Posted
11/16/2008 04:23:00 PM
by Douglas
The Great Books of Western Civilization. Not so
much, really:
Whereas the Britannica justified its hulking presence in the home as a reference tool, however, the Great Books made a more strident demand — they wanted to be read.
Hutchins and Adler’s Great Books were a mixture of books you wouldn’t dream of reading; books you think you ought to read but know you never will; and many books that, if you haven’t read them already, you would admire and possibly enjoy.
I'm sure Newton and Aristotle would be thrilled to know their life's work is propped up under the short leg of the couch in some trailer house in Des Moines.