Reading the Great Books will never be cool

Because it'll always involve trying too hard

A lot has changed in my lifetime. When I was younger, I listened to Ani DiFranco, who resolutely refused major-label offers because she wanted to stay indie. But now if an indie-label author like Deesha Philyaw inks a seven-fig deal with a big press, it's a cause for celebration. When I was younger, effort was derogated. You were supposed to write direc…