My uncle passed away 2 years ago, and he was an erudite man, having read (and memorized) countless books. He never used any of his vast knowledge in his work, a

My uncle passed away 2 years ago, and he was an erudite man, having read (and memorized) countless books. He never used any of his vast knowledge in his work, and his (nuclear) family "put up" with his penchant for reading and accumulating a vast library. He did not, to my knowledge, discuss science, philosophy, or religion with his wife or kids, all of whom are eminently practical people, dutifully hustling real-estate agents who don't read for pleasure. We spoke at length while he was in the hospital, many times. He faced his death with serenity. His primary concern was for his wife's well-being, who he knew would miss him terribly. All of his knowledge died with him, which I found troubling, but he did not.