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Superpowers
Aug. 4th, 2008 04:10 amRecently, I read a book called, cleverly enough, Superpowers, by David J. Schwartz.
Simply put, one morning 5 Madison, WI, college students wake up and discover that they have superpowers. The book basically says "never mind the why's and wherefore's" and goes on simply to explore their lives and the impact of these powers upon the students and those around them.
In many ways, it echoes, albeit at far greater length (and cost), a section of a paper I wrote a few years ago in which I discussed the perils of having powers but being raised without learning how to use them appropriately. (I almost wrote "without being appropriately taught how to use them," but I realize that the burden ultimately is on the learning, not the teaching.)
There are implications and logical consequences from having the powers, from decisions made about the use (or non-use) of such powers, and the sharing of information about them, as well.
This is a recurring theme, too, in the Winding Circle/Circle of Magic books by Tammy Pierce, as well. If we do not understand our powers, our aptitudes, then we run any number of risks. Do we run fewer with such knowledge or training? Perhaps not, but almost certainly a different class of risks and with some of those choices being volitional. That, I think, is what makes a difference.
Simply put, one morning 5 Madison, WI, college students wake up and discover that they have superpowers. The book basically says "never mind the why's and wherefore's" and goes on simply to explore their lives and the impact of these powers upon the students and those around them.
In many ways, it echoes, albeit at far greater length (and cost), a section of a paper I wrote a few years ago in which I discussed the perils of having powers but being raised without learning how to use them appropriately. (I almost wrote "without being appropriately taught how to use them," but I realize that the burden ultimately is on the learning, not the teaching.)
There are implications and logical consequences from having the powers, from decisions made about the use (or non-use) of such powers, and the sharing of information about them, as well.
This is a recurring theme, too, in the Winding Circle/Circle of Magic books by Tammy Pierce, as well. If we do not understand our powers, our aptitudes, then we run any number of risks. Do we run fewer with such knowledge or training? Perhaps not, but almost certainly a different class of risks and with some of those choices being volitional. That, I think, is what makes a difference.
