By Christopher Brooks
In response, I offer the following story.
While studying in Germany, an American legal history graduate student聽took freelance jobs on the support staffs of various businesses to pay the bills. One day, he put in a bid for an assignment for a pretty big client and was invited to give his sales pitch. The company鈥檚 European head of research and development, a German, interviewed him. The discussion began with basic courtesies and talk about what the company needed; there was little discussion about the American鈥檚 academic background. About five minutes into the interview, the German pointed to a reproduction of a painting on the wall behind his desk and asked the American, 鈥淲ho painted that?鈥� The American replied, 鈥淢atisse, I think.鈥� The German responded, 鈥淕ood! Now, what are your thoughts on the Marshall Plan?鈥�
And so the discussion went, for about 10 more minutes, after which time the American interjected: 鈥淓xcuse me, sir, but why are you asking me all of these history questions?鈥� 聽
