Youth and "Oldies"

Here's a fascinating piece by NPR's science report, Robert Krulwich, Does Age Quash Our Spirit of Adventure? (12:49) on human nature and our openness to innovation. The piece begins with the case of a noted scientist in his 40s, Robert Sapolsky, who was being driven crazy by a 20-something assistant who was playing different styles of music everyday: "from Sonic Youth to Minnie Pearl." This infuriated Sapolsky, who began to wonder why he still felt so attached to the music he loved when in college. "Is there a certain age," Krulwich asks, "when the typical American passes from the novelty stage to utter predictability?" Are there larger implications here about the tension between stability and change, who we are and who we might still become?

One wonders about the range of openness and adventure in a class full of colege students in fall 2006. Why not conduct some surveys and find out, regarding music and the other two areas Sapolsky studies, food (sushi, especially) and body modification.

Here's a link to an NPR page on the enduring popularity of Bob Marley, including the complete track of "One Love."