The Treehouse

Bestselling author Naomi Wolf was brought up to believe that happiness is something that can be taught -- and learned. In this magical book, Naomi shares the enduring wisdom of her father, Leonard Wolf, a poet and teacher who believes that every person is an artist in their own unique way, and that personal creativity is the secret of happiness.
Leonard Wolf is a true eccentric. A tall, craggy, good-looking man in his early eighties, hes the kind of person who likes to use a medieval astrolabe, dress in Basque shepherds clothing, and convince otherwise sensible people to quit their jobs and follow their passions. A gifted teacher, hes dedicated his life to honoring individualism, creativity, and the inspirational power of art. Leonard believes, and has made many others believe, that inside everyone is an artist, and success and happiness in life depend on whether or not one values and acts upon ones creative impulse. In The Treehouse, Naomi Wolfs most personal book yet, Naomi outlines her fathers lessons in creating lasting happiness and offers inspiration for the artist in all of us.
The book begins when Naomi asks Leonard to help build a treehouse for his granddaughter. Inspired by his dedication to her daughters imaginative world, Naomi asks her father to walk her through the lessons of his popular poetry class and show her how he teaches people to liberate their creative selves. Drawn from Leonards handwritten lecture notes, the chapters of The Treehouse remind us to "Be Still and Listen,""Use Your Imagination,""Do Nothing Without Passion," and that "Your Only Wage Will Be Joy," and "Mistakes Are Part of the Draft." More than an education in poetry writing, this is a journey of self-discovery in which the creative endeavor is paramount.
Naomi also offers glimpses into her fathers past -- from his youth during the Depression to his bohemian years as a poet in 1950s San Francisco -- and the evolution of Leonards highly individualistic vision of the artists way. She reconsiders her own childhood and realizes the transformative effect Leonards philosophy has had on her own life, as well as the lives of her students and friends. The Treehouse is ultimately a stirring personal history, a meditation on fathers and daughters, an argument for honoring the creative impulse, and unique instruction in the art of personal happiness.