Samuel Pickering

Samuel F. "Sam" Pickering Jr. (born September 30, 1941) is a writer and professor emeritus of English at the University of Connecticut in Storrs.

[1] His unconventional teaching style was an inspiration for the character of Mr. Keating, played by Robin Williams in the film Dead Poets Society.

Samuel Pickering was born and raised in Nashville, Tennessee, where he attended Montgomery Bell Academy.

He briefly returned to his alma mater, Montgomery Bell, to teach, a year before attending graduate school, receiving a Master of Arts degree (M.A.)

"[6] Pickering has often considered his teaching style purely purposeless and impulsive, and he criticizes those who have subsequently asked him about his philosophy on education, responding that people, regarding such large social questions, have trouble with "the realization that mostly it's all meaningless.

"[7] His non-fiction work typically takes a humorous tone and revolves around the everyday absurdities and pretensions of civilization.