How does this guy know so much. Reading this article is like an phone book of name drops and references. I know ppl with master's degrees who do not even know nearly as much. I should have stayed in school longer and done more reading so I would know more. I guess that answers the question of what I would do I if had to do it allover again. Sure beats what I am doing now. I think being a success writer is one of the best jobs in the world even if the pay is not that great because it is high status and you have an impact, whereas many tech jobs may pay better but it feels like you are sometimes working in a vacuum and not getting recognized for your contributions.
The personal references were interesting, the literary references were way too many. This was not a scientific paper in which it is important to present what was done and when and how; here, the author is talking about a very common thought or reflection for any of us (what could have become of me if...?) and what a particular author thought about their un-lived lives at a certain point in time is largely irrelevant.
I thought it was a bit too referential and it kept breaking the flow of the article. I get it you got an advanced English degree now let’s get on with it
1. This is likely not some stream of consciousness piece, where he basically writes his article as it comes up with stuff. It takes time, it has probably been edited numerous times, there's probably been lots of research, etc.
2. He writes that he studied English in grad. school, so I'm just going to assume that he's well-read. Probably had his fair share of exposure to the classics, as well as modern literature.
