Bet you catch rainwater in your nose, every time it rains. Seriously, come ON; you know “most people” have not read the books on your list. I’m not criticizing your list. I am more well read than the average American, but I have only read a few from your list. I’m working on it, but I don’t move in academic circles, and it is frustrating to read great literature, and have no one to talk with about it. I enjoy reading; it is one of life’s greatest pleasures, but I can enjoy light reading, almost more than serious reading. Reading about ideas certainly does educate a person, but reading about happenings is fun. I would be hard pressed to condense a twentieth century “must read” list down to twenty-five books. Most books popular with the general public would not make a serious list. One book that is almost too marvelous to behold, is Daniel J. Boorstin’s, “ The Discoverers: A History Of Man’s Search To Know His World And Himself”. What a grasp of the magnificent, this man had!
I will order Boorstin’s book. Thanks.
Just ordered “The Discovers.” Thanks for your post.