The Art of the Stack

My 5-year-old son marveled (or at least pretended to) a few days ago when I constructed this complex bit of architectural magnificence with some of his building blocks:



He couldn't figure out why I was so skilled at stacking with such delicate touch and aesthetically-accomplished ability. Which, in turn, puzzled me because he is in my office every day and he sees this:



Blocks. Books. Blocks. Books. Blocks. Books. In the hands of a master stacker, they are simply the product of trees yearning to tower once again above the earth and kiss the cheek of heaven...

Comments

[Alan Phipps]

Being a computer scientist, whenever I hear or read "stack", I first think of "this type of stack". Your version is second.

[Beefalo]

Signs of a beautiful life, if you ask me. Good books as the building blocks for a life well lived.

[Barbara]

What lovely pictures! We just got a copy of our daughter's second sonogram - it's a boy! At 22 weeks he looks just like his father.
Just prior to looking at your site I was looking at wooden toys - blocks among them. Our children played and loved with precisely the same kinds of blocks.
Enjoy your son - that age is so precious and it goes by so quickly. Mommy in waiting just celebrated her 5th birthday yesterday - or so it seems.
Think it's odd that my husband, a structural engineer, is a book stacker, too?

[Norah]

Just be careful that your son is not so intimidated by your wonderful construction that he is put off trying to build what he knows is inferior to your construction; this applies to drawings also. Perhaps you could build together; he puts a block, you put a block and ask questions such as "How could we put the blocks so that they don't fall over so easily?" and try that. Speaking here as a teacher/mum.

I can remember from some years ago when you reorganised either your work office or your home office and there were zillions of books, this looks exactly like it! lol

I love books and I love reading but I don't remember so well what I have read. I don't know if this demonstrates a lack of higher order comprehension skills or I am getting older. Any insights would be appreciated.

[Ed Peters]

I don't see a 1917 Code, Carl. I trust that's because it's on your nightstand.

[Carl E. Olson]

I trust that's because it's on your nightstand.

No, it's because it is my nightstand.

[Carl E. Olson]

Not to worry, Norah: he actually is really talented at such things. He begged me to make a "cool" tower, so I obliged. :-)

Re: reading and memory. I don't retain details of fiction well at all, but I can tell you the themes, worldview, etc. I'm much better at retaining details from books of non-fiction. But, then, I usually read the two types of books with a very different approach.