Great teachers play a crucial role in awakening and refining people's talents, providing them with the guidance and push needed for success. Talent alone is not enough, as many talented individuals struggle to find ways to focus and leverage their abilities. Without proper guidance, even the most talented individuals may not achieve success and happiness. A great teacher is able to ignite a spark in their students, as the mind is not a vessel to be filled, but a fire to be kindled.
Poet and author Dana Gioia talks about his book Studying with Miss Bishop with EconTalk host Russ Roberts. They talk about the craft of being a poet, the business world, mentorship, loss, why poetry no longer seems to matter, and how it might begin to matter again.