Reviewer John Cowans: John lives in
retirement in Chester, NS ,where he has been an Instructor with
Seniors College Association of Nova Scotia.
He is currently working on a personal memoir, Other People’s Children, and his first poetry collection, Hope.
Author: Robert V. Smith
Publisher: Texas Tech University Press
ISBN: 978-0-89672-740-3
Author: Robert V. Smith
Publisher: Texas Tech University Press
ISBN: 978-0-89672-740-3
These days with self publishing made
readily available and easy to use, everyone seems to be an expert at
something, although sometimes all it takes is a few minutes of close
product examination to prove that statement wrong. Nevertheless,
‘self-help’ books continue to pour forth; some interesting and
useful, most not. Robert V. Smith’s The Way of Oz: A Guide to
Wisdom, Heart, and Courage is a worthy exception; what makes this
book interesting, readable, attractive,and what is most important,
useful, is the simplicity of its premise: take a well known work of
literature and apply its themes to everyday modern life and
‘Bob’s-your-uncle’.In other words, in this case, follow the
yellow brick road of your own life towards whatever your emerald city
is; be accompanied along the way by your scarecrow, tin man, and lion
and as a result, maybe wisdom (learning), heart (loving), and courage
(serving) will find you and be an important part of your life
thereafter.
Robert V. Smith has pursued a career as faculty
member and administrator at five research universities in the United
States. Currently he is serving as the chief academic officer at
Texas Tech University; he is the author of several professional
development books.
It would be wrong to call The Way of Oz: A
Guide to Wisdom, Heart, and Courage just another self-help book
because it is much more than that. Much better to identify it as a
guide to personal and professional growth. In his Introduction, Smith
explains his book: “What I call The Way of Oz drives from [L.Frank]
Baum’s original tale and its sequels, the life story of its
creator, and the derivative lessons for you and me from all these
elements .... all crafted as a guide to adolescents - in particular
for students ...aspiring to enroll in college. ... The Way of Oz is
intended as a guide and a set of tools for lifelong learning, loving,
serving, and leadership.”
Smith discusses Learning, Loving, and
Serving in separate sections in his book. In the section on Learning,
for example, Learning is introduced as an integrated subject
connected to Reading, Writing, Communicating, and Traveling and each
of those topics is dealt with in a chapter length section. In the
chapter on Learning and Writing, Smith discusses Note Taking,
Journals, and Formal Writing which includes the proper use of
references; he even explains and warns against plagiarism. The
text-book dryness of the subject matter is avoided throughout by the
wonderful illustrations of Dusty Higgins ,an award winning
illustrator and graphic artist. In addition Smith has made his even
more intellectually attractive to modern students by imbedding in the
text quick response barcode icons and URL’s that link the reader to
a series of videos related to the substance and messages of the
content at hand.
Robert V. Smith’s The Way of Oz: A Guide
to Wisdom, Heart, and Courage is a worthwhile family reference volume
and would form the basis for an enjoyable and interesting family
study project this coming winter.
