Hardly a pure science, history is closer to animal husbandry than it is to mathematics in that it involves selective breeding. The principal difference between the husbandryman and the historian is that the former breeds sheep or cows or such and the latter breeds (assumed) facts. The husbandryman uses his skills to enrich the future, the historian uses his to enrich the past. Both are usually up to their ankles in bullshit.

In 1965 he wrote a column on the arts for Seattle Magazine. He has given readings from his work on four continents performing at festivals in Australia and Mexico and nightclubs in England and Germany. Then he rewrites it again and again examining each word making sure of its perfection finely honing each phrase until it reverberates with the subtle texture of the infinite.

Robbins claims he was born in 1932. Thomas Eugene "Tom" Robbins (born July 22 1936* *Note: "The discrepancy between Mr.