16/6/2021 Video 4: The Tin Man Reader | Coursera

0:00 [MUSIC]

0:10 Not really interested in moving, are you? >> [SOUND] >> Well, this looks like it's going to be harder than
teaching the scarecrow.

0:21 Are you even going to respond to me? >> Not sure, why? >> Excuse me? Were those words coming out of
your mouth? >> Not sure, why? >> Not sure why? Not sure why! Let me tell you why, first of all your holding
this book upside down.

0:41 >> Well, I'm still not sure it's important to be talking to you, can't you see I'm reading. >> [LAUGH] That's
exactly why you should be talking to me.

0:51 I'm a teacher.

0:53 >> Please, reading is a solitary sport. It isn't meant to be done in groups. Please go away you're so wrong,
reading is precisely the kind of sport that should be done with others.

1:08 In fact, even when you're reading by yourself, it is not something that should be done passively. >>
Whatever, do you mean?

1:18 >> Listen, reading is an active sport. It's like a conversation. It involves your mind and the mind of the writer
interacting with each other. It involves you asking questions, predicting, thinking about the text. And
evaluating what you think about the reader's ideas. >> It seems, well, highly unlikely. I would much rather
stay here, read whatever this books says and go back to staring at that tree over there. But for the sake of
fun,

1:50 let's pretend that reading is an active sport, what sport would it be? >> I'd say it would be a lot like
tennis, with two people on opposite sides of the net. So the writer serves you the ball, which is a
conversation or an idea, and your job is to respond to that ball. Agree or disagree, evaluate if you think it is
true. Or share your like or dislike about what the writer is saying. >> That does sound like work. Would you
say that is absolutely necessary? I feel I could just sit down and read my book without having to do
anything.

2:30 Then you are missing out on the exciting part of what you're actually reading.

2:36 Let me ask you, what are you reading? >> Hm, some boring story about a man who goes to an island
called Utopia, pretty dry stuff, really.

2:47 Thomas Moore's Utopia? That's a fabulous book to talk about and to think about. It's not boring at all, if you
do some work.

2:57 >> Mm, if you say.

2:59 >> For example, have you ever imagined what a perfect world might look like, a perfect society?

3:07 You mean like there would be no rain, I hate rain, it makes me rust.

3:14 >> Exactly. To you a perfect world be one without rain. What else? >> Lots of trees, I love to chop down
trees and make houses. Good. And in fact you may have something in common with the Utopians who
believe that everyone should farm and build houses, including the king. You see, thinking about a perfect
society and a perfect place is exactly what Thomas Moore was doing when he wrote that book Utopia,
which is Latin for, a perfect society. >> Thomas More still sounds like a bore. >> Thomas More was nothing
of the sort. He worked hard fighting against a king in England, and even got beheaded for standing up to
him. Part of his dislike for kings you can find in this book which he wrote in 1516.

4:07 >> Beheaded. That is pretty cool. I'd love to read that part, but are you saying I can have conversation with
a guy who died hundreds of years ago? >> That is exactly what I'm saying. And Moore's ideas have been
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16/6/2021 Video 4: The Tin Man Reader | Coursera

influencing people all over the world even today To help us think about people, property, culture, politics,
you name it. You know, when I was younger, I used to think a perfect world would be filled with color, and
adventure. Now, all I want to do is get back to my family. To me, family is an important part of a perfect
society.

4:46 Do you think Moore felt the same way? Let's find out. [NOISE] So, we've just learned that there are 54
cities in Utopia, and it was originally part of a continent. But the king decided to have a river to divide the
country from the continent so they could live a life away from others.

5:12 >> I can certainly understand that, I much prefer to live by myself. But, surrounded by water everywhere,
that is not the place for me.

5:21 But, I do love the part where they talk about raising chickens.

5:25 So that they could be surrounded at their feet and become acclimatized to their environment. I do love
chickens, and that way I could get eggs whenever I wanted. >> Any other things you like or dislike? I asked
you to underline everything that stood out to you. >> Yes, let's see >> Yes, I like that they only work six
hours a day. But really hard, I like the idea of working hard in a short focused bursts. >> You do? >>
Yes. Don't you believe me?

5:59 I can work hard, at least when properly motivated, I just rust easily. >> And I also like that they gave sick
people first choice at getting food. To be honest, that seems kind. >> And what do you think of the fact that
utopia, they had slaves?

6:19 >> At first I hated the idea, but then I saw that cheaters, people who cheated or >> On their wives, or broke
the law, became slaves and had to work hard to pay a price. I think that is a small thing to do in society. It
was like a prison system, really. And if they cheated again? Well, they were executed. It seems strict, but
ultimately fair. Sounds like you have a lot of opinions on this book, and I'm glad. You know what, I would
like to do next. >> You are not going to gloat are you? So you are right, reading is more fun when you think
of it as an active process.

6:59 >> No, I'm not going to gloat, too much.

7:02 What I want to do is invite others to share these ideas, and see what they think. And I'd like us to do a few
activities. >> More activities with others? Why is everything so active with you? >> Hey, trust me, first I want
you to hear other people's opinions about how they agree or disagree with Mr Moore. And evaluate what
you, what each of you, like about his model. And then I want you to design your perfect Utopian society
and tell me what the people in your society will do, think, and feel.

7:38 I'll be honest. I bet you could create a society that will be even more interesting than Mr. Mores. >> I
agree. Make my own society? Hm. >> Yes. Here you go. >> I already have some wonderful ideas, I know
exactly what I would do. >> Okay, wait, I'm excited too but let's hold on. Let's talk with the other readers
first. [MUSIC]

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