My List Of The 25 Landmarks Of World Literature

[goldstategop]

1. Iliad
2. Odyssey
3. Bible
4. Dialogues Of Plato
5. Ethics Aristotle
6. Politics Aristotle
7. Voyage Of Argo Apolonius Of Rhodes
8. Metamorphoses Ovid
9. Aeneid Virgil
10. City Of God Augustine
11. Summa Theologica Thomas
12. Divine Comedy Dante
13. Decameron Boccacio
14. Essays Montaigne
15. Don Quixote Cervantes
16. Complete Works Shakespeare
17. Pensees Pascal
18. Wealth Of Nations Smith
19. Federalist Hamilton
20. Communist Manifesto Marx and Engels
21. Les Miserables Hugo
22. War And Peace Tolstoy
23. Ulysses Joyce
24. In Search Of Lost Time Proust
25. Lord Of The Rings Tolkien

[Loud Mime]

Federalist Hamilton - - not Madison and Jay?

[Loud Mime]

I agree with Montesquieu...

[deadrock]

I will order Boorstin’s book. Thanks.

[Flaming Conservative]

You’re welcome. Enjoy.

[NonValueAdded]

If your objective is to list works that shaped the Western World, then you must include Two Treatises of Government by Locke.

And how does Lord of the Rings fit into that list?

[NonValueAdded]

See also Founding Father Influences, since the Founding Fathers shaped the modern Western World.

[exDemMom]

And no Shakespeare, no Hamlet?

16. Complete Works Shakespeare

[exDemMom]

Thank you. I’ve known of true believers, but I never knew there was an entire book dedicated to exploring the phenomenon/psychology of them.

I will have to read the book. Right now, I sense that the left is becoming increasingly ugly, and that they are a short step away from descending into bloodshed, with many deaths. We must fight them, but (arguably even more important) we must understand them.

[iowamark]

[MV=PY]

Just ordered “The Discovers.” Thanks for your post.

[exDemMom]

Lord of the Rings belongs on that list because its author was very wise and wove his understanding of the world into the context of a fantasy. For example:

"And yet less thanks have we than you. Travellers scowl at us, and countrymen give us scornful names. 'Strider' I am to one fat man who lives within a day's march of foes that would freeze his heart or lay his little town in ruin, if he were not guarded ceaselessly. Yet we would not have it otherwise. If simple folk are free from care and fear, simple they will be, and we must be kept secret to keep them so."

Consider the current situation of President Trump writing an EO to keep terrorists out of the country, and some blind judges overturn the EO because they feel it's so cruel to refugees. Does this quote not capture the thinking of both President Trump (represented by Strider) and the judges (represented by the fat man)?

JRR Tolkien's formative experiences occurred on the battlefields of WWI, and that is reflected in every volume of LOTR. Perhaps fantasy isn't your thing, but just be aware that lifelong fans of LOTR do not regard it as mere escapism. The books hold keen observations about the forces that shape human events and societies. I first read the series when I was 15, and I reread it about every 5 years; each time, I find some new insight hidden within its pages. I think that I will never run out of new discoveries in LOTR.

[exDemMom]

Ah, the Bobbsey Twins! Those had great impact on me when I was about six years old. Those books, and Dr. Seuss, have had lifelong impacts on me.

You are correct: we cannot forget children's literature. It might seem simplistic to adults, but the good children's books have lasting impact.

For slightly older children: Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel. :)

[outofsalt]

"You and your sons received a fine education in the liberal arts!"

Would you like fries with that?

[exDemMom]

I’ve only read about four books (or collections) on that list.

I would put others there...

[Popman]

Almost every one has read them.

Typo ?

Half the country can't even read the titles of the books, let alone the actual book itself.

[outofsalt]

"I will have to read the book. Right now, I sense that the left is becoming increasingly ugly, and that they are a short step away from descending into bloodshed, with many deaths. We must fight them, but (arguably even more important) we must understand them."

The Art of War ~Sun Tsu

[reed13k]

It’s a good list but western centric some of these should be included:
- Confucius The Analects
- Sun Tsu The Art of War
- Rashomon
- Genji Monogatori

A few others but those are biggies.

[reed13k]

Also I’d really lace your 24 with A Tale of Two Cities.

[LambSlave]

This is a great list; disagree with the Communist Manifesto— i think it is utter prattle. Seems like Newton’s Philosophiæ Naturalis Principia Mathematica should be on there, and something from Franz Kafka and C.S. Lewis; but then what to take off?

[fella]

Literary works influencing modern culture should now include politically correct comic books.