Comments on: Reading List http://micheldelving.wordpress.com In which a homeschooling family of 8 sorts out its surroundings. Wed, 23 Jul 2008 19:38:09 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=MU By: josephmcbee http://micheldelving.wordpress.com/books/#comment-193 josephmcbee Tue, 09 Oct 2007 19:29:04 +0000 http://micheldelving.wordpress.com/books/#comment-193 THANKS! THANKS!

]]> By: fosco http://micheldelving.wordpress.com/books/#comment-192 fosco Tue, 09 Oct 2007 19:01:15 +0000 http://micheldelving.wordpress.com/books/#comment-192 The list comes from a book called <em>How To Read A Book</em> by Mortimer Adler and Charles Van Doren. It's a short how-to guide to attacking the Western Canon, and it was published around 30 years ago. There's a list in the back of the book of the books that they considered essential reading, but you can also find the list online <a href="http://www.interleaves.org/~rteeter/grtadler.html" rel="nofollow">here</a>. These lists must have been popular some time ago, and I keep coming across volumes in the used bookstores that look to have been part of some "Own The Great Books" series, probably sold as a book-of-the-month sort of thing. Once in a while, I come across a complete set for sale, and the contents almost always match this list (or ones like it). As for choosing, I started in (rough) chronological order with occasional side-trips into biographies or histories if I need some historical context. I've also been known to consult Cliff's notes and whatnot. The list comes from a book called How To Read A Book by Mortimer Adler and Charles Van Doren. It’s a short how-to guide to attacking the Western Canon, and it was published around 30 years ago. There’s a list in the back of the book of the books that they considered essential reading, but you can also find the list online here. These lists must have been popular some time ago, and I keep coming across volumes in the used bookstores that look to have been part of some “Own The Great Books” series, probably sold as a book-of-the-month sort of thing. Once in a while, I come across a complete set for sale, and the contents almost always match this list (or ones like it).

As for choosing, I started in (rough) chronological order with occasional side-trips into biographies or histories if I need some historical context. I’ve also been known to consult Cliff’s notes and whatnot.

]]> By: josephmcbee http://micheldelving.wordpress.com/books/#comment-191 josephmcbee Tue, 09 Oct 2007 18:35:02 +0000 http://micheldelving.wordpress.com/books/#comment-191 Excellent. I have a list of 100 of The Greatest Books Ever Written that I am working through albeit at a much slower pace than you. What made you choose this plan? How did you go about picking the books for your list? Also, when you say Van Doren, are you referring to the poet Mark Van Doren? If so, where have you found his books, they are all out of print and I would love to pick up some copies as I love his work. Thanks. Excellent. I have a list of 100 of The Greatest Books Ever Written that I am working through albeit at a much slower pace than you. What made you choose this plan? How did you go about picking the books for your list?

Also, when you say Van Doren, are you referring to the poet Mark Van Doren? If so, where have you found his books, they are all out of print and I would love to pick up some copies as I love his work.

Thanks.

]]> By: fosco http://micheldelving.wordpress.com/books/#comment-190 fosco Tue, 09 Oct 2007 17:51:31 +0000 http://micheldelving.wordpress.com/books/#comment-190 Yes. I started this project a couple of years ago, right about the time we stopped watching television. I made considerable progress that first year because I had switched to transit for a few months and suddenly found myself with 3 hours/day that I could dedicate to reading. Some of those are also books that I've read to the oldest kids for bedtime, so they're going on in parallel with whatever I happen to be reading at the same time. I've actually derailed considerably from the original plan - I'm supposed to be reading Shakespeare right now, but only got past the first couple of plays before losing interest. I'll probably swing back to the Adler/Van Doren list here before too much longer. Yes. I started this project a couple of years ago, right about the time we stopped watching television. I made considerable progress that first year because I had switched to transit for a few months and suddenly found myself with 3 hours/day that I could dedicate to reading. Some of those are also books that I’ve read to the oldest kids for bedtime, so they’re going on in parallel with whatever I happen to be reading at the same time.

I’ve actually derailed considerably from the original plan - I’m supposed to be reading Shakespeare right now, but only got past the first couple of plays before losing interest. I’ll probably swing back to the Adler/Van Doren list here before too much longer.

]]> By: josephmcbee http://micheldelving.wordpress.com/books/#comment-189 josephmcbee Tue, 09 Oct 2007 16:11:42 +0000 http://micheldelving.wordpress.com/books/#comment-189 Did you aactually read all of these books so far? If so I am mucho impressed! If not, I am still mucho impressed. Did you aactually read all of these books so far? If so I am mucho impressed! If not, I am still mucho impressed.

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