What I Learned from Dr. Suess

Looming over the landscape of some important character building moments in my life is the figure of Dr. Seuss. Here in short is what I learned:

Sneetches: Sociology. Class and social dynamics

The Lorax: Marxist critque. The relationship between unchecked capitalism,industrialism and private ownership of natural resources

Green Eggs and Ham: Independent Thought. What I was 'supposed' to learn was to be open-minded and try new things. What I actually got out of this book was the importance of sticking to your guns in the face of unyielding manipulation.

The Cat in the Hat: Deviancy Theory. That bizarre and wonderful things can happen behind your parent's backs.

Mr.Brown Can Moo! Can You?: Self help. That both Mr. Brown and I can moo.

The Foot Book: Linguistics. One set of phonemes can have semantic references that are at once generic and simultaneously multivalent.

Horton Hears a Who!: Spirtuality. That even the largest of creatures can share sentiments with microscopic beings. Cosmic brotherhood/sisterhood etc...

The 500 Hats of Bartholomew Cubbins: Literary Criticism. That when he wasn't rhyming Dr. Seuss was kind of dry and sucky.

and of course

How the Grinch Stole Christmas: Zen. Things are what you make of them.