Certain works of art push us to look more closely at our own beliefs.
Bob Dylan's Don't Think Twice, it's All Right is one.
Don't Think Twice uses a narrative technique, the Second Look, that encourages self-scrutiny. The repetition of “don't look twice, it's all right” triggers a sense of déja vu that, as it continues, develops into self-consciousness.
Is it all right? Maybe, maybe not.
Suddenly you're not sure how Dylan feels, or if he even knows how he feels.
Possibilities open up, for Dylan and for you. All those beliefs you hold so firm…how firm are they?
So you get better at identifying what you feel and why.
So we have a reference library of literary works to help you alleviate hard feelings when they hit and to flourish by building up stores of positive emotions.
You can learn more about the narrative technique that clears your mind in chapter 16 of Wonderworks.
03. Commonsense
How to Become A Feminist Icon
Imagine you're a wife and mother in a patriarchal society that has very specific ideas of what it means to be a wife and mother.
Your husband abuses you; "an ordinary thing” in your culture.
You were raised to honor that culture and your role therein. Until, finally, you can no longer square his abuse with your own sense of self.
You make the decision to stay only until your daughter is grown.
But then your daughter has children and wants you to care for them like all good “aunties” do.
If you chose Option C, you have the kind of commonsense that could make you a feminist icon in China.
Commonsense is your ability to match the newness of your plan to the newness of your environment.
Grandmother Su Min of China made a deal with her daughter. She would honor her obligations by caring for her grandchildren until they went to kindergarten. Then she would leave.
She knew her environment would not change. She had to do it herself.
Four years later, Sue Min lives in her van, traveling throughout China and sharing her adventures with millions of female fans through her video diaries.
Touchingly, those fans honor her with the title “auntie” and love her for changing their idea of what their own lives can be.
This year, Su Min was included in the BBC's list of 100 inspiring and influential women of 2024.
Auntie indeed.
Why do we do this exercise?
The more you familiarize with real-world, commonsense decisions of the past, the more you improve your own ability to calibrate your response to the challenge at hand.
Missed an issue? They're all available in our archive.
