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Product Description
Now in print for the first time in almost 40 years, "The New Lifetime Reading Plan" provides readers with brief, informative and entertaining introductions to more than 130 classics of world literature. From Homer to Hawthorne, Plato to Pascal, and Shakespeare to Solzhenitsyn, the great writers of Western civilization can be found in its pages. In addition, this new edition offers a much broader representation of women authors, such as Charlotte Bront%, Emily Dickinson and Edith Wharton, as well as non-Western writers such as Confucius, Sun-Tzu, Chinua Achebe, Mishima Yukio and many others.
This fourth edition also features a simpler format that arranges the works chronologically in five sections (The Ancient World; 300-1600; 1600-1800; and The 20th Century), making them easier to look up than ever before. It deserves a place in the libraries of all lovers of literature.
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The Epic of Gilgamesh is without doubt the world's oldest sur narrative poem, and one of the founding works of Western literature. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
The Epic of Gilgamesh is without doubt the world's oldest sur narrative poem, and one of the founding works of Western literature. Read the first page
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
39 of 40 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
A most useful and readable book. Starting with the Epic of Gilgamesh (about 2500BC), the first written story, the authors give guidance and opinion on all the great works of literature up to the new millennium. That's quite a few books, hence the title. I found the summaries of the books to be free of affectation and eminently readable in themselves, certainly not too 'highbrow'. I have had my book for a couple of years and it sees regular use, I strongly commend it to fellow bibliophiles.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I am reminded of the fantastic Stewart Lee set in which he bemoans Channel 4's series of "the 100 best things. Of a thing. Ever." Similar lists are everywhere and, at first glance, this book may appear to be yet another of that pervasive genus. Personally, I dislike such lists; many hate them due to the inherent subjective nature of the aim, though for me the main problem is the way in which it removes the work from any kind of context. If I were to sit down and read the 100 greatest novels, or watch the 100 greatest films, I do not believe that it would make me 'well-read', nor do I believe that it would make me knowledgable in respect of those particular writers or their work. Understanding the importance of this distinction is the great triumph of this book. This book is not a list to be ploughed through for brownie points; the writers intend the reader to absorb these works and carry them throughout their lives, likening a literary experience to raising a child or maintaining a marriage.
In the main part of the book 133 writers are suggested; they may be novelists, poets, philosophers, playwrights, historians or scientists from throughout history. Each entry consists of a short essay that, largely, attempts to provide an objective overview of the writer; a brief synopsis of their life, an account of their work, why they merit a place in the plan and general points to consider as you read their work. I say 'largely' as the essays can often get rather subjective in certain respects; an obvious example is the essay on Karl Marx, though a lesser example would be the essay on D.H. Lawrence. Such points may not be to everyone's liking, though I did not consider any of the subjective opinion to be overbearing. In addition to these 133 writers the book also, briefly, lists 100 writers of the 20th century that may be of interest to the reader.
The most useful aspect of this book is the structure and recommendations. The book has a very useful bibliogaphical appendix that not only suggests the recommended works of the writer, but it also suggests various translations of the work (where relevant) and which is the most desirable. Furthermore, noteworthy biographies of the writer are listed and recommended, as are various books of critical essays of the writer's work. It also suggests various general guides to specific areas of philosophy and literary criticism. Also suggested are various anthologies of poetry; everything from English poetry, to Japanese poetry, to Native American and Carribean poetry.
If, like me, you have ever felt that you were enjoying writers, but lacked the substantive knowledge of the time period, style or biographical information to inform your opinions, this appendix is worth the purchase price alone. In all this is a fantastic guide (note the use of the word 'guide', as opposed to 'list'.) and one that I would recommend to anyone with an interest in literature. I have had my copy for over a year now and it sees regular use.
In the main part of the book 133 writers are suggested; they may be novelists, poets, philosophers, playwrights, historians or scientists from throughout history. Each entry consists of a short essay that, largely, attempts to provide an objective overview of the writer; a brief synopsis of their life, an account of their work, why they merit a place in the plan and general points to consider as you read their work. I say 'largely' as the essays can often get rather subjective in certain respects; an obvious example is the essay on Karl Marx, though a lesser example would be the essay on D.H. Lawrence. Such points may not be to everyone's liking, though I did not consider any of the subjective opinion to be overbearing. In addition to these 133 writers the book also, briefly, lists 100 writers of the 20th century that may be of interest to the reader.
The most useful aspect of this book is the structure and recommendations. The book has a very useful bibliogaphical appendix that not only suggests the recommended works of the writer, but it also suggests various translations of the work (where relevant) and which is the most desirable. Furthermore, noteworthy biographies of the writer are listed and recommended, as are various books of critical essays of the writer's work. It also suggests various general guides to specific areas of philosophy and literary criticism. Also suggested are various anthologies of poetry; everything from English poetry, to Japanese poetry, to Native American and Carribean poetry.
If, like me, you have ever felt that you were enjoying writers, but lacked the substantive knowledge of the time period, style or biographical information to inform your opinions, this appendix is worth the purchase price alone. In all this is a fantastic guide (note the use of the word 'guide', as opposed to 'list'.) and one that I would recommend to anyone with an interest in literature. I have had my copy for over a year now and it sees regular use.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
37 reviews
97 of 97 people found the following review helpful
Essential Book
19 Oct 2005
Format:Paperback
This book is essential. It is opinionated and selective. It promises nothing but the considered opinion of two people that have been significantly involved with reading and thinking about literature throughout much of their lives.
Many of the comments made by different reviewers at this site are addressed in the book itself. It explains why the Bible is not included. It explains why significant scientific works are excluded. Even within the strict realm of literature, they also explain that people might argue with their choices.
In fact, this is part of the point. This is not the last word on literature. It is a starting place that provides a number of excellent points of departure. It invites you to look at and think about the authors, the books it recommends and ask some basic questions: Is the author described interesting enough to read? If so, which book? Once finished with a book, do I agree with the comments made? Why or why not?
The authors provide a good summary - some have honestly brought tears to my eyes I thought they were that good - and some pointers for background information, literary criticism, anthologies, suggested translations and other information.
You may find that Thucydides is "charmless" as Clifton claims. I didn't. You may find that Finnegan's Wake is worth your time. Clifton recommends avoiding it - which I find I agree after several attempts to read it.
Most importantly to me, it is with the suggestions of this book that I was able to tackle works like Joyce's Ulysess and Mann's Magic Mountain that would have been impossible to do without the very helpful suggestions it contains.
This book should be owned by anyone with even a passing interest in literature. It needs to be approached as you would a respected friend with a different outlook on life. Take the suggestions you find useful and explore what you like. It is a guide, and used appropriately, it will help you make good choices in deciding what to read (what, which translation) and help you get the tools you may want to understand it better (historical context, explanations). Buy it, and read it!
Many of the comments made by different reviewers at this site are addressed in the book itself. It explains why the Bible is not included. It explains why significant scientific works are excluded. Even within the strict realm of literature, they also explain that people might argue with their choices.
In fact, this is part of the point. This is not the last word on literature. It is a starting place that provides a number of excellent points of departure. It invites you to look at and think about the authors, the books it recommends and ask some basic questions: Is the author described interesting enough to read? If so, which book? Once finished with a book, do I agree with the comments made? Why or why not?
The authors provide a good summary - some have honestly brought tears to my eyes I thought they were that good - and some pointers for background information, literary criticism, anthologies, suggested translations and other information.
You may find that Thucydides is "charmless" as Clifton claims. I didn't. You may find that Finnegan's Wake is worth your time. Clifton recommends avoiding it - which I find I agree after several attempts to read it.
Most importantly to me, it is with the suggestions of this book that I was able to tackle works like Joyce's Ulysess and Mann's Magic Mountain that would have been impossible to do without the very helpful suggestions it contains.
This book should be owned by anyone with even a passing interest in literature. It needs to be approached as you would a respected friend with a different outlook on life. Take the suggestions you find useful and explore what you like. It is a guide, and used appropriately, it will help you make good choices in deciding what to read (what, which translation) and help you get the tools you may want to understand it better (historical context, explanations). Buy it, and read it!
37 of 37 people found the following review helpful
A must for the serious reader
8 Nov 1999
Format:Paperback
This book serves not only as a list of the editors' recommendations for books the serious reader will want to have read by the end of one's life, but as an informal guide to the works themselves. They offer analysis of the works' historical origins and value, as well as things to keep in mind while reading them (their suggestions on reading Shakespeare and James Joyce are splendid!)
What's more, they encourage the reader to add upon the suggestions made here; the emphasis above all is placed on the love of reading and the discovery of great literature.
49 of 51 people found the following review helpful
read the preface for goodness sake
26 Mar 2008
Format:Paperback
I haven't reviewed a book in a long time because customer reviews so often annoy me. Now I'm writing this one because another one has.
Another reveiwer here criticizes The New Lifetime Reading Plan and its predecessors for not including the Bible. That would be a good criticism indeed if not for this sentence from the preface to the book, " We assume that nearly every reader of this book will own a Bible and be at least somewhat accustomed to reading it; and there is nothing we might try to say about it that would not seem presumptuous."
And for those who find the listing and others like it 'dogmatic', it is a list of the books that people who have read widely and deeply over many years have found lasting value in. The earlier works in the list were an influence on the later works. The later works have been appreciated by the contemporary authors influenced by the earlier ones. The list is a suggestion. These are the books I and people like me have enjoyed. Try them if they sound interesting to you. If they don't, then read something else. If you want to write a book suggesting your own favorites, knock yourself out.
And as for political correctness, while that is indeed a problem in modern scholarship, it is not a problem in this book. Hippies may very well have played at Buddhism, but it is a religion older than Christianity that is still practiced by many sincere followers in Eastern countries. Hinduism is also older than Christianity and still practiced by many people. The works of those religions and cultures have not had much influence on the literature of the West because they were not well known until relatively recently. The later Eastern novels included in The New Lifetime Reading Plan show the influence both of the great Western works and of those such as The Ramayana, The Bhagavad Gita, and The Platform Sutra of the Sixth Patriarch.
I have several books of this type, but this is the one I like best. The two to four page introductions to authors and their major works are interesting and informative. I used the book in particular to get more familiar with classical Greek drama and Asian literature. I have very much enjoyed several of the books I learned of through it.
Another reveiwer here criticizes The New Lifetime Reading Plan and its predecessors for not including the Bible. That would be a good criticism indeed if not for this sentence from the preface to the book, " We assume that nearly every reader of this book will own a Bible and be at least somewhat accustomed to reading it; and there is nothing we might try to say about it that would not seem presumptuous."
And for those who find the listing and others like it 'dogmatic', it is a list of the books that people who have read widely and deeply over many years have found lasting value in. The earlier works in the list were an influence on the later works. The later works have been appreciated by the contemporary authors influenced by the earlier ones. The list is a suggestion. These are the books I and people like me have enjoyed. Try them if they sound interesting to you. If they don't, then read something else. If you want to write a book suggesting your own favorites, knock yourself out.
And as for political correctness, while that is indeed a problem in modern scholarship, it is not a problem in this book. Hippies may very well have played at Buddhism, but it is a religion older than Christianity that is still practiced by many sincere followers in Eastern countries. Hinduism is also older than Christianity and still practiced by many people. The works of those religions and cultures have not had much influence on the literature of the West because they were not well known until relatively recently. The later Eastern novels included in The New Lifetime Reading Plan show the influence both of the great Western works and of those such as The Ramayana, The Bhagavad Gita, and The Platform Sutra of the Sixth Patriarch.
I have several books of this type, but this is the one I like best. The two to four page introductions to authors and their major works are interesting and informative. I used the book in particular to get more familiar with classical Greek drama and Asian literature. I have very much enjoyed several of the books I learned of through it.
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