Preface for "Ideas and High Ideals for the 21st Century"
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Date Published: January 1, 2024
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Preface for "Ideas and High Ideals for the 21st Century"
The front cover of this book is a combination of the only two cover images used by THINK Magazine during Tom Watson’s lifetime. Rodin’s The Thinker graced the covers of the first three issues, and after that a few wisps of clouds emblazoned with the word THINK displaced the iconic figure. The back cover of the magazine was usually a serene, idyllic, black-and-white photograph of scenery from somewhere in the world: an expression of peacefulness and tranquility.
Within the covers of this book are Tom Watson’s editorials from THINK Magazine provided in their entirety and in chronological order. A few grammatical updates have been made—a hyphen added here, a comma added there, or on occasion, a more modern term inserted within brackets to improve the reader’s understanding of this chief executive’s thoughts by reducing diversionary trips to a dictionary.
Within the covers of this book are Tom Watson’s editorials from THINK Magazine provided in their entirety and in chronological order. A few grammatical updates have been made—a hyphen added here, a comma added there, or on occasion, a more modern term inserted within brackets to improve the reader’s understanding of this chief executive’s thoughts by reducing diversionary trips to a dictionary.
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The editorials are grouped into chapters by year with each chapter front-ended with two pages as shown here: a chapter index page with that year’s editorials listed by month and a single page of memorable excerpts from these editorials. If you like to initially skim a book, these yearly chapter indexes populated with a few of a year’s exceptional excerpts are a great place to start.
Tom Watson was a great contributor to, supporter and lover of the arts. From 1935 through 1947, when his readership opened THINK Magazine, they were presented not only with a reference to a well-known historical figure or an interesting topic—such as Benjamin Franklin and electricity, but also a supporting portrait or work of art that accentuated the key editorial point. In this manner, the magazine provided its readership with a visual reinforcement of a chosen topic. |
Each yearly chapter begins with a THINK Magazine cover with an index of that year’s editorials and a selection of Tom Watson quotes from that year.
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As an example, Tom Watson’s readership experienced this harmonizing view of word and art as they read his editorial on “Constructive Power.” The key editorial point was that he believed the atom—just like electricity, could be tamed and put to “constructive” use.
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Because of copyright concerns, all of the original editorial images—such as this image of Benjamin Franklin conducting his kite experiment, have been replaced with images that are known to be in the public domain or available via Creative Commons licensing. All images are annotated in the endnotes in one of three ways: as (1) an updated, identical image, (2) a similar image, or (3) a substituted or added image.
The most common of these are updated, identical images. These are portraits or illustrations that replaced the original editorial image, but to the naked eye, the portrait or illustration is an indistinguishable replacement. This process eliminates copyright concerns while best maintaining the creative thought behind the magazine’s original combination of image, idea, and high ideal. |
Constructive Power: Electrical and Atomic
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A similar image is a portrait or illustration that replaced the original editorial image because of possible copyright concerns. In this case, a similar image—such as a picture of the Statue of Liberty, is used but may have been captured from a slightly different angle. Care was taken to preserve the feeling and quality of the original illustration—such as lighting, to support the editorial’s over-all tone.
A substituted or added image is a replacement or new image that was substituted within or added to the editorial. In the former case, research may have failed to find an identical or similar image without copyright restrictions; therefore, the image was replaced with one of a comparable look and feel. In the latter case, an image was added to enhance the reading experience. Tom Watson’s editorials after 1947 contained few associated images; therefore, most images from 1948 through 1956 are added images chosen at this author’s discretion.
Enjoy the thoughts and supporting images of one of America’s greatest industrialists. You will discover that he, like many of his peers, was more than “just” a businessman.
He was a thoughtful, introspective, well-rounded human being.
Cheers,
- Peter.
A substituted or added image is a replacement or new image that was substituted within or added to the editorial. In the former case, research may have failed to find an identical or similar image without copyright restrictions; therefore, the image was replaced with one of a comparable look and feel. In the latter case, an image was added to enhance the reading experience. Tom Watson’s editorials after 1947 contained few associated images; therefore, most images from 1948 through 1956 are added images chosen at this author’s discretion.
Enjoy the thoughts and supporting images of one of America’s greatest industrialists. You will discover that he, like many of his peers, was more than “just” a businessman.
He was a thoughtful, introspective, well-rounded human being.
Cheers,
- Peter.
