book of the day

06/18/09 09:50

When I was at Villanova I had a few priests as professors, and one of my favorites would begin each class by recommending a book or two. They weren't always related to the class (Education); in fact, they covered a wide range of subjects. Fr. Breslin always spoke with great enthusiasm, eager to share his vast knowledge and turn his students into curious, well-rounded adults.

When I became the travel editor of the Sun-Sentinel in 1989 I started running, on page 3, excerpts from books that complemented whatever was the cover story that week. If it was a story about St. Petersburg, I'd put in a passage by Vladimir Nabokov; a piece about Patagonia would inevitably get a dose of Bruce Chatwin. It was my way of recommending books to readers. I had to discontinue the feature in 2000 after some little-known author threatened to sue us for not getting his permission to reprint 200 of his far from priceless words. Years before I had sent Pico Iyer a section, which included a passage he'd written about Vietnam, and he had graciously thanked me for the free publicity.

Which brings me to today's recommended book: Pico's The Open Road: The Global Journey of the Fourteenth Dalai Lama. It is a beautifully written, typically thoughtful, consistently probing study which looks at the Dalai Lama in his various roles: that of icon, monk, philosopher, globalist and politician (including criticisms from some who believe that he has been too passive with China). You get a strong sense not only of this remarkable man but of the history of Tibet and of the Indian city, Dharamsala, which has become the headquarters of the Tibetan exile community. If I knew where Fr. Breslin was, I'd recommend it to him heartily.

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6 comments

Comment from: Levering White McQuillan [Visitor]
Levering White McQuillan

Tom,
One of my distinct memories of being an undergrad at Villanova was the day during my Sophomore year when Fr. Breslin, dean of A&S was walking down Tolentine Hall and as he passed me he said: “Levering, I want to see you in my office this afternoon and I want you to tell me what your major is going to be.” I was stunned; I didn’t even know he knew who I was. I went running over to the Union screaming “I have to decide the rest of my life by this afternoon!” I was a wreck.
Fr. Richard Breslin later was president of the University of Charelston in West Virginia and then was president of Drexel 1988-1994.

06/22/09 @ 12:14
Comment from: [Member]
Thomas Swick

Lev,
Thanks for the updates on Fr. Breslin. I knew he’d left the priesthood but didn’t know that he’d been president of Drexel. A wonderful man and an inspiring educator.
Tom

06/22/09 @ 13:42
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