Few could explain, let alone seek out, a career in criticism. Yet what A.O. Scott proves here is that we are all critics: because critical thinking informs almost every aspect of artistic creation, of civil action, of interpersonal life. With penetrating insight and warm humor, Scott defends this much-maligned profession, while showcasing his own range as he discusses the poetry of Keats, Shelley, and Rilke; the origins of Chuck Berry and the Rolling Stones; the art of Marina Abramovich; and his intense affection for Pixar's animated film, Ratatouille