Ask the Author: Neel Burton

“Ask me a question.” Neel Burton

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What is your favourite glass of wine to enjoy whilst reading a good book?

Neel Burton Good question! It very much depends on the book, but maybe something 'difficult' and 'intellectual' like an old sherry, an austere Savennières, or a super-structured Barolo. The Italians have a name for such wines: vini da meditazione, or 'meditation wines'.

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What mystery in your own life could be a plot for a book?

Neel Burton There are many mysteries in my life, and when I find one that interests me enough, I write a book to get to the bottom of it. For example, I didn't adhere to the modern concept of success, so I wrote a book called 'The Art of Failure' to discover what real success might be. Mysteries are everywhere, but we don't see them if we take them for granted.

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Who is your favorite fictional couple, and why?

Neel Burton Cathy and Heathcliff from Withering Heights, because their story is intensely tragic, because they burn with passion, and because they are in some sense universals, or what Jung called archetypes.

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What is your perspective on self-learning? Since your bio says you're a philosopher, do you think philosophy can be better studied if in college or by reading and collecting information by yourself?

Neel Burton Hi, I think this depends on where you are at and how you learn. A college course can give you motivation and confidence for attacking original texts, force you to consider new philosophers and perspectives, and provide reassurance that you are engaging appropriately with the subject matter. But philosophy is a lifelong pursuit, and almost all of my reading and thinking has been extracurricular. I hope this helps!

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