I am constantly amazed at the things people find to write about. There's a journal for everything, and for any little topic you can think of (and about a thousand you couldn't) there's someone who's willing to write 20-50 (or 100) pages on it.
Granted, many of the articles, even on obscure topics, turn out to have at least some interesting parts for a layperson (like me). And I'll admit that probably not everyone would be fascinated by some of the more obscure titles on my shelves (Thomas Jefferson & the New Nation, 1009 pages, or Martin's Hundred, about an archaeological dig near Colonial Williamsburg, come to mind). But it's one thing to read dry, obscure, microdetailed articles and books. The more journal articles I read, the more I am convinced that I am not cut out for serious academia, since I would never in a thousand years want to write them. (Also, where the journals are concerned, I have to say it helps that I'm paid to read them!)
No comments:
Post a Comment