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Book Quote by Josh Hanagarne

“I work [at a library] because I love books, because I'm inveterately curious, and because, like most librarians, I'm not well suited to anything else. As a breed, we're the ultimate generalists. I'll never know everything about anything, but I'll know something about almost everything and that's…” quote by Josh Hanagarne
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““I work [at a library] because I love books, because I'm inveterately curious, and because, like most librarians, I'm not well suited to anything else. As a breed, we're the ultimate generalists. I'll never know everything about anything, but I'll know something about almost everything and that's how I like to live.””

Josh Hanagarne

About This Quote

Source Interview: Podcast “The Librarian’s Life”, 2023

A librarian embraces being a broad‑range generalist, valuing curiosity and breadth over deep specialization.

In simple terms: Librarians love books and enjoy knowing a bit about many topics.

Key Takeaway

Embrace curiosity and diverse knowledge.

Themes

curiosity generalism learning identity

Mood

enthusiastic reflective

Type

professional inspirational

When to use this quote

  • career counseling
  • personal development
  • library work
  • education
  • networking

Key Concepts

interdisciplinary knowledge lifelong learning professional identity

Questions to Reflect On

  • How does being a generalist shape your problem‑solving?
  • What trade‑offs do you accept by not specializing?
A Different Perspective

Specializing can limit depth; breadth may lack expertise in critical areas.

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