Derision is often heaped on he who dares to go against popular opinion.
According to Mitch Albom’s website, his books have “collectively sold over 28 million copies worldwide; have been published in forty-one territories and in forty-two languages around the world; and have been made into Emmy Award-winning and critically-acclaimed television movies.”
But I think Mitch Albom is a lousy writer. He tends to make sweeping statements about life that are irritatingly didactic. He tells me stuff I already know. His sentimental style only touches people who easily swoon.
I did not say I don’t like Mitch Albom – that would be a personal preference. I said Mitch Albom is a lousy writer. I am insulting Mitch Albom and the intelligence of all the people who think that he is a good writer. This takes courage.
The courage to ignore others and stand by what I said when they tell me, “If you’re so good at criticizing, then write a book and be as famous lah!”
They are not as intelligent as me.
Which reminds me of…
“I think we were progressing very nicely until the surge of Islam came and if you asked me for my observations, the other communities have easier integration – friends, intermarriages and so on, Indians with Chinese, Chinese with Indians – than Muslims. That’s the result of the surge from the Arab states… I would say today, we can integrate all religions and races except Islam.”
-Lee Kuan Yew, Hard Truths to Keep Singapore Going, Straits Times Press 2011, p228
I am not LKY. I have to bridge the gap between honest opinion and tact.
