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Fifty Great Essays
One Hundred Great Essays provides that number of the most exemplary and rewarding selections available in the English language. The anthology combines classic essays of great instructional value together with the most frequently anthologized essays of recent note by today's most highly regarded writers. The selections exhibit a broad range of diversity in subject matter and authorship. All essays have been selected for their utility as both models for writing and for their usefulness as springboards for independent writing. An introductory section informs readers about the qualities of the essay form and offers instruction on how to read essays critically and use the writing process to develop their own essays. For those interested in learning about reading, writing and critical thinking by studying examples of great writing.
432 pages, Paperback
First published December 18, 2001
12 people are currently reading
75 people want to read
About the author
Robert DiYanni
124 books16 followersRobert DiYanni is an adjunct professor of humanities and an instructional consultant at the Center for the Advancement of Teaching at New York University. In these capacities he teaches courses on critical thinking, interdisciplinary humanities, commerce and culture, and business and its publics, and conducts workshops and consultations with faculty throughout the university on aspects of pedagogical practice. Before coming to NYU, Dr. DiYanni taught at Queens College and Pace University and as a visiting professor at Harvard. He also served, for ten years, as Director of International Services at The College Board.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
September 19, 2012
High-quality work, spanning more than two centuries. Both nourishing and satisfying to the brain.
December 2, 2012
The book Fifty Great Essays is filled with interesting passages that author Robert DiYanni deems are "great". Most of the essays in the book were exciting, but during a few of them I got bored after the first few paragraphs. Even though some of the passages didn't have interesting story lines, all of them contained great grammar and organization. I believe this book is great for a person who has to write a lot because it will help the reader get an idea of what is a good essay and what is not.
My most favorite essay in the book is "Toys" by Roland Barthes. The selection's overall theme is that "All the toys one commonly sees are essentially a microcosm of the adult world." (Diyanni 59). For example, operating theaters for dolls replicate the practice of medicine and Martian toys are science. My second favorite essay is "Cat People vs Dog People" by Laura Miller. In this essay, Laura contrasts the personalities and behaviors of people who own cats and people who own dogs. In the end, Laura thinks " The canine contingent has the edge." (231).
The two most powerful essays in the book were "The Gettysburg Address" and "Letter from Birmingham Jail". Even though I knew the gists of these essays before I read them, I had never realized how important and beneficial they were to history. Abraham's famous "Four score and seven years ago," (215) speech was very well written, he took the time to make each sentence as perfect as possible. In Martin Luther King Jr.'s letter to the clergymen, he says, "We have not made a single gain in civil rights without determined legal and nonviolent pressure." (195). I would like to commend Robert DiYanni for including these two selections in his book because they truly are great.
I definitely would recommend this book to a friend because even if they don't like books like this, they will still benefit from reading it. Also, Robert DiYanni's experience as an English professor has helped him make sure that the selections he has chosen will help readers understand what a good essay is. If you do read this book, be sure to read "Why I Went to the Woods", "Cyclops", and "How to Tame a Wild Tongue".
My most favorite essay in the book is "Toys" by Roland Barthes. The selection's overall theme is that "All the toys one commonly sees are essentially a microcosm of the adult world." (Diyanni 59). For example, operating theaters for dolls replicate the practice of medicine and Martian toys are science. My second favorite essay is "Cat People vs Dog People" by Laura Miller. In this essay, Laura contrasts the personalities and behaviors of people who own cats and people who own dogs. In the end, Laura thinks " The canine contingent has the edge." (231).
The two most powerful essays in the book were "The Gettysburg Address" and "Letter from Birmingham Jail". Even though I knew the gists of these essays before I read them, I had never realized how important and beneficial they were to history. Abraham's famous "Four score and seven years ago," (215) speech was very well written, he took the time to make each sentence as perfect as possible. In Martin Luther King Jr.'s letter to the clergymen, he says, "We have not made a single gain in civil rights without determined legal and nonviolent pressure." (195). I would like to commend Robert DiYanni for including these two selections in his book because they truly are great.
I definitely would recommend this book to a friend because even if they don't like books like this, they will still benefit from reading it. Also, Robert DiYanni's experience as an English professor has helped him make sure that the selections he has chosen will help readers understand what a good essay is. If you do read this book, be sure to read "Why I Went to the Woods", "Cyclops", and "How to Tame a Wild Tongue".
January 23, 2013
Fifty Great Essays seemed to me like something that wouldn't interest me, and it doesn't, but it is still benefitting to me because it takes essays that DiYanni thinks are some of the greatest and explains what is so great about them. These include essays such as the Gettysburg Address, Arriving at Perfection by Ben Franklin, among many others.
The purpose of the author, I suppose, is, considering the fact that he is an English professor, to help show what makes great essays great and talk about how they can help improve one's writing using organizational skills, assertions, and etc. I believe that he was successful at this, because it helped you understand the makeup of an essay and how it is put together. "She focuses her essay on three books, which are summarized and commented on...compared and contrasted" (Diyanni 226).
The author has also done a few other books, including 100 Greatest Essays, which is the same but broadens the number of essays. He has also written several literature textbooks. This helps with a background on how he can tell what a good essay looks like.
Fifty Greatest Essays isn't your bedtime fantasy read, but it is a guide to help you with writing from a writer who knows what he is talking about.
The purpose of the author, I suppose, is, considering the fact that he is an English professor, to help show what makes great essays great and talk about how they can help improve one's writing using organizational skills, assertions, and etc. I believe that he was successful at this, because it helped you understand the makeup of an essay and how it is put together. "She focuses her essay on three books, which are summarized and commented on...compared and contrasted" (Diyanni 226).
The author has also done a few other books, including 100 Greatest Essays, which is the same but broadens the number of essays. He has also written several literature textbooks. This helps with a background on how he can tell what a good essay looks like.
Fifty Greatest Essays isn't your bedtime fantasy read, but it is a guide to help you with writing from a writer who knows what he is talking about.
September 26, 2012
Fifty Great Essays is an interesting read that has the potential to educate you, to polarize you, or bore you to death. It's an anthology that attempts to capture the best of the essay through the years, and has some guided reading challenges to make you a better writer along the way.
This book excels at offering something for everyone. Ethnic tension and the animal kingdom are some of the most common themes, but whatever your preferences may be, you'll find something you like. Unfortunately, you'll probably find something you'll be tempted to skip, as well. Also, some of the essays are common ones you've probably seen before if you're actually interested in a book called Fifty Great Essays, such as "The Gettysburg Address" and "Natural Selection".
In the end, whether you you should read this book depends on what you want out of it. If you're new to the genre, like I was, this is a good starting point. It will help improve you as a writer, and you'll pick up some quotable quotes("Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere"Martin Luther King Jr. as quoted by Robert Diyanni). If you're more well read in this field, you might not glean as much.
This book excels at offering something for everyone. Ethnic tension and the animal kingdom are some of the most common themes, but whatever your preferences may be, you'll find something you like. Unfortunately, you'll probably find something you'll be tempted to skip, as well. Also, some of the essays are common ones you've probably seen before if you're actually interested in a book called Fifty Great Essays, such as "The Gettysburg Address" and "Natural Selection".
In the end, whether you you should read this book depends on what you want out of it. If you're new to the genre, like I was, this is a good starting point. It will help improve you as a writer, and you'll pick up some quotable quotes("Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere"Martin Luther King Jr. as quoted by Robert Diyanni). If you're more well read in this field, you might not glean as much.
July 14, 2015
great collection
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews