Goat-Feathers

"Goat-Feathers" by Ellis Parker Butler is a humorous essay written in the early 20th century that explores the distractions and diversions that often prevent individuals from achieving their true potential. The book focuses on the metaphorical concept of "goat-feathers," representing the myriad trivial pursuits that draw a person away from their main goals. The narrative reflects on the author's own experiences with these distractions and the wider implications they have on success in both artistic and personal endeavors. In this engaging and candid reflection, Butler humorously laments his tendency to prioritize societal obligations and side projects over his writing career, illustrating this tendency through anecdotes of his involvement in various committees and meetings that ultimately detract from his productivity. He contrasts these "goat-feather" endeavors with the important work of a humorist, suggesting that true success requires focus and commitment to one's primary ambitions. Through self-deprecating humor and vivid metaphors, the author conveys a poignant message about the importance of concentration and the folly of chasing distractions, ultimately encouraging readers to avoid the pitfalls of diverting attention away from their true passions. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Ellis Parker Butler was an American author. He was the author of more than 30 books and more than 2,000 stories and essays and is most famous for his short story "Pigs Is Pigs", in which a bureaucratic stationmaster insists on levying the livestock rate for a shipment of two pet guinea pigs, which soon start proliferating exponentially. His most famous character was Philo Gubb.