My mother was fond of the adage “Tell me who your friends are and I’ll tell you who you are.” She used it to caution her four sons against associating with people who might lead us into trouble. But it also works in a positive way. I have a retired librarian friend, Jan Lieberman, who, when I’m in her company, leaves me exhaustingly stimulated about books and theater and food and music and libraries. We’re all products of the people we “hang around with,” and if we make room in our lives for people who are smarter than we are, we make ourselves better.
