Scan barcode
stepriot's review against another edition
5.0
No one has ever made me want to read Moby Dick before. I haven't finished this book yet. I have to go see about a mad captain and a whale.
brandifox's review against another edition
My feelings about this book are strongly mixed. It is delightful and discomfiting in turns. It also opened my eyes to new books I want to read and a few I know I can pass on indefinitely. I am particularly appreciative of the later chapters where non-white American authors are explored, introducing me to some new voices.
If you like reading books about books it is probably worth your time. The Sean Pratt audiobook was well read.
If you like reading books about books it is probably worth your time. The Sean Pratt audiobook was well read.
profbeards's review against another edition
4.0
A good assessment, I think, of a very large subject of discussion. At the very least, I wish I was able to have longer discussions with Tom before he retired this past Fall semester.
rebelqueen's review against another edition
3.0
Foster says this is “a” and not “the” list of books that shaped America, but I found his list meh. Lots of white dudes.
Oh, and Beloved is better than Moby Dick.
Oh, and Beloved is better than Moby Dick.
mattycakesbooks's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed this a lot more than I thought I would. Generally I don't like list books, for the reason that I usually disagree with the list and want my own favorites to make an appearance, but he's smart (and humble) enough in the beginning to say that his list is not remotely definitive, and that he reserves the right to write and break the rules. Which is fair enough. Any objective criteria applied to this endeavor would be idiotic.
A few thoughts:
It seemed, a number of times, that he was less focused on a book as much as an author. It seemed like "Go Down Moses," "Song of Solomon," and "The Sun Also Rises" were all chosen more because he wanted an appearance by Faulkner, Morrison, and Hemingway, rather than he thought these books legitimately shaped our collective identity. Other times, he makes the right choice in that regard (Huck Finn, On the Road), without bowing to an author he particularly liked. Not to say that Hemingway wasn't incredibly influential on American writing, just that it seems like he picked The Sun Also Rises because it was Hemingway's first, rather than its individual impact (I think A Farewell to Arms, For Whom the Bell Tolls, and The Old Man and the Sea could all beat out his first in that regard).
And I'm doing what I promised myself I wouldn't do: naming my choices instead. The only other thing I'll note for the time being is that this guy is obviously an English professor, so what you get from him is going to be very literary. Popular books don't make as much of an appearance: it's mostly serious literature - with the exception of The Cat in the Hat - so don't expect anything that wouldn't be on a required reading list.
A few thoughts:
It seemed, a number of times, that he was less focused on a book as much as an author. It seemed like "Go Down Moses," "Song of Solomon," and "The Sun Also Rises" were all chosen more because he wanted an appearance by Faulkner, Morrison, and Hemingway, rather than he thought these books legitimately shaped our collective identity. Other times, he makes the right choice in that regard (Huck Finn, On the Road), without bowing to an author he particularly liked. Not to say that Hemingway wasn't incredibly influential on American writing, just that it seems like he picked The Sun Also Rises because it was Hemingway's first, rather than its individual impact (I think A Farewell to Arms, For Whom the Bell Tolls, and The Old Man and the Sea could all beat out his first in that regard).
And I'm doing what I promised myself I wouldn't do: naming my choices instead. The only other thing I'll note for the time being is that this guy is obviously an English professor, so what you get from him is going to be very literary. Popular books don't make as much of an appearance: it's mostly serious literature - with the exception of The Cat in the Hat - so don't expect anything that wouldn't be on a required reading list.
catherinemohs's review against another edition
5.0
I normally don't like books like these, but this one is outstanding. I greatly enjoyed the read. Mr. Foster's writing is to the point, humorous, and interesting.
lazygal's review against another edition
4.0
This book is one of those perfect "put down-able" books, like a collection of short stories is. You read a chapter, do something else, read another chapter, etc.. I love those, as I can read a chapter when I don't have time to get involved with another book.
Anyway, this is a great look at several books that have become curriculum standards (or were - Hemingway isn't as taught as he used to be at the high school level) and whether or not you've read them, you will want to read (or re-read) them after. I found myself saying "I can't believe I missed that book in school" or "Maybe I need to re-visit that one" often. And Foster's humor about the books makes even the driest (Moby-Dick, I'm looking at you) seem accessible.
A great gift book, for yourself or others.
ARC provided by publisher.
Anyway, this is a great look at several books that have become curriculum standards (or were - Hemingway isn't as taught as he used to be at the high school level) and whether or not you've read them, you will want to read (or re-read) them after. I found myself saying "I can't believe I missed that book in school" or "Maybe I need to re-visit that one" often. And Foster's humor about the books makes even the driest (Moby-Dick, I'm looking at you) seem accessible.
A great gift book, for yourself or others.
ARC provided by publisher.
palliem's review against another edition
3.0
This book is perfect for a project my AP students do, which is why I picked it up. It was interesting--but the book cover says these are the books that helped shape our national identity, so I was more than a little disappointed that he didn't talk about that. At all. When discussing any of the books.
Yes, he talked about the "American-ness" of the books. Some he explained how they shaped future writers. But he never tackled what he promised--a discussion of how specifically each book created the myth of America and shaped our collective consciousness/identity. His essay on The Cat in the Hat came closest with its discussion of how Seuss shaped American childhood education and literacy. But that's hardly an identity.
Since that's what I was specifically looking for--to use as potential models for my students--I was a little let down.
Yes, he talked about the "American-ness" of the books. Some he explained how they shaped future writers. But he never tackled what he promised--a discussion of how specifically each book created the myth of America and shaped our collective consciousness/identity. His essay on The Cat in the Hat came closest with its discussion of how Seuss shaped American childhood education and literacy. But that's hardly an identity.
Since that's what I was specifically looking for--to use as potential models for my students--I was a little let down.
mlangman's review against another edition
4.0
I have been reading this in dribs and drabs over the past few years, pulling out chapters on books that intrigued me, but I finally sat down to read it cover to cover this summer. The chapters on books I knew I found fascinating; other titles that I wasn’t as familiar with were sometimes hard to get into. Still, as with Foster’s How to Read Literature Like a Professor, the style is so delightfully conversational, that it made it all enjoyable.
fairybookmother's review against another edition
4.0
I read this ten or so years ago when I was in undergrad, felt like revisiting, realized I still haven't read some of the books on this list