Jonah Fontenot (Hawkeye), the author of “Lessons”, is interviewed by Benji Cole of CBS Radio
Benji Cole of CBS Radio holds an interview with Jonah Fontenot (Hawkeye), author of “Lessons”.
During the interview the two talk about the book’s message and the author’s inspiration and purpose for this book.
Jonah Fontenot is originally from Southern California were he was raised in a very violent and oppressive environment. He discusses how he faced significant challenges as a result of his upbringing.
In speaking with Benji Cole during the show Jonah Fontenot revealed that conquering an ingrained rage was one of his two toughest challenges. Education was the other. Neither Jonah Fontenot nor his siblings were permitted to pursue any form of education as children.
He states candidly that if he had to pick just one of the two biggest obstacles to overcome, that is, either education or anger, he would have chosen to overcome the anger which he described in various ways including poisonous and monstrous.
This inspires him to write extensively about the difficulties of containing that angry beast and accepting that the monster might never go away or die so he must keep it in check.
He explains in this book that we learn lessons of all kinds from our predecessors, parents, friends, and acquaintances, and through personal observations and life experiences. For the first time, he writes about his father though not by name. He also writes poems on behalf of other people who may not be able to articulate their impressions and feelings the way he can.
The US Review of Books commended “Lessons” and highlighted that:
“Hawkeye provides an honest, deep dive into his marriage and past relationships. He carefully points out how his wife has been patient with him throughout their journey together. The author offers a useful insight to readers about how one can love somebody unconditionally without limits. For example, his wife never gave up on their marriage. Hawkeye explores the theme of patience and how it helped them navigate their lives. Each time they encountered a bump on the road, his spouse was patient enough for both of them. Indeed, the proverbial phrase “Patience is a virtue” totally applies in this context. Hawkeye’s work conveys the overall message that one should not take a loved one for granted. Life is too short. From the beginning, the author offers the readers his truth and does not hold back. Readers will appreciate the author’s honesty and profound initiative to share his personal experiences with them.”
Listen to the full interview below: