congress neatly tucked inside his brain, from which he could pluck out a historical letter or cite a law at a moment's notice. When senators posed questions to him he answered with confidence and wisdom. He seemed a rare mixture of scholar, author, patriot, and... grandpa. In my eyes, a national treasure.
Being a bookworm, I sat up straighter when the subject turned to reading. Mr. McCullough stressed that parents have a greater responsibility than schoolteachers to teach the importance of reading.
"What books do you take to heart? What books do you take heart from?"
His questions resounded with me. It's true that I love vampire romances and could devour Louis L'Amour whole. (And there's nothing wrong with that). But what books have I taken to heart in the last year? Certainly Mr. McCullough's own masterpiece, John Adams. Others read in 2011 that still linger with me: A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, The Yearling, The Road, The Elegance of the Hedgehog, Cold Mountain, The March, The Old Testament (the latter lingers longest since it is a work in progress).
I have never been known for good recall, so I will never have anything close to the Library of Congress tucked into my brain. But some stories you just can't shake. They leave an imprint and become more than just the words of strangers. I know what it means to take masterpieces to heart, and take heart from them.
Mr. McCullough just puts it so perfectly.
Clip from his September 12th lecture at the National Archives.
http://fora.tv/2011/09/13/David_McCullough_The_Constitutional_Convention_of_1787#fullprogram
