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18th out of 125 books
—
139 voters
The Well-Educated Mind: A Guide to the Classical Education You Never Had
Have you lost the art of reading for pleasure? Are there books you know you should read but haven't because they seem too daunting? In The Well-Educated Mind, Susan Wise Bauer provides a welcome and encouraging antidote to the distractions of our age, electronic and otherwise. In her previous book, The Well-Trained Mind, the author provided a road map of classical educatio...more
Hardcover, 432 pages
Published
August 17th 2003
by W. W. Norton & Company
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Well, no great surprise, but I was not crazy about this book. I love to read books about books, and Bauer had a number of funny lines about graduate students which I appreciated. I love to read and improve myself. But still this book missed the mark by a long, long way, to me. The day I have to make myself progress through a "grammar stage, logic stage, rhetoric stage" to get meaning from a book is the day I hang up my glasses and take up knitting or something instead. Good grief. The endless "d...more
You can't pay me enough to take this book from me. It is, in the course of a few hundred pages, a replacement for *all* the time wasted in high school English classes.
This book is a fantastic introduction to the "classical education" method, a steady-as-she-goes education of the self by dipping into the Great Conversation of books and authors and ideas that has been going since the Epic of Gilgamesh.
The first section of the book is entirely dedicated to teaching you the basics of the method, wh...more
This book is a fantastic introduction to the "classical education" method, a steady-as-she-goes education of the self by dipping into the Great Conversation of books and authors and ideas that has been going since the Epic of Gilgamesh.
The first section of the book is entirely dedicated to teaching you the basics of the method, wh...more
I have used Susan Wise Bauer's Well-Trained Mind book (written with her mother Jessie wise) for years as a homeschool mother and in teaching classes of homeschool students of all ages. This book is one that I read to glean ideas about reading classical books as an adult and was somewhat disappointed in that she would have readers essentially read each book three times all while taking notes and doing the same sort of analysis done in grad school.
I don't believe a book requires this much readin...more
I don't believe a book requires this much readin...more
I've just finished this on the heels of Mortimer Adler's classic work, "How to Read a Book". Bauer's take on Adler is written for the remedial students who flunked the Adler. For instance, she doesn't casually gloss over the mechanics of reading a book, unlike Adler who assumed that people knew to move your eyes across and down the page. Bauer makes no such assumptions.
Bauer makes shockingly few references to Adler (only one comes to mind) which seems disrespectful given that she co-opted his w...more
Bauer makes shockingly few references to Adler (only one comes to mind) which seems disrespectful given that she co-opted his w...more
2 likes · like · see review
Jun 17, 2008
Corey Grabar
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
parents
Recommended to Corey by:
sister
What a great read. Indeed, it is the authoritative resource on classical education. I've seen some other reviews that say this book is too ambitious, but the beauty of homeschooling is that you can tailor this style and method to your own circumstances. In fact, any parent who wishes to be involved in their children's education (i.e. all parents, I hope!), would benefit from at least reflecting on the philosophy of this book and incorporating whichever parts work in your particular situation. A...more
3 likes · like · see review
Huh. This is another book I stumbled across somewhere and decided to give a try. I tried Cultural Literacy in audio, and that was a mistake: pretentious, prescriptivist, and about one-third list that does not make for good audio. That book was obvious; this one is juvenile.
I was doing what the author suggests -- reading the table of contents and first chapters to assess whether it was worth investing my time and energy -- when, on page 47, I came across the delightful tidbit that Thomas Jefferso...more
I was doing what the author suggests -- reading the table of contents and first chapters to assess whether it was worth investing my time and energy -- when, on page 47, I came across the delightful tidbit that Thomas Jefferso...more
This book was in my library's carousel entitled "Books on Books".
Bauer is a professor of American Literature at the College of William and Mary in my home state of Virginia. This paragraph of the jacket insert intrigued me:
"..offers brief, entertaining histories of five literary genres - fiction, autobiography, history, drama and poetry - accompanied by detailed instructions on how to read each type."
More specifically, the chapter called "Keeping the Journal: A Written Record of New Ideas" is wh...more
Bauer is a professor of American Literature at the College of William and Mary in my home state of Virginia. This paragraph of the jacket insert intrigued me:
"..offers brief, entertaining histories of five literary genres - fiction, autobiography, history, drama and poetry - accompanied by detailed instructions on how to read each type."
More specifically, the chapter called "Keeping the Journal: A Written Record of New Ideas" is wh...more
It was difficult to decide how many stars to give this book; three seemed a bit low, but four definitely seemed too high. The best part of this book is the suggested reading lists, complete with thumbnail descriptions: chronologically ordered lists of some of the most influential novels, autobiographies, histories, dramas, and poetry. I fully intend to use these lists to find future reading material.
Less useful, at least to me, was the "instruction" in how to read "serious literature"; I find th...more
Less useful, at least to me, was the "instruction" in how to read "serious literature"; I find th...more
A very friendly and informative guide to reading "great works" of Western literature. I admire the author for managing to sketch out the history of each genre (fiction, historical writing, autobiographies, plays, poetry) in a concise manner that still captures the main themes and developments over the course of history. Only for English literature, mind, which she points out early on. (To study French, German, Russian traditions, etc, both author and reader would need to be fluent in the languag...more
I'm really enjoying this book, it has taken me awhile to pick it up, requires a fresh mind, which seems to only happen at 6 AM. Currently I'm learning about different reading approaches, how to speed read, scan a page for a general sense of information, and then about understanding-analysis-evaluation.
Normally this would seem very dry but the author has a great sense of humour which she weaves into this tutorial on learning to read, understand, analyze and evaluate. She also gives lists of clas...more
Normally this would seem very dry but the author has a great sense of humour which she weaves into this tutorial on learning to read, understand, analyze and evaluate. She also gives lists of clas...more
I was somewhat prepared not to like this book since the subtitle "A Guide to the Classical Education You Never Had" struck me as rather stuffy and elitist. Classical education proponents tend to be too full of the past to value the present. Such, however, is not the case for this author and this work. She is a clear and gifted writer with a well-educated mind. The breakdown of the tasks involved in reading different genres of literature and her three-stage approach to reading well are very helpf...more
In the Well-Educated Mind, Mrs. Bauer discusses the importance of learning by reading for study not only entertainment. In the introductory chapters (1-4), she advises scheduling a regular reading time, practicing the mechanics of reading, keeping a reading journal and how to read a book using this method. In the chapters that follow (5-9), Mrs. Bauer covers the different ways to read the genre of literature as well as providing a list of recommended reading.
Chapters 5-9 are set up in the same...more
Chapters 5-9 are set up in the same...more
"The Well-Educated Mind: A Guide to The Classical Education You Never Had", by Susan Wise Bauer is a must read for the avid reader, and for anyone who would like to broaden their scope of literary knowledge.
The best aspects of this book:
1) The very best thing about this book is the comprehensive lists of suggested reading in the categories of novels, autobiography, history, drama, and poetry. The suggested editions are given with a brief summary of the work.
2) In the poetry section, the author...more
The best aspects of this book:
1) The very best thing about this book is the comprehensive lists of suggested reading in the categories of novels, autobiography, history, drama, and poetry. The suggested editions are given with a brief summary of the work.
2) In the poetry section, the author...more
For those of us who are interested in classical education for our children, it's important to educate ourselves first! This book is a guide to achieving that, with tips for reading the five important genres of literature (novels, biographies, dramas, histories, and poetry) and analyzing the works in each category by the three phases of the classical education: grammar, logic, and rhetoric. Each genre contains a chronological annotated list of great works to go through, as well as how to analyze...more
May 23, 2012
Kelly
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
anyone who wants a little extra help reading carefully
This seems to me an extremely useful book, particularly if you want to increase your exposure to literature and history without knowing how to start. There were times, I think particularly in her chapter on novel reading, that I became frustrated with her sarcasm. There seems to be a difference between actively loving literature and merely thinking it important, but I fear I do Ms. Bauer and injustice there. Just because she doesn't appreciate the same aspects of the literature that I do, doesn'...more
I can't really say I read this since... I didn't. At least, I didn't read it cover to cover. But I'm putting it on here as a reminder to myself that I'd like to pick it up again at some point. I am a fan of The Well-Trained Mind, so I picked this one up and am glad I did. I've never seen a book like this, and it's a really excellent concept. The author is a professor and homeschooling/classical education expert, and she lays out an at-home reading plan for acquiring the classical education you n...more
I have no idea how to rank this book. It's introductions are for those that want to self-teach themselves a course in classical education. Think litterature 101. What is deamed to be "real books" not for fun.
The information is here, there are summaries of many of the books. Best editions to read. A textbook.
For the rest of us that would like to simply read for enjoyment you feel almost talked down to. Yet, in a section where she asks how fast did you read the passage and how many words missed, I...more
The information is here, there are summaries of many of the books. Best editions to read. A textbook.
For the rest of us that would like to simply read for enjoyment you feel almost talked down to. Yet, in a section where she asks how fast did you read the passage and how many words missed, I...more
I think the best part of this book were the "brief, entertaining histories" of the 5 areas of study Susan Bauer recommended. I found it absolutely fascinating to learn the history of the novel and history. I think Bauer outlines a great way to read through the classics. I don't plan on following her lists but will use her book as a reference when reading those classics I decide to pick up.
I'm still questioning the need to obtain a classical education though. Am I really going to gain something...more
I'm still questioning the need to obtain a classical education though. Am I really going to gain something...more
To continue one's education throughout life, not just while acquiring a degree, is a worthwhile and beneficial endeavor. The title of this book suggests you need to read this book if you haven't acquired a classical education, but I say it's a fun guide to continue on with what you've already learned.... Continue the learning. I've started reading this book, which acts as an educational guide, in a study group with my sisters and my mother. It is so much fun! We are currently reading our first a...more
A phenomenal book that gives you strategies on how to approach different materials to get the most out of fiction, poetry, autobiographies and so forth.
1 like · like · see review
Like "The Well-Trained Mind", this book is more of a guide on obtaining a classical education. I read the first few chapters and skipped the rest. But, from what I read, I really liked the book and have put into practice some of the ideas on how to study books better.
My favorite thing was the idea of keeping a "journal" of what I read. I have a plain notebook and whenever I study a book, I write on top the date and chapter. From there, I draw a line down the paper, making two columns, one column...more
My favorite thing was the idea of keeping a "journal" of what I read. I have a plain notebook and whenever I study a book, I write on top the date and chapter. From there, I draw a line down the paper, making two columns, one column...more
I probably won't read this cover to cover because I've already been exposed to a lot of it in undergrad and grad school. It's amazing how much of the classical canon I instantly forgot, though! I had no context to nest it into, but now as I dip into "The Well-Trained Mind" as a way to afterschool my daughter, I'm interested in studying again. Perhaps Wise Bauer's divisions into genres and a more leisurely pace than Davidson's Humes seminars will help more of it stick. Now I just need to find int...more
I would have given this book a higher rating if I hadn't felt like it was a (thorough, and at times amusing) review of everything I studied in college. I guess what I'm saying is that if you're an English major (specifically an English major whose schooling focused on classic literature), this book is a waste of time. It does, however, have a great reading list that I nabbed several books off of.
For anyone who wasn't an English or Humanities major, this book is a great intro to literature. She...more
For anyone who wasn't an English or Humanities major, this book is a great intro to literature. She...more
How can you get more out of the books you read -- in part so that you remember what you read and in part so that you understand the ideas and whether you agree with them? Susan Bauer has some ideas that she sets forth in this book and then she gives specific tips for each genre. Her ideas are well thought out and are helping me to benefit more from what I read and not just graze the surface. Even if the only book you want to get more out of is a book of scripture this book will give you more ide...more
1 like · like · see review
Sep 04, 2012
Karen
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Those intersted in educating themselves.
Recommended to Karen by:
Susan Wise Bauer
This is a great book for Adults and High School Students. It is an instruction in how to get the most out of the "Great Books." Several of the chapters are book lists for different genres, as well as short summaries and helps for the great written works. I highly recommend it!!
I have changed my tune just a bit after reading all the chapters...She gets pretty liberal with some of her views...but I think she tries really hard to give you a history of written works without opinion. The problem come...more
I have changed my tune just a bit after reading all the chapters...She gets pretty liberal with some of her views...but I think she tries really hard to give you a history of written works without opinion. The problem come...more
This is a helpful book about how to read classic English & American Literature to educate yourself, as well as lists and descriptions of representative classic works that are suggested reading. The writing is a bit dry and textbook-ish, but not hard to understand. Susan Wise Bauer starts with a few chapters on technique for understanding and evaluating literature. The technique is basically to focus first on understanding what you are reading, then on understand the arguments or points of wh...more
This book is a helpful clever guide to reading, meant to provide those who attempt to read more or less systematically with directions outlining the approach to each of the five genres: novel, autobiography, history and politics, drama, poetry. Philosophy is, surprisingly, omitted, and there is no chapter on the non-fiction in general. The weakest part of the book is on poetry (the chapter on poetry in "How to read slowly" by James W. Sire is much clearer). The most interesting part is the theor...more
A few months ago I was led, through some means or other, to the website of the college Moira attended, St John's. Basically it's this tiny university where they basically just learn everything from books. They read the primary sources and then, I guess, they discuss them, and learn stuff. For four years! Sounds like heaven to me.
The thing about tertiary education in Australia is that it's accessible to the vast majority of people because the fees are heavily subsidised by the government. The res...more
The thing about tertiary education in Australia is that it's accessible to the vast majority of people because the fees are heavily subsidised by the government. The res...more
6 likes · like · see review
I am finally done reading this book. That is not to imply this has been a long and arduous read. This book has simply been a journey of self-education taken in small steps. I fail to recall much in the way of education in the classics from my youth. I am attempting to remedy that.
I believe this will be a life-long journey. I intend to follow some of Bauer's suggestions, as laid down in TWEM. But not all of them. For instance, I intend to read in a chronological fashion, rather than focus on gen...more
I believe this will be a life-long journey. I intend to follow some of Bauer's suggestions, as laid down in TWEM. But not all of them. For instance, I intend to read in a chronological fashion, rather than focus on gen...more
I've been reading this book for a few years now and it's going to be several more before I finish it, if I ever do. This is a great book for those who want to get a little more out of their reading and are looking for a way to dig deeper. This book takes several different genre's and suggests reading material chronologically that she feels best encapsulates the writing of that period and the overall feelings during a particular era. She makes no attempt to pretend that this is a comprehensive li...more
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From the author's website:
Publications
Susan’s most recent book for Norton, The History of the Medieval World: From the Conversion of Constantine to the First Crusade (2010) is the second in a four-volume series providing a narrative world history; the first volume, The History of the Ancient World: From the Earliest Accounts to the Fall of Rome, was published in 2007. Her previous books include th...more
More about Susan Wise Bauer...
Publications
Susan’s most recent book for Norton, The History of the Medieval World: From the Conversion of Constantine to the First Crusade (2010) is the second in a four-volume series providing a narrative world history; the first volume, The History of the Ancient World: From the Earliest Accounts to the Fall of Rome, was published in 2007. Her previous books include th...more
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