Smith Reading Response

1.) Who is Zadie Smith, and why should we pay attention to her essay?

Zadie Smith is a successful American novelist from Cambridge University who studied English literature. We should take note of her essay, considering that she is widely respected for her writing and has received multiple award nominations.

2.) In what ways does Smith “distinguish between joy and pleasure” and how do these distinctions match up with your own interpretations of the two experiences?

Smith distinguishes between joy and pleasure by relating joy to the feeling she has when she is fulfilled by memories, whereas she relates pleasure to the observational feelings that make her content. For instance, Smith claims that she finds great pleasure in food such as pineapple popsicles, and finds great joy in the memories she forms with her loved ones.

3.) According to Smith, why is joy difficult to manage, and live with? Do you agree with her? Why or why not? Practice using a complete Quote Sandwich (utilizing a direct quote from the essay) within your response.

Smith affirms that joy is difficult to manage with, considering that she feels as if she has not experienced it that many times in life, in addition to fearing it will go away someday.

4.) In a well-developed paragraph, respond to the following question: What’s the value of reading about, thinking about, and discussing joy?

For me, joy is what you make of it. I am an individual who is always finding myself romanticizing life and making the best out of situations in life, even when that the situation is not ideal. For instance, whenever my twin brother Camden with special needs is experiencing difficulty saying words and becomes frustrated, I choose to remain calm. I put myself in his shoes whenever this happens, because I cannot even imagine how challenging it must be to not also be guaranteed to get across what you are trying to say!

5.) How does Smith’s essay overlap or connect or contradict previous readings from this semester?

Smith’s essay overlaps with Konnikova’s, considering that the two authors are heavily invested in the thoughts of the human mind, and how they interact with other humans and how that makes them feel. In terms of Konnikova’s essay, she showcases the power of in-person relationships, and in terms of Smith’s essay, she showcases the power that shared experiences can have when it comes to experiencing joy.