The Top 10 Books I Read in 2008

These are the best books I read this year: 10. Odd Thomas by Dean Koontz - Fantastic thriller 9. Freak the Mighty by Rodman Philbrick - Great for junior high students 8. Five Pillars of the Spiritual Life by Fr. Robert Spitzer - Grow spiritually in the midst of a busy life 7. What's So Great About Christianity by Dinesh D'Souza - Explains Christianity to modern skeptics 6. Praying the Word: An Introduction to Lectio Divina by Enzo Bianchi - Learn how to pray with the Bible using this small but powerful book 5. Journal of a Soul: The Autobiography of Pope John XXIII - Absolutely beautiful 4. Jesus of Nazareth by Pope Benedict XVI - So good I read it twice 3. Peace of Soul by Archbishop Fulton Sheen - Eminently practical and helpful 2. Abandonment to Divine Providence by Jean Pierre de Caussade - a true classic; read it to discover God's will for you 1. Healing the Culture by Fr. Robert Spitzer - Required reading for everyone who cares about our culture: Read this book and your life will change.

Chronological Middle-earth Reading List

If you've ever wanted to read Tolkien's Middle-earth writings in chronological order, you might want to check out the Chronological Middle-earth Reading List. It's available in Word or pdf format.

The Greatest Science Fiction Novel of All Time?

I've been playing around with StumbleUpon, and I came across The Modern Library's List of 100 Best Novels. There are two lists, actually. The first was created by the Board of The Modern Library, and the second compiles the results of their readers' poll. What first struck me is how at odds the Board seems to be with the readers. Take a look at the first five positions, with the Board's choice listed first, the readers' choice second: Ulysses by James Joyce vs. Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald vs. The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man by James Joyce vs. Battlefield Earth by L. Ron Hubbard Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov vs. Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien Brave New World by Aldous Huxley vs. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee Did you notice item number three on the readers' list? I had to do a double-take when I saw Battlefield Earth there. Now, I first read Battlefield Earth when it was originally published, sometime in the mid-1980s I believe, and I have to admit I loved it. At the time I was in my late teens and I knew nothing about Scientology or Dianetics. I just enjoyed the rip-roaring space-opera action. It's still a guilty pleasure of mine, but the third best novel ever written? I don't think so. It's certainly not the greatest science fiction novel ever written. It's not even the greatest space-opera science fiction novel of the last twenty-five years (Ender's Game is a greater novel, in my opinion, and there are many others.). It looks to me like someone stuffed the ballots, especially when you consider that two more of Hubbard's books made the list. Still, for those of you who only know of Battlefield Earth from John Travolta's travesty of a movie (which I still refuse to watch--ever), give the book a chance if you're looking for a fun, action-packed sci-fi shoot-em-up for the summer. It's one of those feel-good, Rocky-type stories. But back to the lists. One thing I've come to understand over the years is that book lists tell you a lot more about the person who made the lists than about the books on the list. I'm sure if you click around this blog and look at all of the lists I've posted you can get a pretty good idea of what kind of person I am. If we happen to have a lot in common, then my lists might be useful to you. If we don't have much in common, you probably won't find much to your liking. Still, I do love lists. I love reading them and I love creating them. And I love arguing about other peoples' lists. :-)

Camelot - 'Tis a Silly Place

My boys and I watched Monty Python and the Holy Grail a few days ago and that got me thinking about Arthurian novels. Here are a few of my favorites: The Once and Future King by T.H. White - A terrific book, but unfortunately I can't get the Disney movie The Sword in the Stone out of my head when I read the first part. The Crystal Cave, The Hollow Hills, The Last Enchantment, and The Wicked Day by Mary Stewart - This was my first introduction to the Arthurian saga back when I was in high school. I loved it. Le Morte D'Arthur by Sir Thomas Malory - I like this particular prose version by Keith Baines Sir Gawain and the Green Knight translated by J.R.R. Tolkien - One of Tolkien's many contributions to medieval studies And here are a few I haven't read but that I want to someday: Idylls of the King - Alfred, Lord Tennyson Arthurian Romances - Chretien de Troyes Parzival by Wolfram Von Eschenbach The Quest of the Holy Grail And here's a bonus: Lego Monty Python!

The 15 Greatest Movies with Novels as Source Material

Not only are these great movies, but the novels on which they are based are classics, too. If you're in a reading group, why not read the book, then watch the movie? I only chose novels, no non-fiction (i.e., A Beautiful Mind) or drama (i.e., Much Ado About Nothing). Movies are listed alphabetically. Ben-Hur - Novel by Lew Wallace The Bridge on the River Kwai - Novel by Pierre Boulle Field of Dreams - Based on Shoeless Joe by W.P. Kinsella The Godfather - Novel by Mario Puzo Gone with the Wind - Novel by Margaret Mitchell The Grapes of Wrath - Novel by John Steinbeck The Lord of the Rings - Novel by J.R.R. Tolkien The Maltese Falcon - Novel by Dashiell Hammet Master and Commander - Novel by Patrick O'Brian The Natural - Novel by Bernard Malamud A Room with a View - Novel by E.M. Forster The Searchers - Novel by Alan Lemay Shane - Novel by Jack Schaefer To Kill a Mockingbird - Novel by Harper Lee 2001: A Space Odyssey - Novel by Arthur C. Clarke What are your favorite movies based on novels? Leave a comment and let me know. Related posts: The Best Old Movies for Families

Literary Testosterone - 30 Must-Read Classics for Teenage Boys

This is a follow-up to Maureen's question about recommendations for 12 and 13 year-old boys. Without getting into a big discussion about gender stereotyping, let me just say that in general boys at this age tend to read books that are more action and adventure oriented, while girls enjoy reading more about relationships. Case in point: I teach The Hobbit and Les Miserables to my eighth graders each year. Both boys and girls love these books. But when I look at the few students who didn't like them, I have more girls who didn't like The Hobbit, and more boys who didn't like Les Miserables. The books I'm about to recommend for boys are also great for girls to read, and there are many books not listed here that boys would like. I think boys should read Jane Austen, Charlotte Bronte and Louisa May Alcott, but I don't think most boys would pick these books up on their own. The following books are titles and authors that I think most boys would enjoy, and that contain themes that are valuable for teen and pre-teen boys to think about. Fantasy/Horror Anything by Ray Bradbury: I think of Ray Bradbury as a modern-day Edgar Allen Poe, and his books are perfect for teenage boys. There's always something to talk about after reading Ray Bradbury. Something Wicked This Way Comes - Every boy should read this book, and every father, too. It can be frightening, but it is well worth reading. Dandelion Wine - Scary, funny and tender. The Martian Chronicles - Great sci-fi. Fahrenheit 451 - Perfect for talking about the value of books and reading. The Illustrated Man - Thought-provoking stories. Tarzan of the Apes by Edgar Rice Burroughs - Along with Treasure Island, probably the perfect action/adventure story. The Belgariad by David Eddings - Lord of the Rings lite; lots of fairly innocent fun; not much depth, but a good read. Animal Farm by George Orwell - An excellent introduction to talking about political systems. The Once and Future King by T.H. White - Classic story of King Arthur. The Book of the Dun Cow by Walter Wangerin, Jr. - This book is a hidden gem--important spiritual themes, connections to Chaucer and the middle ages. I once had the opportunity to interview the author with my eighth graders after we finished studying it - they loved the interview and the book. Don't miss it. Science Fiction Flatland by Edwin Abbott - A brief fairytale-ish book that explores mathematical concepts like the fourth dimension. Fun and educational. The Foundation Series by Isaac Asimov - A sort of Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire set in space; great plot twists. A true classic of the genre and very accessible to teens. The first book in the series is Foundation. The Caves of Steel by Isaac Asimov - A great murder mystery set in the future. Combines elements of science fiction and classic mystery stories into one. Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card - I hesitated to put this on the list because it contains some profanity and a few disturbing elements, but every single student of mine who has read this has loved it. Without exception. Read this with your kids so you can talk about it with them. The Lost World by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle - Before Michael Crichton's version, the author of Sherlock Holmes had already written about a lost island of dinosaurs. Time and Again by Jack Finney - A terrific time travel story; the amount of historical detail in this book is mind-boggling. Part mystery, part romance, part sci-fi, it really defies categories. Historical The Killer Angels by Michael Shaara - Pulitzer winning novel of the battle of Gettysburg; would be great to read in conjunction with an American History class. After they finish, show them the movie Gettysburg. The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas - Look up swashbuckle in the dictionary and you'll find this book. Young readers may need help understanding church politics. Mr. Midshipman Easy by Captain Frederick Marryat - a great precursor to Forester's Hornblower series or Patrick O'Brian's Master and Commander series. Fun and easy to read. Ivanhoe by Sir Walter Scott - Classic medieval adventure. Mysteries The Father Brown stories by G. K. Chesterton - The gentle, intelligent Father Brown makes a great role model for boys, and gives them a healthy portrayal of a priest. Anything by Agatha Christie - Her books are continual favorites of my students, especially the novels featuring Hercule Poirot. Make sure they read Curtain (but only after reading four or five other Hercule Poirot mysteries first). The Brother Cadfael series by Ellis Peters - Brother Cadfael is a monk in the thirteenth century who always seems to end up in the middle of murder investigations. The first book is A Morbid Taste for Bones. Assorted other titles: Captains Courageous by Rudyard Kipling - Terrific coming of age story set at sea. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee - Explores many issues, but one key issue is the definition of courage. The Ox-bow Incident by Walter Van Tilburg Clark - Not only a great Western, but an insightful exploration of justice and vigilantism. Perfect for discussing over the dinner table. Hondo - Every boy should read at least one Louis L'Amour novel in his life, and Hondo is one of the best. Shane by Jack Schaefer- The all-time greatest Western ever written (in my humble opinion). Another must-read for pre-teen or teenage boys. Hiroshima by John Hersey - A nonfiction account of survivors of the atom bomb dropped on Hiroshima. This can be a frightening book for young readers, so use your own judgement. All Creatures Great and Small by James Herriot - Nonfiction account of a rural veterinarian; another perfect book for boys. For more titles for both boys and girls download my Books to Be Tasted Junior High Reading List. You may need to sign up at FreeIQ to download it, but the account is free. Also, I'm currently developing a summer reading group for junior high and high school students and their families that I plan to launch in the next week or two. Stay tuned.

Books to Be Tasted - A Reading List for Junior High Students

I just posted my eighth grade reading list at FreeIQ for those of you who are teachers or who might have teenagers. The list contains over 300 titles of various levels that have been compiled during my last sixteen years as a teacher. I hope you find it helpful.

101 Essential Web Sites for Readers of Literature

(Updated May5, 2007) You've heard the saying, "So many books, so little time." It's also true of book resources on the internet: "So many websites, so little time." To help you navigate through them all I've put together this list of essential web resources for readers. This list reflects my own tastes, so no doubt I've left some of your favorites off the list, or put some on that you find fault with. Leave a comment and tell me where I've done you wrong, or tell me about your favorite book sites. And please let me know if you have any problems with the links. Be sure to bookmark this page so that you can find these websites quickly and easily. Audio Books 1. Librivox - Audiobooks. Unabridged. Free. Need I say more? 2. Recorded Books - My favorite source for audio books. Top quality narrators. 3. Naxos Audio Books - Another great source audio books, especially the classics. 4. Audible.com - I love the fact that you can listen before you buy. 5. Ejunto - Free historical and philosophical audio books; Plato, Lincoln, Pascal and others. 6. The Poetry Archive - Recordings of famous poets reading and discussing their poems. Fabulous! Blogs 7. Arts and Letters Daily - Comprehensive and engaging 8. Bibliophilic - Personal reflections on reading, writing and publishing - one of my favorites 9. Brit Lit Blogs - A collection of British literary blogs 10. Classical Bookworm - Another favorite of mine; beautifully designed, excellent content 11. Claw of the Conciliator - Science fiction and faith 12. Kimbooktu - Where I always go to find out the latest book gadgets 13. A Life in Books - Personal reflections on being a book lover 14. Metacritic.com: Books - A roundup of critical opinion on new books 15. New York Review of Books 16. New York Times Book Review 17. People of the Book - Publishing from Catholic perspective 18. Powell's Books - An overview of new books from Powell's bookstore 19. A Reader's Journal - She's never met a reading challenge she didn't like... 20. Reading Matters - Book reviews by a Australian journalist living in London 21. So Many Books - "The agony and ecstacy of a reading life." 22. Liam's Pictures from Old Books - Some great scanned images Booksellers 23. Amazon.com 24. Abebooks - My favorite used book site 25. Alibris - Another great source for used books 26. Barnes and Noble 27. Powell's Books - A HUGE brick and mortar store with a great online presence 28. Booksense - A large group of independent booksellers 29. Auntie's Bookstore - My favorite local bookstore; be sure to visit it if you are ever in Spokane Children's Literature/Teaching/Homeschooling 30. SCORE Cyberguides - This is a great site for enriching a student's reading experience 31. Glencoe Study Guides - Study guides in .pdf format for many different titles 32. Children's Literature Web Guide - A comprehensive website for teaching children's lit 33. Reading Aloud to Children 34. Linda's Links to Literature - General resources for teaching literature Genre Fiction 35. Recommended Fantasy Author List - Annotated list of fantasy authors; one of my favorite sites 36. Refracted Light: A Christian Perspective on Fantasy - Excellent reviews, helpful rating system 37. Fantastic Fiction - Information on 10,000 authors and 200,000 books 38. Encyclopedia of Arda - The best Middle-earth encyclopedia on the web 39. Ultimate Science Fiction Web Guide - Not very pretty, but extremely thorough 40. Adherents.com: Religion in Science Fiction - Fascinating list of the presence of religion in sci-fi 41. Course Materials for the Study of Science Fiction - College-level study materials 42. John's Nautical Literature Page - For fans of Patrick O'Brian or C.S. Forester (like me) How to Read Well 43. Radical Academy's Mortimer Adler Archive - Don't miss this site if you love reading and philosophy 44. The Great Books Foundation - Teaches the Shared Inquiry method of discussing books, based on Adler's work 45. Northwest Great Books Foundation - Be sure to check out the Leader Resources *Bonus: ROMAN Reading: 5 Practical Skills for Transforming Your Life through Literature, my free eBook Libraries 46. The Library of Congress 47. The British Library Miscellaneous 48. Today in Literature - Daily stories of literary events and people; great for teachers or homeschoolers 49. Book Crossing - Share your books with the world and find out whose reading them 50. Fictional Cities - This is a must-see for book lovers who travel to Venice, Rome or London Online Books/ebooks 51. Project Gutenberg - One of the foundational sites of the Internet, in my opinion 52. Prepare a Gutenberg Text for eReading - Easy-to-use directions from Lifehacker 53. Christian Classics Ethereal Library - Premiere source of public domain Christian texts 54. Online Books Page - A searchable catalog of online books to be found on the web 55. Google Books - Scans of complete books and lengthy previews of others 56. Wikibooks - Open-content textbooks in every area; great potential here 57. Bartleby - Another great source of etexts, especially quotations 58. The Wondering Minstrels Online Poetry Anthology - Easiest-to-use poetry archive on the web 59. Rare Book Room - Awesome scans of rare books; check out Euclid and Newton 60. Anthology of Middle English Literature - Texts and background information 61. HTI American Verse Project - Well organized American poetry database * Bonus site: The Baldwin Project - Online children's literature Organizing Books 62. Librarything - If you don't have librarything you don't have anything Palm/PDA Books 63. Manybooks - Free ebooks for handhelds 64. Memoware - Another database of free ebooks 65. Palm Pilot eTexts for Catholics Podcasts 66. NPR: Books - High quality news, reviews and interviews (Subscribe) 67. NPR: A Way with Words - One of my favorites; dont' miss the quizzicist! (Subscribe) 68. SimonSays Podcast - Simon & Schuster's podcast (Subscribe) 69. Amazon Bookclips - Audiobook previews (Subscribe) 70. Barnes and Noble Meet the Writers - Entertaining author interviews (Subscribe) 71. The BookShow: ABC Radio International - Australian book talk (Subscribe) 72. KCRW Bookworm - Author interviews from KCRW in Santa Monica, CA (Subscribe) 73. Maria Lectrix - Public domain audiobooks read to you each day (Subscribe) Reading Groups/Communities 74. Habitual Reader - A comfortable, friendly online fiction book community 75. Book and Reader Forum 76. The Great Conversation Yahoo! Group - Following the Britannica Great Books reading plan 77. More Great Conversation Yahoo! Group - A complement to Britannica's list, featuring mostly Asian and other Eastern literature Reading Group Resources 78. Book Clubs Resource - Comprehensive information on reading groups 79. Penguin Groups Reading Guides 80. ReadingGroupGuides.com 81. Modern Library Reading Group Guides 82. Sparknotes Literature Guides 83. Reading Group Choices 84. Bookbrowse.com 85. The Book Group List Reading Lists 86. Robert Teeter's Great Books Lists - All bow before Robert Teeter for this incredible site; don't miss it! 87. Philip Ward's A Lifetime's Reading - A 50-year reading plan! Start young or live long 88. Great Books Ten Year Reading Plan - Britannica's suggested reading plan 89. Whichbook.net - A fun way to find what to read next 90. Center for the Study of Great Ideas - Mortimer Adler's legacy 91. Alan Nicoll's Great Books of the Western World - Companion site to the ten year reading plan 92. Essential Baseball Library - Why is it that baseball is the only sport with a consistent history of great literature and film? Reference 93. Online Etymology Dictionary - Got a question about the origin of a word? Get your answer here. 94. Encyclopedia Mythica - Mythology, folklore and religion 95. Malaspina Great Books 96. Start of the Hero's Journey - Explore this archetypal literary structure 97. Dictionary.com 98. Oxford English Dictionary 99. Book Rags Fun 100. Bookworm - A highly addictive online word game (don't go here unless you have time to kill) 101. Crossword Links Bonus Links ROMAN Reading: 5 Practical Skills for Transforming Your Life through Literature, my free eBook www.ROMANReading.com, the companion web site Nick's Summary of Great Books Lists: Introduction, Part I, Part II Nick's Catholic Classics Reading List: Introduction, Part I, Part II, Part III, Part IV, Part V, Part VI, Part VII, Part VIII Nick's 10 Best Books for New Catholics

9 Short Books That Will Change Your Life Forever

A book doesn't have to be long to have long-reaching effects. Here are 9 books that can profoundly change you, in order from shortest to longest: The Practice of the Presence of God - Brother Lawrence (96 pp.): Brother Lawrence was a humble monk who cooked for the monastery, but found God in the daily chores of his life. This book contains the lessons he learned about experiencing God's presence throughout his entire day. The Rule of St. Benedict (112 pp.): St. Benedict wrote this to regulate the lives of the men with whom he lived in community, but it has since become one of the most practical guides to spirituality in the history of Christendom. The Prologue alone is life-changing. Abandonent to Divine Providence - Jean-Pierre de Caussade (119 pp.): Surrendering to God does not mean losing ourselves in the process. de Caussade's beautiful book should be read slowly and savored deeply. To Know as We are Known - Parker J. Palmer (125 pp.): Palmer's book explores how our motives for learning shape what we learn. If our reason for learning is to gain power or control, then what we learn will only lead to destruction and misery. Should be read by every student and every teacher. Prayer for Beginners - Peter Kreeft (125 pp.): Kreeft's simple primer on prayer can work wonders on a person who is beginning to pray, but can also help give focus to those whose prayer life has become stagnant. Like all Kreeft's works, clear and practical. What Does God Want: A Practicial Guide to Making Decisions - Michael Scanlon (127 pp.): An excellent guide to knowing the right thing to do, no matter how small the decision. Simple to read, profound in its effects. Life and Holiness - Thomas Merton (128 pp.): Merton writes about how our daily work and activities can lead us to holiness. The Journey: A Spiritual Roadmap for Modern Pilgrims - Peter Kreeft (128 pp.): Using a journey as a metaphor, Kreeft introduces us to the main schools of modern thought and explores each of them. The readers meets the Skeptic, the Cynic, the Nihilist, the Materialist, the Relativist, and others. Lying Awake - Mark Salzman (181 pp.): The only novel on the list is a beautiful story of a nun who is a poet and a visionary living outside Los Angeles in the modern day. A realistic yet respectful portrayal of convent life and the struggles and joys of living a life of religious vocation.

10 Famous Irish Authors

In honor of St. Patrick's Day tomorrow, here is a list of 10 Irish authors and their most famous works: Samuel Beckett - Waiting for Godot Oliver Goldsmith - The Vicar of Wakefield Seamus Heaney - Beowulf (as translator) James Joyce - Ulysses George Bernard Shaw - Pygmalion Laurence Sterne - The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman Bram Stoker - Dracula Jonathan Swift - Gulliver's Travels Oscar Wilde - The Picture of Dorian Gray William Butler Yeats - Collected Poems I can't comment on too many of them, since I haven't read most of them, but I will say that I thoroughly enjoyed Tristram Shandy. It's a book you can really savor.

The Great Conversation

I've finished How to Think About the Great Ideas by Mortimer Adler, and am moving on to Herodotus' Histories. I recently joined the Great Conversation discussion group and that's the next title on their list. The Great Conversation is following the ten year reading plan suggested in the first volume of Britannica's Great Books of the Western World. If you're interested in the Great Books you should click on over to The Great Conversation and join in the discussion.

The 10 Best Books for New Catholics

Do you know someone who is joining the Catholic Church this Easter? Maybe you're enrolled in RCIA classes yourself. The following books are what I consider to be the best books for newcomers to the Catholic Church, and would be especially appropriate to read during Lent, as preparation for Easter Vigil (assuming one already has a Bible). With exception of the first two titles, they are not listed in any particular order: The Catechism of the Catholic Church: next to the Bible, probably the most indispensable book for Catholics The Basic Sixteen Documents--Vatican II: An excellent collection of the results of the Second Vatican Council, for those two young to have experienced it, or too far away from the Church to have noticed or cared The Catholic Sourcebook: a great reference book full of tidbits and lists and definitions; helpful for absorbing Catholic culture and tradition (with a small "t") Being Catholic Today by Bert Ghezzi: A terrific survey of what it means to live a Catholic lifestyle, written in an accessible, friendly format; includes reflection and discussion questions, as well as practical action ideas The Words We Pray by Amy Welborn: A beautiful explanation of the origin and meaning of many of our formal prayers, including the Our Father, Hail Mary, Act of Contrition, and the Jesus Prayer; don't miss the chapter on the Liturgy of the Hours The School of Prayer, an Introduction to the Divine Office for All Christians by John Brook: Speaking of the Liturgy of the Hours, this book is the defintive resource for learning how to pray the official office of the Church; okay, it may be a little intimidating for new members of the Church, but I'm sure there are some who would appreciate it, and I can't resist putting in a plug for the Liturgy of the Hours whenever I can The How-To Book of Catholic Devotions by Mike Aquilina and Regis J. Flaherty: A basic primer on Catholic devotions, from morning offerings to offering it up, from novenas to scapulars, from First Fridays to...well, you get the idea Catholic Christianity by Peter Kreeft: Dr. Kreeft does his usual superb job of taking difficult concepts and making them clear and logical; this would be an excellent supplement to the Catechism of the Catholic Church Rediscovering Catholicism by Matthew Kelly: One of the church's most energetic young minds brings a hopeful message to all Catholics Catholic Social Thought: One of the Church's least appreciated heritages is its social justice teaching; this book gives the full text of her most recent documents regarding work, labor, war and peace, poverty, and other social concerns; again, maybe too much for a new Catholic to digest so soon, but essential nonetheless I'd love to hear your comments on these choices, or your suggestions for people preparing to enter the Catholic Church this year.

Video Book Talk: The New Lifetime Reading Plan

I wanted to get one more book talk out before I began a short series of book talks for Lent. Here is a talk about The New Lifetime Reading Plan:

Nick's Summary of Great Books Lists, Part II

Here is part two of Nick’s Summary of Great Books Lists. See this page for a further explanation of where this list came from. [Note: An L indicates that this title is available as a free, unabridged audio download from Librivox.org.] Books that showed up on 7 of 13 lists: Jane Austen - Pride and Prejudice - L1; L2 Geoffrey Chaucer - The Canterbury Tales - L Dante Alighieri - The Divine Comedy - L Edward Gibbon - Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire Plato - Symposium Plutarch - Lives William Shakespeare - Complete Works Murasaki Shikibu - The Tale of Genji Vyasa - Mahabharata Books that showed up on 6 of 13 lists Jane Austen - Emma - L James Boswell - The Life of Samuel Johnson Charles Darwin - The Origin of Species Daniel DeFoe - Robinson Crusoe - L Fyodor Dostoyevski - Crime and Punishment George Eliot - Middlemarch Euripides - Bacchae, Hippolytus Hamilton, Madison, Jay - The Federalist Papers William James - Pragmatism Franz Kafka - The Trial John Locke - Second Treatise on Government Karl Marx and Frederick Engels - The Communist Manifesto - L Herman Melville - Moby Dick Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche - Thus Spake Zarathustra George Orwell - Nineteen Eighty-four Plato - Crito Jean Jacques Rousseau - Confessions Sai Shonagon - The Pillow Book Baruch Spinoza - Ethics Stendhal - The Red and the Black Laurence Sterne - Tristram Shandy Valmiki - The Ramayana Virginia Woolf - To the Lighthouse Cao Xeugin - The Story of the Stone Books that showed up on 5 of 13 lists Aristophanes - The Clouds Samuel Beckett - Waiting for Godot John Bunyan - Pilgrim's Progress - L Albert Camus - The Stranger Anton Chekhov - Uncle Vanya Confucius - The Analects Charles Dickens - Pickwick Papers Desiderius Erasmus - In Praise of Folly Euclid - Elements William Faulkner - The Sound and the Fury Gustave Flaubert - Madame Bovary Sigmund Freud - The Interpretation of Dreams James Joyce - Ulysses Franz Kafka - The Castle Kalidasa - Sakuntala Immanuel Kant - Critique of Pure Reason Lao-Tzu (Laozi) - Tao te Ching (Daodejing) - L Mencius - The Book of Mencius John Milton - Areopagitica Moliere - Tartuffe Vladimir Nabokov - Lolita Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche - Beyond Good and Evil - L Plato - Meno Plotinus - Enneads Marcel Proust - Remembrance of Things Past Sima Qian - Records of the Grand Historian Sophocles - Oedipus at Colonnus Ivan Turgenev - Fathers and Sons Adam Smith - Wealth of Nations Tacitus - Annals St. Thomas Aquinas - Summa Theologica Henry David Thoreau - Walden - L Alexis de Tocqueville - Democracy in America

Nick's Summary of Great Books, Part I

Here is part one of Nick’s Summary of Great Books. See this page for a further explanation of where this list came from. [Note: An L indicates that this title is available as a free, unabridged audio download from Librivox.org.] Books that showed up on 13 of 13 lists: Thucydides - History of the Peloponnesian War - L Books that showed up on 12 of 13 lists Miguel de Cervantes — Don Quixote Herodotus - The Histories Homer - The Iliad Michel de Montaigne - Complete Essays Books that showed up on 11 of 13 lists Lucretius - Of the Nature of the Universe Rabelais - Gargantua and Pantagruel Virgil - The Aeneid Books that showed up on 10 of 13 lists St. Augustine — Confessions Homer - The Odyssey Machiavelli - The Prince - L Jonathan Swift - Gulliver's Travels Books that showed up on 9 of 13 lists: Aeschylus - The Oresteia Aristotle - Nichomachean Ethics Rene Descartes - Discourse on Method - L Johann Wolfgang von Goethe - Faust Leo Tolstoy - War and Peace Voltaire - Candide Books that showed up on 8 of 13 lists: Aristotle - Poetics - L Marcus Aurelius - Meditations Fyodor Dostoyevski - The Brothers Karamazov Henry Fielding - Tom Jones Thomas Hobbes - Leviathan John Stuart Mill - On Liberty John Milton - Paradise Lost Blaise Pascal - Pensees Plato - Republic Sophocles - Oedipus Rex, Antigone Mark Twain - The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn - L

Nick's Summary of Great Books Lists - Introduction

What I intend to do now is post the original list of great books I compiled from thirteen "greatest books" lists. You can read some of the background to this list in this post, which introduces my Catholic Classics list. Here are the thirteen lists used in the summary: Mortimer Adler - from How to Read a Book Thomas Aquinas College Reading List Harold Bloom - The Western Canon Columbia Reading List Cilfton Fadiman - The New Lifetime Reading Plan Martin Seymour-Smith - 100 Most Influential Books Ever Written St. John's College Reading List De Bary and Bloom - Approaches to the Asian Classics Barbara Stoler Miller - Masterworks of Asian Literature Kenneth Rexroth - Classics Revisited Philip Ward - A Lifetime's Reading: The World's 500 Greatest Books Anthony Burgess - 99 Novels: The Best in English Since 1939 Kenneth Funsten - 100 Books for the Modern Person I hope this list is helpful for those of you who are looking for great books to read. The next post will consist of part one of this list.

Nick's Catholic Classics Reading List, Part VIII

Here (finally!) is part eight of Nick’s Catholic Classics Reading List. See this page for a further explanation of where this list came from. Books that showed up on 1 of 16 lists, authors N-Z: John Henry Cardinal Newman — The Dream of Gerontius Ludwig Ott — Fundamentals of Catholic Dogma Fulton Oursler — The Greatest Story Ever Told Walker Percy — Love in the Ruins Walker Percy — The Second Coming Bonaventure Perquin — Abba Father Josef Pieper — The Four Cardinal Virtues Augustin Poulain — The Graces of Interior Prayer Pierre Pourrat — Christian Spirituality Ferdinand Prat — Theology of St. Paul Ferdinand Prat — Jesus Christ: His Life, His Teaching, and His Works Ottokar Prohaszka — Meditations on the Gospels Prudentius — Poems Prudentius — Hymns Giuseppe Ricciotti — The Life of Jesus Christ Giuseppe Ricciotti — The History of Israel Giuseppe Ricciotti — Paul the Apostle Giuseppe Ricciotti — The Age of Martyrs: Christianity from Diocletian to Constantine Charles E. Rice — 50 Questions on the Natural Law Peter T. Rohrbach — Conversation with Christ Matthias Joseph Scheeben — The Mysteries of Christianity Matthias Joseph Scheeben — Mariology Lorenzo Scupoli — Spiritual Combat A. G. Sertillanges — The Intellectual Life Francis Joseph Sheed — Communism and Man Francis Joseph Sheed — The Church and I Francis Joseph Sheed — Marriage and the Family Fulton Sheen — Treasure in Clay: The Autobiography of Fulton Sheen Fulton Sheen — Peace of Soul Fulton Sheen — These are the Sacraments Henryk Sienkiewicz — With Fire and Sword Henryk Sienkiewicz — The Deluge St. Edith Stein — The Science of the Cross (biography of St. Teresa of Avila) Federico Suarez — Mary of Nazareth Alophe Alfred Tanquerey — The Spiritual Life: A Treatise on Ascetical and Mystical Theology Mother Teresa — Meditations from a Simple Path Tertullian — Apologetical Works Tertullian — Disciplinary, Moral and Ascetical Works St. Thomas Aquinas — Summa Contra Gentiles St. Thomas Aquinas — The Catechetical Instructions Francis Trochu — St. Bernadette Soubirous William Bernard Ullathorne — The Groundwork of the Christian Virtues William Bernard Ullathorne — The Little Book of Humility and Patience Sigrid Undset — Saga of the Saints Sigrid Undset — The Longest Years Sigrid Undset — The Master of Hestviken Gerald Vann — The Divine Pity Gerald Vann — The Seven Swords Hubert van Zeller — We Die Standing Up Hubert van Zeller — Approach to Christian Sculpture Hubert van Zeller — The End: A Projection Not a Prophecy Hubert van Zeller — Praying While You Work: Devotions for the Use of Martha Rather than Mary St. Vincent of Lerins — Commonitorium Dietrich von Hildebrand — Marriage: the Mystery of Faithful Love Dietrich von Hildebrand — Celibacy and the Crisis of Faith Dietrich von Hildebrand — The Sacred Heart: An Analysis of Human and Divine Affection Ludwig von Pastor — The History of the Popes William Thomas Walsh — Isabella of Spain William Thomas Walsh — Characters of the Inquisition Evelyn Waugh — Edmund Campion Gerard B. Wegemer — Thomas More George Weigel — Witness to Hope John C.H.Wu — The Science of Love: A Study in the Teachings of Therese of Lisieux John C.H.Wu — Beyond East and West John C.H.Wu — Fountain of Justice: A Study in Natural Law John C.H.Wu — The Interior Carmel: The Threefold Way of Love

Nick's Catholic Classics Reading List, Part VII

Here is part seven of Nick’s Catholic Classics Reading List. See this page for a further explanation of where this list came from. Books that showed up on 1 of 16 lists, authors I-M: St. Ignatius of Antioch — Letters St. Ignatius Loyola — Letters and Instructions St. Ignatius Loyola — Autobiography St. Irenaeus — The Presentation of the Apostolic Preaching St. Irenaeus — Against Heresies St. Jerome — Letters St. Jerome — On Illustrious Men Pope John XXIII — Journal of a Soul Pope John Paul II — Crossing the Threshold of Hope St. John Chrysostom — On the Priesthood St. John Chrysostom — Address on Vainglory St. John Chrysostom — The Right Way for Parents to Bring up Their Children St. John of the Cross — Ascent of Mount Carmel Johannes Jorgensen — Saint Bridget of Sweden Johannes Jorgensen — Saint Catherine of Siena Johannes Jorgensen — Pilgrim Walks in Franciscan Italy Johannes Jorgensen — Jorgenson: An Autobiography Charles Journet — The Church of the Word Incarnate Charles Journet — The Primacy of Peter Charles Journet — The Meaning of Grace Charles Journet —The Wisdom of Faith: An Introduction to Theology St. Justin Martyr — The First and Second Apologies Ronald A.Knox — A Spiritual Aeneid Ronald A.Knox — The Belief of Catholics Ronald A.Knox — A Commentary on the Gospels St. Maximilian Kolbe — Personal Letters St. Maximilian Kolbe — Spiritual Writings St. Maximilian Kolbe — Theological Writings Peter Kreeft — Christianity for Modern Pagans Lactantius — The Divine Institutes Marie Joseph Lagrange — The Gospel of Jesus Christ Jean Leclercq — Love of Learning and the Desire for God Edward Leen — Progress Through Mental Prayer Edward Leen — In the Likeness of Christ Edward Leen — The Church before Pilate Edward Leen — The Holy Ghost and His Work in Souls C. S. Lewis — The Problem with Pain C. S. Lewis — Mere Christianity C.S. Lewis — Till We Have Faces St. Alphonsus de Liguori — The Holy Eucharist St. Alphonsus de Liguori — The Glories of Mary St. Alphonsus de Liguori — The Passion and Death of Jesus Christ St. Alphonsus de Liguori — The Way of Salvation and Perfection Venerable Louis of Granada — The Sinner's Guide Lawrence Lovasik — The Hidden Power of Kindness Arnold Lunn — Now I See: Autobiography Arnold Lunn — The Revolt Against Reason Arnold Lunn — Switzerland, Its Literary, Historical, and Topographical Landmarks Arnold Lunn — A Saint in the Slave Trade: Peter Claver, 1581-1654 St. Margaret Mary Alacoque — Autobiography Jacques Maritain — An Introduction to Philosophy Jacques Maritain — Prayer and Intelligence Joseph Columba Marmion — Christ, the Life of the Soul Joseph Columba Marmion — Christ in His Mysteries Luis M. Martinez — True Devotion to the Holy Spirit Georgina Masson — Companion Guide to Rome Francois Mauriac — St. Margaret of Cortona Francois Mauriac — The Eucharist Francois Mauriac — Viper's Tangle Alice Meynell — Poems: Complete Edition Alice Meynell — Essays Walter Miller, Jr. — A Canticle for Leibowitz James Monti — King's Good Servant but God's First St. Thomas More — A Dialogue of Comfort Against Tribulation St. Thomas More — Thomas More's Prayerbook Malcolm Muggeridge — Something Beautiful for God

Nick's Catholic Classics Reading List, Part VI

Here is part six of Nick’s Catholic Classics Reading List. See this page for a further explanation of where this list came from. Books that showed up on 1 of 16 lists, authors D-H: Henri Daniel-Rops — The Book of Mary Henri Daniel-Rops — The Church of the Apostles and Martyrs Henri Daniel-Rops — The Church in the Dark Ages Henri Daniel-Rops — The Catholic Reformation Christopher Dawson — Religion and World History Christopher Dawson — Progress and Religion Christopher Dawson — The Crisis of Western Education Christopher Dawson — Religion and the Rise of Western Culture Paul de Jaegher — One with Jesus Paul de Jaegher — The Virtue of Trust St. Francis de Sales and St. Jane de Chantal — Letters of Spiritual Direction Owen Francis Dudley — Will Men Be Like Gods? Owen Francis Dudley — The Shadow on the Earth Owen Francis Dudley — The Masterful Monk Owen Francis Dudley — The Pageant of Life Owen Francis Dudley — The Coming of the Monster Owen Francis Dudley — The Tremaynes and the Masterful Monk T. S. Eliot — Christianity and Culture Anne Catherine Emmerich — The Lowly Life and Bitter Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ and His Blessed Mother Shusaki Endo — Silence St. Josemaria Escriva — Friends of God St. Josemaria Escriva — Christ is Passing By St. Josemaria Escriva — Way, Furrow, Forge St. Josemaria Escriva — Way of the Cross Eusebius — Ecclesiastical History St. Peter Julian Eymard — The Real Presence St. Peter Julian Eymard — Holy Communion St. Peter Julian Eymard — Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament St. Peter Julian Eymard — The Eucharist and Christian Perfection Frederick William Faber — Growth in Holiness, or the Progress of the Spiritual Life Frederick William Faber — The Blessed Sacrament, or the Works and Ways of God Frederick William Faber — Poems Frederick William Faber — Spiritual Conferences St. Francis of Assisi — The Writings of St. Francis of Assisi Reginald Garrigou-Lagrange — Christian Perfection and Contemplation, According to St. Thomas Aquinas and St. John of the Cross Reginald Garrigou-Lagrange — The Three Ways of the Spiritual Life Reginald Garrigou-Lagrange — The Mother of Our Savior Henri Gheon — Secrets of the Saints Henri Gheon — Three Plays Henri Gheon — Christmas in the Market Place Henri Gheon — The Art of the Theatre James Gibbons — The Faith of Our Fathers James Gibbons — The Ambassador of Christ Igino Giordani — The Social Message of Jesus Igino Giordani — The Social Message of the Apostles Igino Giordani — The Social Message of the Early Church Fathers Igino Giordani — Mary of Nazareth Etienne Gilson — History of Christian Philosophy in the Middle Ages Etienne Gilson — A Gilson Reader: Selected Writings Etienne Gilson —Modern Philosophy: Descartes to Kant Etienne Gilson — Recent Philosophy: Hegel to the Present Alban Goodier — The Passion and Death of Our Lord Jesus Christ Alban Goodier — The Public Life of Our Lord Jesus Christ Alban Goodier — The Prince of Peace Romano Guardini — The Way of the Cross of Our Lord and Our Savior Jesus Christ Romano Guardini — Freedom and Destiny: Three Chapters in the Interpretation of Existence Romano Guardini — The End of the Modern World: Search for Orientation Prosper Gueranger — The Liturgical Year: Advent to the Last Sunday of Pentecost Scott Hahn — Rome Sweet Home