tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22001031.post4965311808750461882..comments2024-02-28T18:29:41.120-08:00Comments on Not of General Interest: Does luck play a role in academe? Absolutely. undinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05589384016564587214noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22001031.post-4972045622833563352016-04-23T09:38:36.594-07:002016-04-23T09:38:36.594-07:00I send a book manuscript to Rutgers University Pre...I send a book manuscript to Rutgers University Press, at their request. Incredibly, they trashed it. I reminded them that they had solicited the manuscript and that's why I had sent it to them, and not the other way around. After the rejection, I sent it to Duke University Press, my preferred choice all along. They accepted it and published it a few years later. That was probably my luckiest break in academia. Many thanks to the editor of the series at Rutgers UP for not picking my manuscript! Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22001031.post-74242804540673574632016-04-20T15:00:29.387-07:002016-04-20T15:00:29.387-07:00I'll have to take a look when I'm on campu...I'll have to take a look when I'm on campus (we have a subscription there, but one has to go through the library databases from home, and they don't update quite as quickly as direct online access), but I basically agree: I've encountered relatively few people who seem to have done better than they deserved due to various forms of privilege, but I certainly know plenty who would thrive, and contribute, in "better" jobs than they have (though the whole question of what does or should constitute a better job is of course a tricky one). Contingent Cassandrahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08161652083031423415noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22001031.post-11151292071269167882016-04-19T18:58:45.725-07:002016-04-19T18:58:45.725-07:00Aha! My spouse has a subscription to the Chronicle...Aha! My spouse has a subscription to the Chronicle.<br /><br />Agree with the article 100%. I especially like his point that we need to cultivate the circumstances & public institutions that permit others to be lucky, and their lack is part of the reason for our current economic divide.Flaviahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17832765671541392835noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22001031.post-47142266795340005812016-04-19T18:41:31.887-07:002016-04-19T18:41:31.887-07:00I think, generally, people want to believe that th...I think, generally, people want to believe that those who are more successful than they were lucky (to some degree--not necessarily completely), but are resistant to believing that luck played a role in their own success. And someone at Cornell who proclaims he benefitted from luck will rarely have detractors! (Haven't been able to read the article, though, alas.)<br /><br />Do I believe I "deserve" the things I've gotten? I guess, in the sense that I have enough talent or ability. But lots of people have that, and haven't done as well. Being in the right place at the right time was absolutely crucial to one or two paths my career has taken. Flaviahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17832765671541392835noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22001031.post-19250123696812830582016-04-19T03:59:44.325-07:002016-04-19T03:59:44.325-07:00xykademiqz - if you want to read it, email me. :) ...xykademiqz - if you want to read it, email me. :) Fie upon this quiet life!https://www.blogger.com/profile/12047096700049201873noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22001031.post-56231234536365630692016-04-18T21:56:01.722-07:002016-04-18T21:56:01.722-07:00I wanna read Fie's letter too!
(It's tota...I wanna read Fie's letter too! <br />(It's totally okay if I can't. But it sounds great!)<br />And audacity is definitely more abundant in those who have had lots of success previously... Such as good pedigre, etc. Can't be audacious if you are constantly drowning in impostor syndrome. xykademiqzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18306861394466282929noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22001031.post-56874882268302845632016-04-18T20:31:14.700-07:002016-04-18T20:31:14.700-07:00ha. Actually, I can't find an email address fo...ha. Actually, I can't find an email address for you, so if you want to read my letter to the editor, email me at fie upon this quiet life at gmail and I'll send it to you. If you don't want to read it, I won't be hurt in any way. Promise. Fie upon this quiet life!https://www.blogger.com/profile/12047096700049201873noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22001031.post-75861804587506323132016-04-18T20:26:28.168-07:002016-04-18T20:26:28.168-07:00I wrote this super long comment, but then it seems...I wrote this super long comment, but then it seems to have disappeared. Well, I decided to channel that energy into a letter to the editors of the Chronicle. We'll see if anything comes of it. Since it's such a long response, I'll email it to you. If it's tldr, it won't hurt my feelings at all. But, spoiler, I have decided that luck has NOTHING to do with success. I think success has everything to do with audacity. Fie upon this quiet life!https://www.blogger.com/profile/12047096700049201873noreply@blogger.com