A maven is someone who can speak with authority on a particular subject matter. In its original Yiddish context, maven means “one who accumulates knowledge.” More importantly, mavens have an intense desire to share this knowledge with others. You may remember its popularization with Vita Herrings’ “Beloved Herring Maven” commercials created by Martin Solow in the 1960s, William Safire’s self proclamation of himself as the language maven, or Malcolm Gladwell’s coverage of mavens in his book, The Tipping Point (2000). Mavens play a key role in various communities to disseminate knowledge.
While I had heard the term before, it wasn’t until after my husband read a section of Malcolm Gladwell’s book, The Tipping Point, that he turned to tell me that I was, in fact, a maven. I admit that like most people, I had never thought to label myself; but once he brought the idea up, I realized that I did seem to be the go-to person that friends and family sought out for answers to cooking and household questions. I seemed to have a knack for finding deals, making unlikely circumstances work out, cooking three course dinners out of a bare refrigerator, and doing it all for less. And so maven stuck.
Alongside being the one who others turned to for advice, I also am working on my PhD, studying US women writers of the 19th century who also felt compelled to share their knowledge about their homes, families, and work. And I feel in some ways that I am putting their impulse into practice by finally getting these tips out into the public and moving beyond my circle of friends and family.
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