Crossing : A Memoir

Rating:
Summary: Anything by McCloskey is worth reading
Review: When I was in grad school I had the chance to take a class from Deirdre [I would technically refer to McCloskey as 'Donald/Deirdre' or simply as McCloskey, and do not use pronouns to refer to the person; however, to simplify and avoid political spin or personal feelings I will refer to the person as Deirdre and use feminine pronouns when referring to Deirdre] and work with her. Deirdre is the type "ENTP" in my opinion for those familiar with the MBTI. And, to be blunt, Deirdre is a genius. However, geniuses are not always easy to work with or fun to be around. Deirdre is a complex tangle of abstract theories and creativity, short temper, a bit of depression, moments of deep feeling and sometimes empathy, and always in the middle of some kind of controversy or argument. Unfortunately 'transgendered' people are probably also in a state of confusion whether they're willing to admit it or not.

Back when I was in grad school, and actually, before grad school, and up to this point, I do not care who discovers or passes on the truth (truth as in scientific truth). People are free to do with their own lives what they choose, to an extent. Deirdre tested the limits of this idea. Deirdre is a lover of freedom, just like I am, but one has to question whether changing gender should be tolerated.

Deirdre is the smartest person, by far, that I will probably ever meet in my life, and she is more than willing to pass it on in a way that is readily absorbed by a lesser mind - at least sometimes. Deirdre has the type of mind that can create a thought that is simple in its essence, yet so complex that analysis and extensions can be done on and on. The 'Bourgeois Virtue' ideas are a great example of this. I do not like the feminist track that Deirdre has followed in some of her research, but it's her research, and still worth reading and considering.

Oh yeah, about 'Crossing: A Memoir'? As I mentioned in the title of this review, anything written by McCloskey is worth reading. econ