REVIEW: The Wisdom of Picard is a poetic and sincere look at the human condition through the eyes of Star Trek’s venerable captain

Star Trek: The Wisdom of Picard. Image Amazon.com

NOVEMBER 10, 2020 - Author Chip Carter is no stranger to Star Trek, having penned several books highlighting the franchise and numerous other works in the realm of science fiction. Star Trek: The Wisdom of Picard, edited by Carter, brings readers into the mind of one of the most celebrated characters in the Star Trek universe, Captain Jean-Luc Picard. This collection of quotes offers a look into the intellect and motives of Picard as a Starfleet officer, an explorer, and a human being. With a well executed and simple premise, The Wisdom of Picard is a satisfying and enjoyable read for any audience.

The book is structured into several chapters which help to narrow the emphasis of the quotes presented, focusing on elements of human identity such as philosophy, literature and the arts, science and history, diplomacy, and - of course - exploration of the unknown. Each chapter is prefaced with a short commentary on the Picard character and his deep understanding of the topic at hand. Quotes are presented with the title of the episode or film of origin and are often accompanied by a production photo highlighting the moment.

The beautiful hardcover edition catches the eye with a stunning portrait of Sir Patrick Stewart as Picard, giving the reader a glimpse into the true depth of the book before the cover is even lifted. A look inside this “deep dive” into the mind of Picard inspires an introspective examination of one’s own ideals, personal character, and perceptions of life and meaning. Some of the quotes are definitely episode-specific and call for a bit more knowledge of the Star Trek storyline, but are nonetheless significant. “I shall appoint you my executive officer in charge of radishes” may seem off-topic and nonsensical on its face. However, with just a little more context, the reader can see this is actually a demonstration of quality leadership as Picard attempts to create an inclusive environment to quell the fears of a child in a tense situation. 

Replete with examples of decency, struggle and resilience, The Wisdom of Picard delivers a poetic and sincere look at the human condition through the eyes of Captain Picard. While this book is clearly intended for fans of the Star Trek franchise, the musings put forward offer an exploration of leadership, morality, and raw emotion that will likely resonate with any reader -- even if they have never seen an episode of Star Trek.

Star Trek: The Wisdom of Picard is out now in hardback and Kindle editions from Amazon.com, or wherever you get your books.