Lost Art Press

Joe Heller

Posted on by Lost Art Press

Joe Heller

True story, Word of Honor:
Joseph Heller, an important and funny writer
now dead,
and I were at a party given by a billionaire
on Shelter Island.
I said, “Joe, how does it make you feel
to know that our host only yesterday
may have made more money
than your novel ‘Catch-22’
has earned in its entire history?”
And Joe said, “I’ve got something he can never have.”
And I said, “What on earth could that be, Joe?”
And Joe said, “The knowledge that I’ve got enough.”
Not bad! Rest in peace!


— Kurt Vonnegut, The New Yorker, May 16th, 2005

16 thoughts on “Joe Heller”

  1. Happy Thanksgiving, Chris, to you and yours and the entire Lost Art Press community!

  2. A very good reminder that we must treasure all that we have, and be glad for others who want the rest. I spent my life acquiring tools and knowledge. Now, in retirement, I am starting to really treasure what I have and the knowledge that came with them.

  5. Could this mean that you’re about to reveal the name of your hammer?? Happy Thanksgiving to you, Megan, and loved ones.

  8. wise words….Chris I wish you, everyone at lost art press and your family a wonderful Thanksgiving.

  10. I had the annual dinner with an extended family from church yesterday. The social worker hostess was talking about her difficulties with a new zoom client whose total identity is his financial status. He is miserable but can’t see jumping off the merry go round. I am grateful to be modestly retired with others interests in life than my portfolio being the biggest among my acquaintance.

  14. Vonnegut was and still is one of my all-time favorite authors. Got to see him give a talk titled, “How to get a job like mine.”

  15. Kurt, Joe,

    how does it make you feel
    to know that in a single page
    you have given more to the world
    than your generous host
    gave in his entire life?

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