Letters to a Young Contrarian

Chapter 16
"Radicalism is humanism or it is nothing; the proper study of mankind is man and the ability to laugh is one of the faculties that defines the human and distinguishes the species from other animals"
This is my favorite quote from this chapter. I love that the fact that humans can understand humor and enjoy it is one of the special things that we can do and most other species can't do. I think that humor is very important because of the amount of stress it relieves. Without laughter and the emotions that come with it the human population would be one stressed bunch.

Chapter 17
"So I entreat you; have no fear of being thought of as a monomaniac". I found this the most interesting piece of the chapter because of something the author left out. If you believe in something I understand you must become a little obsessed with it to make things happen. But if you become too obsessed with it you miss the world around you and the other opportunities that present themselves. You miss out on many things and many good things in your life that need attention may cease to strive.

Chapter 18
As a whole no actual quote of this chapter stood out, however the chapter as a whole was interesting. I mostly got from it that you must break a few rules to be successful at what you are striving for (whether it be success or rebellion or whatever). The author has ended up in jail, but his point is if the end justifies the means-then its worth it. I agree with him in this sense. The end MUST justify the means, however. For example, killing people to get a puppy would NOT be an example of the ends justifying the means. But as Hitchens said, a few months in jail for success and suddenly jail doesn't seem as bad.

End
The end quote kind of sums up the whole book, "Have a lived life instead of a career. Put yourself in the safekeeping of good taste. Lived freedom will compensate you for your losses...if you don't like the style of others, cultivate your own. Get to know the tricks of reproduction, be a self-publisher ever in conversation, and then the joy of working can fill your days." Basically, make your own rules. Rebellion against the norm if you don't like it. And most importantly think outside of the box. If you think outside of the box first everything will follow.