Bockman shares love, risks of reading, writing, running
Law Professor Robert Bockman spoke about the risk, challenge and liberation of reading, writing and running at his “last lecture” Wednesday night.
Bockman is the latest of many professors to speak in the Carolina Scholars Association’s “Last Lecture” series, which prompts professors to speak as if it was their last time to address a group of students.
Bockman, who has earned degrees from Vanderbilt University and the University of Georgia, has been an adjunct professor at USC for 18 years. A lawyer by trade, he still practices law and has for the past 35 years.
Bockman begins each of his classes by asking, “Who was born this day?” and by passing out cartoons to be discussed in class. He began his lecture the same way.
The cartoons related to his lecture and he periodically brought them up as he talked about his passions: reading, writing and running.
“Real reading challenges the reader to preform courageous acts,” Bockman said. “The reader must have the willingness to face a life-altering experience.”
Bockman said reading is a liberating experience that can expand one’s knowledge.
In writing, Bockman said there are dangers of being exposed and a risk of being wrong, but the liberation of a writer is having their own inner satisfaction.
Also an avid runner, Bockman uses exercise to help his mind and body. On average, he runs about 35 miles a week.
“I run to think,” Bockman said.
He said there is always a risk of injuring yourself while running, but confronting that risk and the challenge to get better is liberating in itself.
Once the lecture was over, Bockman left the group with one last piece of advice.
“Set aside 10 minutes a day to read something you enjoy,” Bockman said.
He ended the lecture by encouraging students to read more, write a sentence that you will always remember and to run to energize the mind.
“I thought it was interesting for someone to come and give us a lecture on life and what they have learned and give us advice,” first-year international business student Melanie Ng said.