Fire Pits and the Humanities

Imagine reciting an Ezra Pound or Robert Frost poem near the glow of a lit fire pit. Can you sense the drama of such a reading? There are many ways to bring studies of the humanities into one's every day life. Perhaps you are someone who majored in engineering during college, but wish you could have received an education in the arts as well. Or, maybe you have a love for the humanities but are looking for ways to share that love with other people. If you want to pursue your love for the humanities, then this article will show you a few ways you can begin to explore this interest.

One idea is to create a book club. You can recruit members literally anywhere. You may want to look for people in your neighborhood with a similar interest, or people that attend your religious place of worship (if you have one). Other places to look may be local colleges or cafes located near your home. Simply place flyers up in these buildings that advertise a humanities book club. Put your email address on the ad, and you may have discovered a new book club for yourself!

To get people to stay interested in the book club, you may want to open up your home to the people involved after you have gotten to know them a bit. Invite them over for a night of talking about your favorite poets or classical authors. Afterward, open up your swimming pool or a fire pit for roasting marshmallows. There are many ways you can make the book club a fun event the people look forward to, rather than something that becomes a drag and added responsibility.

There are many great books that are considered classics in the humanities. If you like religious books, then the Bible and Koran are definite classics to study. If you like poetry, then be sure to study a range of poets including Emily Dickenson and Milton. Don't forget to read Shakespeare, his works are incredibly influential in the worlds of literature and the general humanities.

If you are interested in the humanities, simply inviting some people over to discuss literature around a fire pit can be a wonderful way to develop your interest. Not only are you developing your interest, but you are also bonding with other people. Why wait any longer? Pursue your interest in the humanities today!

Geoffrey F. Moore
Firepit