[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"$fyB-GbgHiiJMrg60xLifWW0N-QAbl7xWuBKD1m3OaV3g":3,"$fwZ2fNsDqLzk7OcjeepHs26ndghCz8DhXs4sa5UDclwU":16},{"author":4,"tags":11},{"author_id":5,"author_name":6,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"bio":9,"short_bio":9,"bio_jsonld":9,"slug":10,"image_url":9},2651,"Mary Ann Shaffer","M",112,null,"mary-ann-shaffer",[12],{"tag_id":13,"tag_name":14,"tag_count":15},3,"humor",5,{"quotes":17,"pagination":82},[18,26,32,38,44,51,57,63,69,75],{"id":19,"quote_text":20,"author_id":5,"source_id":21,"has_image":22,"author":23,"source":24,"quote_tag":25,"commentary":9},3265405,"Have you ever noticed that when your mind is awakened or drawn to someone new, that person’s name suddenly pops up everywhere you go? My friend Sophie calls it coincidence, and Mr. Simpless, my parson friend, calls it Grace. He thinks that if one cares deeply about someone or something new one throws a kind of energy out into the world, and “fruitfulness” is drawn in.",6,false,{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[],{"id":27,"quote_text":28,"author_id":5,"source_id":21,"has_image":22,"author":29,"source":30,"quote_tag":31,"commentary":9},3265401,"That’s what I love about reading: one tiny thing will interest you in a book, and that tiny thing will lead you to another book, and another bit there will lead you onto a third book. It’s geometrically progressive – all with no end in sight, and for no other reason than sheer enjoyment.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[],{"id":33,"quote_text":34,"author_id":5,"source_id":21,"has_image":22,"author":35,"source":36,"quote_tag":37,"commentary":9},3265397,"Those times, I tried to think of something happy, something I’d liked – but not something I loved, for that made it worse.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[],{"id":39,"quote_text":40,"author_id":5,"source_id":21,"has_image":22,"author":41,"source":42,"quote_tag":43,"commentary":9},3265394,"I am to cover the philosophical side of the debate and so far my only thought is that reading keeps you from going gaga.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[],{"id":45,"quote_text":46,"author_id":5,"source_id":21,"has_image":22,"author":47,"source":48,"quote_tag":49,"commentary":50},3265391,"Real dyed-in-the-wool booksellers – like Sophie and me – can’t lie. Our faces are always a dead giveaway. A lifted brow or curled lip reveals that it’s a poor excuse for a book, and the clever customers ask for a recommendation instead, whereupon we frog-march them over to a particular volume and command them to read it. If they read it and despise it, they’ll never come back. But if they like it, they’re customers for life.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[],"**The Backstory**\n\nThis quote is from \"The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society\" by Mary Ann Shaffer, published in 2008. The novel's epistolary format reveals the author's passion for bookselling and her observations on the relationship between readers and booksellers. As a historical context, we can infer that Shaffer was an avid book lover and collector who drew from her experiences as a librarian and reader to craft this narrative.\n\n**The Hidden Insight**\n\nAt first glance, the quote seems like a charming anecdote about the author's profession as a book dealer. However, upon closer inspection, it reveals a shrewd understanding of human psychology: Shaffer highlights that readers are often hesitant to commit to a new book unless they trust the opinion of the bookseller. This is not just about selling books but also about cultivating relationships built on mutual respect and taste.\n\nThe paradox lies in the fact that Shaffer's \"frog-marching\" technique – guiding customers towards specific volumes based on her expertise – requires an unusual blend of authority, tact, and vulnerability. By being transparent about her own biases and tastes, she establishes trust with her customers, allowing them to form a deeper connection with the books.\n\n**How to Use This**\n\nTo apply this mindset today, consider cultivating your own unique voice as a professional or creative. Instead of trying to appeal to everyone's tastes, focus on developing a deep understanding of your craft and the values that drive you. By being authentic and transparent about your expertise, you can build trust with others and create a loyal following – much like Shaffer did with her readers.",{"id":52,"quote_text":53,"author_id":5,"source_id":21,"has_image":22,"author":54,"source":55,"quote_tag":56,"commentary":9},3265389,"Isn’t that something-to know your own soul by hearsay, instead of its own tidings? Why should I let a preacher tell me if I had one or not? If I could believe I hada soul, all by myself, then I could listen to its tidings all by myself.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[],{"id":58,"quote_text":59,"author_id":5,"source_id":21,"has_image":22,"author":60,"source":61,"quote_tag":62,"commentary":9},3265387,"I miss the feeling that we understood one another, but I begin to think that was only my delusion all along.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[],{"id":64,"quote_text":65,"author_id":5,"source_id":21,"has_image":22,"author":66,"source":67,"quote_tag":68,"commentary":9},3265386,"I wonder how the book got to Guernsey? Perhaps there is some secret sort of homing instinct in books that brings them to their perfect readers.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[],{"id":70,"quote_text":71,"author_id":5,"source_id":21,"has_image":22,"author":72,"source":73,"quote_tag":74,"commentary":9},3265385,"I sometimes think I prefer suitors in books rather than right in front of me. How awful, backward, cowardly, and mentally warped that will be if it turns out to be true.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[],{"id":76,"quote_text":77,"author_id":5,"source_id":21,"has_image":22,"author":78,"source":79,"quote_tag":80,"commentary":81},3265384,"People don’t know how chickens can turn on you, but they can – just like mad dogs.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[],"**The Backstory**\nMary Ann Shaffer, an American author, wrote this quote in her novel \"The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society\" (2008). Although the exact origin is from her novel, the sentiment reflects her experiences as a librarian in Oskaloosa, Iowa, and her observations of the human condition. Shaffer's writing often touched on themes of resilience, community, and the darker aspects of human nature.\n\n**The Hidden Insight**\nThe quote reveals a profound understanding of human behavior, highlighting the capacity for unexpected and unprovoked aggression. The comparison of chickens and mad dogs serves as a metaphor for the unpredictable nature of human emotions, where even the most seemingly docile individuals can become violent when provoked.\n\n**How to Use This**\nIn a professional or creative context, this quote reminds us to be cautious of the unspoken dynamics within our teams or social circles. By recognizing the potential for unprovoked aggression, we can proactively manage conflicts and foster a culture of open communication, thereby reducing the risk of \"turning\" against each other.",{"currentPage":83,"totalPages":84,"totalItems":8,"itemsPerPage":85},1,12,10]