Friday, March 11, 2011

It Begins

I went to a good high school, but I wasted the opportunities I had to learn. I loved to read but wasted my time on drivel. I want to change that. I want to find out what I've missed.

I recently checked out a copy of Susan Wise Bauer's The Well Educated Mind: A Guide to the Classical Education You Never Had. The first part of the book tells how to experience a piece of literature, how to get the most out of it; many of her ideas come from How to Read a Book, by Mortimer Adler. The second half of the book is an annotated list of books in five categories: novels, autobiographies, history, plays, and poetry.

Bauer recommends reading each category in chronological order. I don't think I want to read each category in its entirety before moving onto the next, however. If I were to do that, I'd have a great time going through the novels, but then when I got to history or poetry I'd get completely bogged down. So I do plan to mix it up a little, jumping from genre to genre, but still keeping in order of publication within each genre.

For the next few days I'll be reading Bauer's book. Once I'm done I'll get started on the first one in the list.

3 comments:

Grandma said...

I love it Raina! It is a great idea and I look forward to following you through your 'education'.

Michelle said...

It will be fun to follow you through this journey. There's nothing like a good book...especially enjoyed with tea and chocolate. ;)

Anonymous said...

Looking forward to following along with ya!