The New Lifetime Reading Plan: The Classical Guide to World Literature, Revised and Expanded

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... Read Full Review

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... Read Full Review

This new edition of the Lifetime Reading Plan is a brilliant updating of Fadiman's old standard that promises to keep the book useful well into the 21st century. While a few of Fadiman's essays on great authors (Shakespeare, Dickens) are starting to look a little stodgy and old-fashioned forty years after they were first published, most remain surprisingly lively and fresh. Fadiman was an immense force in molding America's... Read Full Review

Want to get serious about reading great literature but don't know where to start? This is a perfect starting point. Not only does it guide you into the classic "repertoire" but it creates a hunger to delve into these literary delicacies. The authors definitely have a passion for this material, and the best part is they are not afraid to be critical of these works and authors at times. Included are works that fall outside the... Read Full Review

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... Read Full Review