Book Review: Dead Poets Society by N. H. Kleinbaum

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“Dead Poets Society” by N. H. Kleinbaum is a quick but impactful read. If you love poetry and finding the deeper meanings of life and education, you will love this book!

“Dead Poets Society” follows Todd Anderson and his new roommate Neil and other friends at a private school in Vermont called Welton Academy.

From there, we see Todd and the other boys are inspired by their eccentric English professor Mr. Keating that pushes them to think for themselves.

I quite enjoyed this short book. I’ve always been a big fan of the movie and loved seeing the words before me.

My absolute favourite character is Mr. Keating. Because I personally will remember the professor that have inspired me throughout the years. The ones that reassured me that I had what it took to achieve my potential. I knew real-life Keatings, and for that, I can but only love the book.

Mr. Keating hopes of creating free thinkers, not necessarily artists, is admirable. He has taught the boys the power of language – the power of art, poetry, beauty – and in turn, the boys take initiative to read the greats and lead their own lives. 

This book made me want to read more from Henry David Thoreau (‘I went to the woods for I wished to live deliberately’) and Walt Whitman.

It’s funny to think that this book originated from the movie – a movie that’s considered canon in the dark academia genre. I mean common ‘Dead Poets Society’ is probably my favourite keyword combo that ever existed. And I guess rightly so, for it inspires passion and beauty and art, and ends in a tragedy (much like a Shakespearean tragicomedy.)

The only truly distasteful critic I have is of Knox’s obsession with Charly… It’s problematic and I’m not one to judge older books harshly. But wow, every time we saw him pursuing Charly, I had to stop and think, was this really the norm of the times. Did women really have no choice but to fall prey to relentless questionable pursuers that we consider predators in our modern-day? Did we really reward ‘men’ for stalking, groping, and breaking up an already engaged woman?  

“No matter what anybody tells you, words and ideas can change the world.” 

“But poetry, romance, love, beauty? These are what we stay alive for!”

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