Alphabet of the Invisible by Lev Green
26 letters, 26 qualities to incorporate into our lives. That’s the goal of Lev Green, author of Alphabet of the Invisible. From his perspective as a former temple president, organizer and grandfather, he’s seen both the advancements society has made, as well as the areas in which problems have arisen and where we’ve become complacent. As big as the strides we’ve made is the degree to which we’ve become materialistic and superficial.
With such dichotomies in mind, Green wrote Alphabet of the Invisible — a guide to living a better, more present life free of distraction and negative influence. We sat down to talk with him about his motivations for writing the book, how he picked each trait and what lessons he feels are especially important for us to apply ourselves to.
Q: What is the Alphabet of the Invisible?
A: We live in an era when there is very little attention paid to values. People are preoccupied by smartphones and superficiality. Vitriol and rancor dominate discussion, as we have become an all too divided country. Alphabet of the Invisible was written with the intention of refocusing our attention to the importance of values. The manuscript discusses 26 qualities, one for each letter of the alphabet, to which each of us should aspire. These qualities are universal and cross the political spectrum and the generational divide. Alphabet of the Invisible is intended for both personal introspection and intergenerational discussion.
Q: How did you select each of the 26 traits?
A: There are a myriad of qualities, all invisible in nature, that define our character. I chose to select these 26 qualities to match the letters of the alphabet, in order to make the book more readable and relatable, and also to promote intergenerational discussion. The alphabetical order of the book is a learning device that will facilitate discussion among family members whom I would hope would read the book together.
Q: How have the different roles you’ve taken on in life (father, grandfather, attorney, writer, etc) played into the writing of this book?
A: My family, religious and educational upbringing has always been strongly rooted in values. I try to live my life every day with strong cognizance of what is right and just. I have witnessed over the decades, and especially over more recent years, increased attention to the momentary pleasures of the smartphone, with too little attention to the discussion of the more permanent qualities to which we should aspire.
Q: Is the book targeted at any particular group or demographic?
A: Alphabet of the Invisible discusses important and universal values and should have appeal to persons of all ages. My strong hope is that families will use this resource to promote discussion of matters that really count, and penetrating much deeper than the superficiality of smartphone apps. I would also hope that the manuscript would be a resource to permit families to connect to grandparents and relatives who might be isolated, especially in a time when we still have too many people isolated by the COVID pandemic.
Q: How has society’s focus on appearance influenced the way our minds work?
A: Tiktok and Twitter dominate modern day culture. The focus is on visual appearances and superficial statements. We live in a very materialistic world of instant gratification. The gratification is short-lived as we jump from one superficiality to the next. What is lost in all of this is a discussion of what is important: character and the values that shape us.
Q: Do any of the chapters resonate particularly powerfully with you?
A: The chapter that resonates most with me is the discussion of faith, and by that I mean faith in the power of good. No matter what your particular religious practice or belief, or even if you a devout atheist, we should all have faith in the power of good. Every day of our lives we interact with others, and our actions have consequences, and often far-reaching ripple effects beyond what we can possible imagine. Faith in the power of good provides greater meaning to everything we do.
About Lev Green:
Lev Green is a father, grandfather, attorney, writer, past chair of a national nonprofit Jewish service organization, past temple president and a member of Mensa. Lev and his wife Denise live in Ogunquit, Maine.
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