Posted by:
steve benson
(
)
Date: October 13, 2017 03:33AM
I once saw him present a paper where, without flair or spin, he recited fact after fact in chronological order, with virtually no commentary, and without taking a breath. After nearly two hours, he wasn't close to being done (he was still in the 19th century section). Finally, he was politely asked by the event hosts to wrap it up. It seemed like he had no sense of time and. if he did, he didn't seem to care. He was a dynamiting, disgorging and dispesning fact machine that grinds on until someone turns out the lights, At the risk of understating, he's the Kennecot copper mine of Mormon research.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MY0r2xWPHXMThat is not a criticism. Quinn's ultimate and astounding skill is in amassing important, often previously unknown data; providing copious and often redundant sourcing from myriads of researched mines; then connecting all the dots within well-categorized and tightly woven-together themes. He does it matter-of-factly and unspectacularly. Mike approaches the task with relentless, all-consuming determination that puts the "hyper" in the word "focus." He does it with the expectation that those paying attention to what he is saying will get it. After all, you wouldn't be there in the first place if you weren't into the details. If you don't get it, you can go to the back of his books. His footnotes speak volumes--literally.
If you've got the time, he's got the deer--in the headlights. He expects you to follow along and glean what you can. He's simply dishing up the goods, which speak for themselves.
Enjoy the meal. I recommend taking it in small bites if you're not used to huge banquets.
Edited 14 time(s). Last edit at 10/13/2017 04:14AM by steve benson.