The Power of One

I am currently reading The Power of One. It is a book that follows a young man's life in South Africa in the 1930s and 1940s. It came on a recommendation from my sister-in-law, and I can sincerely say that it is a very enjoyable and engaging book. Among other things, it addresses the issues of religion, race, and personal fortitude in the face of overwhelming adversity.

One of the main characters in the book is a German professor of music named Professor von Vellensteen. He has served as a mentor and friend to Peekay, the book's protagonist. He has been imprisoned for the duration of the war based on his failure to register as an alien at the beginning of the war.

The professor is often imparting his wisdom to Peekay. The following comparison between cleverness and intelligence is one of my favorite things that the Professor taught Peekay:

Cleverness is a false presumption. It is like being a natural skater, you are so busy doing tricks to impress that you do not see where the thin ice is and before you know, poof! You are in deep, ice-cold water, frozen like a dead herring. Intelligence is a harder gift. For this you must work, you must practice it, challenge it, and maybe toward the end of your life you will master it. Cleverness is the shadow, whereas intelligence is the substance.

The book is inspiring and enjoyable. I would recommend it to anyone.