Naomi: Hi there! Long-time reader and maybe first time commenter here. I'm one of those PhD scholar types who have studied the history of the great books idea (https://link.springer.com/book/10.1057/9781137042620). I live in Chicago and I *beg* you to come here. This is the great books capitol of the U.S.---home of the Great Books Foundation (not the greatest these days) and of one of the original (and excellent) college great books programs (the University of Chicago's old General Honors program, and its Basic College). Also, I believe the Chicago Public Library still has a great books reading group. Finally, I'd be happy to join you and help you get invited somewhere here. I know the higher ed and bookstore scene here. Write me at timothy.n.lacy@gmail.com.
Only recently discovered your essays here Naomi but I have enjoyed reading your thoughts. I particularly enjoyed your article on Lonesome Dove and westerns. I am working my way through Louis L'amour's complete bibliography which I inherited in a leather bound collection from my father. It takes up considerable shelf space! I am also rereading Lonesome Dove for the first time in 25 years but this time I am reading the other three book in the quartet as well as a biography of McMurtry. I plan to write about that experience, likely after the first of the year and will link to your essay when I do so.
If you have any interest in visiting the Nashville area then Landmark Books in Franklin, TN is a good place to consider. Erik Rostad (@booksoftitans here on Substack) is the operations manager there and does frequent author events and book signings. I would reach out to him if that might be of interest.
You should also consider writing a companion book, on “non-great” literature. Your essays on Robert E. Howard, Zane Gray, the Saturday Evening Post, etc, are terrific.
I've read my share of Great Books at one time or another. One of the advantages that you left out is that modern not-great books often use references or imagery from old Great Books. If you have happened to have read the book referenced, it enhances your understanding of the current book. There also seems to be a subtle (or maybe not so subtle) ego-boost when you read something you once read and remember.
Ok I'm very excited to read this book! Pre-ordered!
In terms of events, when you come to NY - I can definitely host an event for you on the South Shore of LI. Strong literary / arts community. Our library is where we host screenings, and you can draw people from the city (we're right off the LIRR -- like it's a 5 minute walk to the library from the train). They'd love to have you, and you could sell and promote the book to a highly
I love this so much and can't wait to read the book! I have been making my own "great" list recently as well, along a historical timeline, and I also wondered if this was a U.S. American phenomenon! preordering as fast as my lil fingers can tap!!!
Beyond the Canon's cardinal virtues of "quality, influence, & diversity," please consider "originality" which is an endangered species in the Age of ChatGPT.
Unlike belle-lettrists, past and present, ChatGPT is a "Stochastic Parrot'" (Bender 2021) which picks out words one-at-a-time based on the inherent word order probabilities of nearly infinite training sets pillaged from the Internet. I'm guessing that James Joyce didn't pick his opening line "riverrun, past ..." for Finnegan's Wake based on probabilties. We're still reading Joyce. As for ChatGTP, we shall see.
I don't know if you can perform CPR on Dr. Eliot's 5 foot shelf but best of luck with "What's so Great ..."!
Politics and Prose in DC constantly hosts author events (including Brandon from sweater weather this week). I have no connections, I hope your publisher/publicist can wrangle an event in DC!
Naomi, could you please explain why you called affection for the Great Books specifically American? My impression is that European cultures also greatly respect Great Books.
All cultures respect classic literature in their own way, but there’s a very American way of doing it that we call the Great Books. Most cultures tend to prioritize their own national literature—in France, they mostly read French books, in Russia, they mostly read the Russians. Whereas the American Great Books program really doesn’t have that many American writers—it’s mostly ancient Roman/Greek, British, and European writers.
The Great Books is a reading program that is really kind of odd, and feels like it was developed in an ivory tower somewhere. But the result is that if you follow this program, you end up feeling like a citizen of the world.
In most European cultures reading classic literature is more of an elite endeavor, whereas the Great Books program is a program for everyone—it is inherently democratic and populist (and in fact tends to be somewhat looked-down-upon by the elites).
Naomi: Hi there! Long-time reader and maybe first time commenter here. I'm one of those PhD scholar types who have studied the history of the great books idea (https://link.springer.com/book/10.1057/9781137042620). I live in Chicago and I *beg* you to come here. This is the great books capitol of the U.S.---home of the Great Books Foundation (not the greatest these days) and of one of the original (and excellent) college great books programs (the University of Chicago's old General Honors program, and its Basic College). Also, I believe the Chicago Public Library still has a great books reading group. Finally, I'd be happy to join you and help you get invited somewhere here. I know the higher ed and bookstore scene here. Write me at timothy.n.lacy@gmail.com.
Also, I will pre-order and read your book.
Only recently discovered your essays here Naomi but I have enjoyed reading your thoughts. I particularly enjoyed your article on Lonesome Dove and westerns. I am working my way through Louis L'amour's complete bibliography which I inherited in a leather bound collection from my father. It takes up considerable shelf space! I am also rereading Lonesome Dove for the first time in 25 years but this time I am reading the other three book in the quartet as well as a biography of McMurtry. I plan to write about that experience, likely after the first of the year and will link to your essay when I do so.
If you have any interest in visiting the Nashville area then Landmark Books in Franklin, TN is a good place to consider. Erik Rostad (@booksoftitans here on Substack) is the operations manager there and does frequent author events and book signings. I would reach out to him if that might be of interest.
I think I started reading sometime in fall 2023 -- I didn't realize I was in on this so early!
If you're interested in coming to Portland, I bet we could get something organized at the Rose City Book Pub. They would be into this project.
Pre-ordered. Via Bookshop.org.
You should also consider writing a companion book, on “non-great” literature. Your essays on Robert E. Howard, Zane Gray, the Saturday Evening Post, etc, are terrific.
I've read my share of Great Books at one time or another. One of the advantages that you left out is that modern not-great books often use references or imagery from old Great Books. If you have happened to have read the book referenced, it enhances your understanding of the current book. There also seems to be a subtle (or maybe not so subtle) ego-boost when you read something you once read and remember.
Ok I'm very excited to read this book! Pre-ordered!
In terms of events, when you come to NY - I can definitely host an event for you on the South Shore of LI. Strong literary / arts community. Our library is where we host screenings, and you can draw people from the city (we're right off the LIRR -- like it's a 5 minute walk to the library from the train). They'd love to have you, and you could sell and promote the book to a highly
interested audience.
Your substack having that many followers suggests that interest in the classics is alive and well.
Voting for a book event in Toronto, Canada! Congrats on the new project coming out soon! x Alisa
Pre-ordered!
I love this so much and can't wait to read the book! I have been making my own "great" list recently as well, along a historical timeline, and I also wondered if this was a U.S. American phenomenon! preordering as fast as my lil fingers can tap!!!
Just preordered!
Beyond the Canon's cardinal virtues of "quality, influence, & diversity," please consider "originality" which is an endangered species in the Age of ChatGPT.
Unlike belle-lettrists, past and present, ChatGPT is a "Stochastic Parrot'" (Bender 2021) which picks out words one-at-a-time based on the inherent word order probabilities of nearly infinite training sets pillaged from the Internet. I'm guessing that James Joyce didn't pick his opening line "riverrun, past ..." for Finnegan's Wake based on probabilties. We're still reading Joyce. As for ChatGTP, we shall see.
I don't know if you can perform CPR on Dr. Eliot's 5 foot shelf but best of luck with "What's so Great ..."!
Just pre-ordered, and looking forward to your book's release.
Politics and Prose in DC constantly hosts author events (including Brandon from sweater weather this week). I have no connections, I hope your publisher/publicist can wrangle an event in DC!
"American cultural phenomenon"
Naomi, could you please explain why you called affection for the Great Books specifically American? My impression is that European cultures also greatly respect Great Books.
All cultures respect classic literature in their own way, but there’s a very American way of doing it that we call the Great Books. Most cultures tend to prioritize their own national literature—in France, they mostly read French books, in Russia, they mostly read the Russians. Whereas the American Great Books program really doesn’t have that many American writers—it’s mostly ancient Roman/Greek, British, and European writers.
The Great Books is a reading program that is really kind of odd, and feels like it was developed in an ivory tower somewhere. But the result is that if you follow this program, you end up feeling like a citizen of the world.
In most European cultures reading classic literature is more of an elite endeavor, whereas the Great Books program is a program for everyone—it is inherently democratic and populist (and in fact tends to be somewhat looked-down-upon by the elites).
Yay Naomi! Love the cover (and the subtitle).