Excerpts from Diary: How to Improve the World (You Will Only Make Matters Worse) by John Cage, edited by Richard Kraft and Joe Biel, Siglio, 2015. Courtesy Siglio and the John Cage Trust. Hailed as one of the most innovative and influential American composers of the twentieth century, John Cage (1912-1992) also left a lasting impact on the fields of visual art, modern dance, and philosophy. For more details on Cage’s life and work, in his own words, read “An Autobiographical Statement” at the John Cage Trust.