I don't really have a system for picking books myself I'm very much. One source of information is seeing what imprint is published a certain publisher so if new directions or New York review books have brought out a volume you know possibly in what kind of book this might be. The offerings out there are so rich that you can really find many things just at the extremes. You need to take a chance and pick up something that hasn't been shoved down your throat haven't been recommended in 15 different publications.
Michael Orthofer, one of the world’s most prolific book reviewers, joins Tyler Cowen for a conversation on — what else? — books. Read to discover why Michael believes everyone should read more fiction, how we should choose books, why American popular literature is overrated, what he thinks about authors like Herman Melville, Fyoder Dostoevsky, Goethe, J.K. Rowling, Arno Schmidt, and many others, his recommendations for the best sites for readers, why studying literature at college was such a big disappointment, how much book covers matter, and why his opinion will never be the final word.
Check out the reader Q&A here and the Strand shopping video here.
Read a full transcript enhanced with helpful links.
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