“The very unlikely Forrest Gump of the avant-garde.” A Nicholas Day Q&A about Nothing: John Cage and 4’33”

I like a book that explains to me in the simplest possible terms concepts that have eluded me my entire life. This is probably why I have a tendency to prefer to deal with children’s books, and it further explains my particular fondness for nonfiction. Take, for example, the composer John Cage. Not being particularly proficient in the avant-garde, I think it would be fair to say that until very recently I have been dismissive (at best) of his famous work 4’33”. You’ve probably heard of it. It wa...