From birth I was listening to my great grandparents and their siblings discuss...

From birth I was listening to my great grandparents and their siblings discuss religion, philosophy, history and ancient languages.

I read my grandfathers entire library by age nine including the greek and roman myths, histories and heroic literature as well as most of the American and British cannon including Shakespeare and a bit of poetry.

Then I read the Encyclopedia Britannica and a very un PC series of books with full color illustrations of all the peoples of the world and their cultures.

At the library I read about psychology, biology, history, native peoples (the very un PC versions), brainwashing, cults, war, survival, home repair, boat building, metallurgy, weapons and improvised “devices”, etc.

Most importantly I was encouraged to ask myself questions about what I was learning, how it was useful and what I could gain from the knowlege I accumulated.

Only Pilgrim’s Progress eluded me. Reading it was like chewing a shoe leather steak. A lot of work, no joy and very little ROI.