I hope you all had a lovely Christmas and New Year!

Today we will be focusing on some topics from the book, “The Lost Arts of Modern Civilization: How to Taste and See the Abundance of Life.”  by Dr. Mitchell Kalpakgian

We will be focusing on two lost arts that  Dr Mitchell Kalpakgaian explores in chapters 4 and 5.

Beginning with Chapter 4.

It is a sad thing that in modern times we have failed to realize the true meaning of enjoying people and their companionship. It is an age where pleasure and entertainment are individualistic. Many of our pastimes for pleasure and entertainment are surfing the internet, watching movies, or listening to our own music, all of which are nearly always done alone.   As the author put it, “ But in the pursuit of pleasure and entertainment, the greater source of happiness- the enjoyment of persons- is downplayed and underestimated.” (p. 37).

This chapter is primarily focused on how society is losing the time and values of enjoying other human begins.  Much of western society is dependent on individualistic recreation that doesn’t broaden friendship, strengthen family ties, and bring enjoyment to others as well.

As the author well puts it, “Once the pleasures of things replace the enjoyment of people, the entire quality of civilization suffers. People become secondary in a person’s life and all the virtues that govern human relationships- justice, friendship, charity, mercy, and courtesy – lose their significance.” (p. 49).

In the next chapter, “The art of pleasing others” is in the same vein of enjoying others, that to enjoy others one must know how to be pleasing.  The author starts off the chapter by stating that many people are no longer taught the values of pleasing others.  As he put it, “The mark of refinement, civility, and graciousness is the willingness the bring joy into human lives by gratuitous acts of special kindness that respect the wishes or feelings of others- the art of pleasing. “(p. 53).

As with all relationships, relationships suffer when the art of pleasing others is misused, and individuals seek their own pleasures at the expense of others and insist on their own ways. We need to bring back this art of pleasing others, just for the sake of friendship and kindness.

Both these arts, the art of enjoying people, and the art of pleasing people, require a lifetime of cultivation for perfection, as well as time, effort, patience, practice, and commitment.

I hope you enjoyed these last chapter reviews, and it has inspired you to take your friendships seriously. After all, we only have so much time with each one, let it not go to waste.

Have a great week,

Alyssa