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10 Ways Reading the Great Books Can Improve Your Life
The Master Course in Personal Development May Already B
Sitting On Your Shelf
Reading the great books takes a lot of effort. Studying mastepieces such as the Odyssey or the works of Shakespeare requir
more concentration than picking up a Tom Clancy novel. But, th
payoffs can be tremendous.
If youre not sold on starting a reading plan, consider the benefi
that reading great literature can bring to your life. Here are
ways reading these books can have a real impact on who you a
and how you think:
1. Understand what shapes your thoughts and beliefs.Whether youre conscious of
or not, chances are your belief system is based on social norms that have evolve
through centuries of history. What you think are independent ideas may very well b
philosophies created by the great thinkers of previous generations. Robert M. Hutchin
Editor in Chief of the Great Books of the Western World, explained it this way:
These books are the means of understanding our society and ourselves. They containthe great ideas that dominate us without our knowing it. There is no comparable
repository in our tradition.
Consider your thoughts on subjects such as romantic love, truth, democracy, an
freedom. Are your ideas your own? Or are your thoughts dominated by an outside cu
tural influence? By reading the great books, you can see how ideas developed over tim
and be aware of how they affect you now. You may choose to accept or reject the cu
rent way of thinking. But, either way you will become cognizant that it is a choice angain the agency to make a decision for yourself.
2. Let a little genius rub off on you.When I was growing up, my parents always r
minded me to choose my friends carefully. You are who you associate with, some sa
Perhaps the same is true of books. The great books were written by some of the be
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minds in history. By reading them, your own mind can expand and your thoughts reac
a higher plane. Sir Richard Livingston said:
We are tied down, all our days and for the greater part of our days, to the
commonplace. This is where contact with great thinkers, great literature helps. In
their company we are still in the ordinary world, but it is the ordinary world transfig-ured and seen through the eyes of wisdom and genius.
Reading the great books may not turn us into Platos and Einsteins. But, their words ca
bring out our strengths.
3. Read like an Ivy League grad.When I was teaching high school, I noticed that st
dents on my campus were focusing on popular modern-day books while students in th
preppy private schools received a more liberal education with emphasis on the gre
thinkers of history. The same seems true with colleges. State programs give a curso
overview of the greats while Ivy League graduates complete school with a firmer gras
of important ideas and what they mean in the world today. Proponents of the classics
schools say, Whats best for the best, is best for everyone. No matter what you
background, reading the classics can give you a fuller understanding of the world. It
possible to bring your mind to the same level as Ivy League grads by pursuing a se
study of these important works.
4. Escape from the narrow box of specialization.Focusing your expertise on just on
subject may be a smart way to earn a living. But, by shutting yourself off from a mo
extensive world of knowledge, you limit your ability to excel. In order to truly thrive
any field, people need a broad understanding of the world and how it works. Hutchin
said:
The liberally educated man has a mind that can operate will in all fields. He may be a
specialist in one field. But he can understand anything important that is said in any
field and can see and use the light that it sheds upon his own.
Whether youre in computer science, marketing, healthcare, or any other field, gaining
broad knowledge of the many subjects covered in the great books will help you in you
specialization.
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5. Learn from past mistakes.It is often said that those who forget history are doomed
repeat it. By ignoring the discoveries recorded in the great books, we are bound to mak
the same mistakes both on a societal level and in our own lives. Educational philos
pher Mortimer Adler explained:
People who question or even scorn the study of the past and its works usually as-sume that the past is entirely different from the present, and that hence we can learn
nothing worthwhile from the past. But it is not true that the past is entirely different
from the present. We can learn much of value from its similarity and its difference
We and the ancients share a common human nature and hence certain common hu-
man experiences and problems.
Everyone has to forge his own path in this life. But, why not see how others conquere
the same challenges? Theres no point to wander lost in a wilderness when dozens
guidebooks are freely available.
6. Improve your ability to comprehend. Although the great books werent written f
specialists and experts, they can be a tough read. If youre tempted to trade in Sophocl
for Sue Grafton, realize that stepping outside of your reading comfort-zone can do wo
ders for your comprehension. Hutchins explained:
If many great books seem unreadable and unintelligibleit may be because we have
not for a long time learned to read by reading them. Great books teach people not only
how to read them, but how to read other books as well.
Once you get through a few of the more challenging books, youll find it easier to com
prehend all kinds of works. As a more confident reader, you wont need to shy awa
from academic articles or historical texts. The entire body of English writing will be
your domain.
7. Be truly human. At its heart, reading the great books is about exploring ou
humanity. Rousseau said:
It matters little to me whether my pupil is intended for the army, the church, or the
law. Before his parents chose a calling for him, nature called him to be a manWhen
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he leaves me, he will be neither a magistrate, a soldier, not a priest; he will be a man.
As a pupil of the great books, you enter into a discussion of what it means to be
person. Ultimately, ulterior motives such as appearing smart fall to the wayside. Yo
can forget all the blogs, self-help books, and magazine articles that tell you how to im
prove your life. The great books are the master course in self-development.
8. Find your own answers to lifes big questions. By following themes in the gre
books, youll realize that certain topics are discussed over and over again througho
history: What is our destiny? What is a good life? How can we achieve a good society
What can we learn to guide us through the mazes of the future from history, philosoph
and religion, literature, and the fine arts?
Reading the great books wont give you an ultimate answer to the big questions. Bu
they will offer diverse views and possibilities. By understanding the conclusions th
great thinkers have come to about these questions, youll come closer to settling on a
swers that works for you.
9. Develop a spirit of inquiry.Too many people are complacent about their lives, n
concerning themselves with the ideas that have made the world what it is today. Rea
ing the great books can help you foster your natural curiosity and desire to learn eve
more about the world. Hutchins put it this way:
To put an end to the spirit of inquiry that has characterized the West it is not neces-
sary to burn the books. All we have to do is leave them unread for a few generations.
Thats a pretty startling quote. But, its true. All the discoveries, thoughts, and ideas
the people who came before us are meaningless unless we care enough to explore them
10. Join in the great conversation.Ultimately, the great books make up a conversatio
that spans mortal time and space. The Romans respond to the Greeks, the authors of thmiddle ages express their reaction to the Romans, and so on. Modern-day authors a
responding to ideas first expressed hundreds of years ago. Once you have a grasp
what has been said in this unending conversation, youll be prepared to join in. Write
book, have a discussion with a friend, or post on a message board. Add your 2 cents an
become a part of the greatest fireside chat the world has ever seen.
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(Post Script: For related information check out The Great Conversation book b
Hutchins or the essay Why Read Great Booksby Adler. Also, be sure to keep chec
ing the Great Books tabat the top of this page. Ill be posting articles on the books there
photocredit: Herkie