Chapter 10, The Case Against Summary

Geoffrey wonders why we want to know the worst: is it that we tire of hearing the best or are we just curious? He loved Ellen, but he wanted to know the worst about his wife. Ellen was fond of him but she only wanted to know the best about Geoffrey. He thinks that this is the real distinction between people: those who want to know everything, including the bad, and those who don't. Geoffrey feels the way same about books that he did about his wife; he wants to know everything about the authors. But there is a difference for him between lovers and authors. With lovers, he thinks that we are relieved to find out the worst. With an author, we have a tendency to defend them so we can continue believing the best about...