Why people recommend it
After Babel by George Steiner is a profound philosophical study examining the nature of human communication, meaning, and translation across languages and cultures. Speaking on Conversations with Tyler in an episode titled David Robertson on Conducting, Pierre Boulez, and Musical Interpretation released on July 9, 2025, David Robertson discussed his pedagogical choices with Tyler Cowen. Robertson noted that while other conductors might rely on a standard orchestration manual, he takes a different approach with his own class. He explained that he specifically requires his students to read George Steiner's After Babel. Robertson detailed that the book deeply explores translation and the entire intricate process of shifting something from one context and language into another. By assigning this dense academic text, Robertson encourages his students to think critically about interpretation, meaning, and the transference of artistic intent, mirroring the analytical depth required in musical conducting and analysis. His recommendation highlights the book's enduring value not just for linguists and literary scholars, but for serious practitioners of various interpretive arts who seek to understand how human expression crosses linguistic and cultural boundaries.
Who recommended it
- David Robertson Recommended
David Robertson — 1 mention
“I assume that they have a favorite orchestration book, but for the class I make them read um all of I'm afraid um George Steiner's After Babel, which is about translation and the whole the whole process of taking something from one situation, in this case one language, into another language, what you can carry across and what gets uh”