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Product Description
"Charles Van Doren has laid a feast before all of us that is irresistible." -Mortimer J. Adler
This engaging love letter to reading follows the great authors and classics that transformed the world: from Aristotle and Herodotus in ancient Greece to Salinger and Heinlein in 20th century America. Like a professor whose enthusiasm enwraps his students, Van Doren explains what's wonderful in the books you've missed and awakens your desire to reopen the books you already know.
Divided chronologically by the periods in which these classics were written, each book is put in its historical context and brought to life by Van Doren's brilliant analysis. The Joy of Reading delves into a wide range of genres-fiction, poetry, drama, children's books, philosophy, history and science. This is the one book that brings together everything you need to know about the classics you missed and ignites your passion to read and reread the greatest books the world has ever known.
This book is the fruit of a lifelong love affair. Reading, I believe, is my favorite thing to do; books and I have been inseparable almost as long as I can remember ... To this day, I become distressed if I am anywhere without a book, a magazine, a newspaper, any scrap of paper to read .... I like the smell of books, certainly the feel of them. Life without books would be, for me, a vacant horror."
-Charles Van Doren
"Nothing recommends the joy of reading better than the communication of it by a person who has spent a lifetime enriched by the delights of reading. Charles Van Doren is that kind of reader. He has laid a feast before us that is irresistible."
-Mortimer J. Adler, author of How to Read a Book
"Mr.Van Doren is that rarity, a truly well read man who reads not for professional purposes but for pleasure. His book spurs us on to explore more deeply and joyfully the infinitely varied terrain of good books."
-Clifton Fadiman, author of The New Lifetime Reading Plan: The Classical Guide to World Literature
This engaging love letter to reading follows the great authors and classics that transformed the world: from Aristotle and Herodotus in ancient Greece to Salinger and Heinlein in 20th century America. Like a professor whose enthusiasm enwraps his students, Van Doren explains what's wonderful in the books you've missed and awakens your desire to reopen the books you already know.
Divided chronologically by the periods in which these classics were written, each book is put in its historical context and brought to life by Van Doren's brilliant analysis. The Joy of Reading delves into a wide range of genres-fiction, poetry, drama, children's books, philosophy, history and science. This is the one book that brings together everything you need to know about the classics you missed and ignites your passion to read and reread the greatest books the world has ever known.
This book is the fruit of a lifelong love affair. Reading, I believe, is my favorite thing to do; books and I have been inseparable almost as long as I can remember ... To this day, I become distressed if I am anywhere without a book, a magazine, a newspaper, any scrap of paper to read .... I like the smell of books, certainly the feel of them. Life without books would be, for me, a vacant horror."
-Charles Van Doren
"Nothing recommends the joy of reading better than the communication of it by a person who has spent a lifetime enriched by the delights of reading. Charles Van Doren is that kind of reader. He has laid a feast before us that is irresistible."
-Mortimer J. Adler, author of How to Read a Book
"Mr.Van Doren is that rarity, a truly well read man who reads not for professional purposes but for pleasure. His book spurs us on to explore more deeply and joyfully the infinitely varied terrain of good books."
-Clifton Fadiman, author of The New Lifetime Reading Plan: The Classical Guide to World Literature
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3 reviews
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Great introduction..
3 Dec 2008
Format:Hardcover
...to the world of classic literature. its quite useful if you are like me and enjoy reading but are not overly familiar with the classics. really does get you excited about reading books that normally you would not consider. dont expect to much depth from the analysis, this collection serves best as simply what the title promises...
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
A book for the ages
9 Jan 2009
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
I read The Joy of Reading when it was first published. I was pleased to find it has been updated and reissued. It's an excellent reference for avid readers and to expose students to the great writers of the world. I gave the book as gifts for grandchildren who love to read.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
A fantastic user's manual for becoming well read.
23 Oct 2009
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
Dr. Van Doren has created a fantastic book that serves a much needed goal in our "on-line society." He has created a valuable list of the greatest classic books of human knowledge and literature. He explains why they are important, and his passion for each is clearly evident. He puts them into a meaningful context and connects them together to weave a tapestry of knowledge. I'd thought that I was well read until I picked up this book. But instead of being dismayed at how little I really know, I have taken comfort from his suggested ten year reading plan at the back of the book as a useful path for discovering them for myself. This book can reveal a world that should be an inspiration for the pursuit of greater knowledge for any person who is at all serious about improving their knowledge of the world around them.
This book is quite highly recommended.
This book is quite highly recommended.
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