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Cliff's ObitFollowing the death of Cliff's Notes founder Clifton K. Hillegass in May 2001, Washington Post scribe Hank Stuever wrote an apt Cliff's Notes-type obituary. "In Hillegass's life story," he concluded, "themes of discipline and erudition come into conflict with ideas of modern haste and an overemphasis on quantitative grades. In a culture of how-to 'Dummies' guides, the 'quick fix,' and the career of Freddie Prinze Jr., what are some other examples of the inherent intellectual dishonesty in man? Discuss."
[In fact Hillegass never intended his Notes to become substitutes for reading books. "A thorough appreciation of literature," each volume warns, "allows no shortcuts."]
[Trivia: An internet wag once sugested a book entitled "Cliff's Notes for Dummies" - "a shortened and condensed version of a how-to book containing a very simple explanation of how to use Cliff's Notes. The cover would, of course, be yellow and black."]
Hillegass, Clifton K. (1918- ) American writer, founder of Cliff's Notes
[Sources: NPR, "Wait Wait...Don't Tell Me!" - May 5, 2001]More Clifton Hillegass anecdotesRelated Anecdote Keywords:
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