Tyler Cowen – Learning, History, and Investing in Ideas

Originally published in 1940 and revised in 1972, this book is a classic guide to intelligent reading. It describes the art of reading as the process by which a mind elevates itself through its own operations on the symbols of readable matter. The authors emphasize active reading, highlighting the importance of keen observation, available memory, range of imagination, and an intellect trained in analysis and reflection. The book provides practical lessons on how to read books effectively, including inspectional reading, analytical reading, and syntopical reading, to achieve a deeper understanding of the material.

In 'The Western Canon: The Books and School of the Ages', Harold Bloom defends the concept of the Western literary canon by discussing 26 writers whom he considers central to it. Bloom argues against what he terms the 'school of resentment', which includes feminist, Marxist, and post-structuralist literary criticisms that he believes threaten the aesthetic values of literature. He emphasizes the importance of originality and the 'anxiety of influence' in literary works, with a particular focus on the impact of Shakespeare on subsequent literature. The book is divided into sections that trace the development of the Western canon through different ages, from the Theocratic Age to the Chaotic Age of the 20th century.