…it sometimes feels like poetry is the only form of language that can rise to the occasion and lend voice to our collective grief. It can’t save the world, or take the place of direct action, but if we’re lucky it might help us to think through the value of the world we’re left with in the future. from How to Think Like a Poet by Dai George

“Poetry is the art of thinking,” Dai George writes in his introduction. This book is his endeavor to understand what poets throughout history and across cultures think about. Each chapter includes a presentation of the poet’s work and life, delving into specific poems, and offering an overarching understanding of the interconnection between poets and poets and history.

The poets were part of the changing paradigms of their times: the Metaphysical, the Enlightenment, Transcendentalism, the Romantic era. They responded to Colonialism, times of war and political strife, and struggled with issues of faith and religion, and reflected the angst of the Modern world.

I appreciated this book for its insights.

Thanks to the publisher for a free book through NetGalley.

This was an interesting book. I liked the concept of the book. I also thought the author chose a well with the poets selected. There were a good variety of poets. It was also a good mix of information about the poet, the poems themselves, and what they mean/suggest. As someone who likes poetry but does not love it, this book made me want to take a closer look at these poets and their works. The author is clearly well versed in poetry and has a vast knowledge of the subject. It was a good book, and one that I would recommend.