The Resume

(November 30, 1907-October 25, 2012)
Born in Creteil, France
French-American cultural historian and professor at Columbia University
Wrote over 40 books and hundreds of articles
Best-known book was 'From Dawn to Decadence: 500 Years of Western Cultural Life, 1500 to the Present' (2000)
Moderated 'Invitation to Learning' on CBS radio
Named a Knight of the French Legion of Honor
Awarded the US Presidential Medal of Freedom (2003)

Why he might be annoying:

He experienced deep depression and contemplated suicide at age 11.
He credited his productivity in part to chronic insomnia.
He concluded that Western civilization was coming to an end.
He called himself 'a cheerful pessimist.'

Why he might not be annoying:

He entered Columbia University at age 16 and graduated as the valedictorian.
With Lionel Trilling, he implemented the 'Great Books' curriculum at Columbia.
He wrote about a wide range of subjects, from philosophy and classical music to baseball and detective novels.
Literary critic Arthur Krystal said, 'Barzun is someone to whom experts turn for help in their fields.'
His statement 'Whoever wants to know the heart and mind of America had better learn baseball' is on a plaque at the Baseball Hall of Fame. (He also autographed a bat for the Hall on his 100th birthday.)
When 'From Dawn to Decadence' became a best-seller despite its 800+ page length, he said 'The whole thing is a surprise, because scholarship is not exactly the thing people run after these days, or perhaps at any time.'

Credit: C. Fishel

Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

• C. Fishel's Profiles [Series 45]
• Guggenheim Fellowship Grant Recipients
• Historians
• I am a Citizen of France
• I Attended Columbia
• I Died in 2012 (Ranked: 104)
• I Earned a Doctorate
• I Have Insomnia
• I Lived to 100 (Ranked: 104)
• I Married in 1981
• I'm Depressed [Reportedly Uni-polar]
• Look at Me, My Picture Is Art
• Profiles 33501-33750 (Ranked: 33624)
• Teachers
• U.S. Presidential Medal of Freedom Recipients
• Valedictorians

Year In Review:

In 2023, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2022, Out of 6 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
In 2021, Out of 11 Votes: 81.82% Annoying
In 2020, Out of 4 Votes: 75.00% Annoying
In 2019, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2018, Out of 3 Votes: 100% Annoying
In 2017, Out of 3 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
In 2016, Out of 9 Votes: 55.56% Annoying
In 2015, Out of 6 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2014, Out of 10 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2013, Out of 11 Votes: 54.55% Annoying
In 2012, Out of 105 Votes: 79.05% Annoying