Forget what you think renowned anti-patriarchal social critic Wolf (The Beauty Myth
) always writes—this book has nothing to do with academia, politics or even feminism. Instead, it focuses on the creative force that her father, teacher/poet Leonard Wolf, believes is inside all of us. A passionate eccentric and a radically romantic humanist, Leonard started life in a muddy Romanian village, emigrated to Depression-era America, served during WWII and, after the war, moved to California where he lived by the sea with a handful of rebellious, talented writers. For decades, he taught his students at San Francisco State a set of 12 lessons about living the creative life, including "Use Your Imagination" and "Do Nothing Without Passion." Leonard believes "everyone is here on earth as an artist; to tell his particular story or sing her irreplaceable song; to leave a unique creative signature." Wolf elaborates on Leonard's points with anecdotes from her own work as a teacher, insights gained from building a tree house for her daughter and, best of all, stories from Leonard's colorful life. Personal and inspiring, it'll make anyone wish they had a Leonard in their life. Agent, John Brockman
. (May)
