Mario Kiefer has a keen interest in people and likes to write about the things that make people tick – those hidden motivations they often do not see themselves. Although born in Austin, Texas, he has lived in many parts of the country and is fascinated by the differing cultural viewpoints he has encountered always asking himself “why”?

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21 Things You Should Know About This Author

 

What book have you gifted the most? Why?

The Mediations of Marcus Aurelius. Marcus Aurelius was a Roman emperor from 161 to 180 AD.  This book contains his private thoughts written down for himself on basic Stoic philosophy and the importance of perspective in one’s judgment.  Understanding these thoughts, instructs the reader on how to deal with the trials and travails of ordinary existence and puts perspective on the problems at hand.  Personally, I have read it a number of times.  Each time, I take away something new.  I believe that when one takes away something new from a re-reading of material, then that material may actually have something worthwhile to say.  When gifting the book to others, my sincere hope is that in the reading of the material, they may find their own path to self-discovery.

What is the one productivity tool you use every day? Why?

Any tool that can be used for communication – whether communication to myself or to others. That generally is in the form of a calendar and email. I use my email in-box, in large part, as a task list.

What word do you misspell most often?

The word “the.”  This is likely due to dyslexia, but I am constantly writing the word “the” as “teh.”

What three things do you do to be a successful writer?

Read, discuss and write – in that order.

I am a voracious reader and will read pretty much anything put in front of me. Genre doesn’t matter.  I enjoy everything from children’s books to philosophical tomes; from newspaper articles on feel-good stories to lengthy material on political, social or economic philosophies.  As child, I read the encyclopedia for fun and I truly believe that one learns more from reading than from anything else.  It doesn’t matter what one reads as long as the material provokes thought.

I like to discuss the things I read and the thoughts that are provoked by the reading. I enjoy hearing opposing viewpoints and believe that by listening to and understanding those opposing viewpoints, we learn more about each other and the subject (whatever subject) at hand.  But I also firmly believe that in discussing things, people must keep an open mind and do so with the idea of learning about the other points while refraining from argumentative discussions that lead nowhere.

Then simply writing. Many times, I find that I am talking to myself in the shower, while sitting in the garden or by the pool, as I reflect on various thoughts that come into mind.  Then, I feel a need – an urge – to put those thoughts to paper.

What are the titles of the last two books you have read?

Recently, I have been on a revisiting the classics kick. I just finished re-reading Wilde’s The Picture of Dorian Gray.  Before that, I re-read Orwell’s Animal Farm.

What is your favorite word?

“Thought.”  Not that there is any particular elegance to that word, but to me, the word “thought” (or some derivation thereof) connotes intellectual curiosity.

What do you use more often – a dictionary or a thesaurus?

I would have to say a dictionary. I don’t use it necessarily for the definition of a word, but more frequently to understand a word’s etymology. Language is a fluid thing and the meaning of a word changes over time with common usage.