How To Read and Why

"Informationisendlesslyavailabletous;whereshallwisdombefound?"isthecrucialquestionwithwhichrenownedliterarycriticHaroldBloomcommencesthisimpassionedbookonthepleasuresandbenefitsofreadingwell.Formorethanfortyyears,Bloomhastransformedcollegestudentsintolifelongreaderswithhisunrivaledloveforliterature.Now,atatimewhenfasterandeasierelectronicmediathreatentoeclipsethepracticeofreading,Bloomdrawsonhisexperienceascritic,teacher,andprolificreadertoplumbthegreatbooksfortheirsustainingwisdom.Sheddingallpolemic,Bloomaddressesthesolitaryreader,who,heurges,shouldreadforthepurestofallreasons:todiscoverandaugmenttheself.Alwaysdazzlinginhisabilitytodrawconnectionsbetweentextsacrosscontinentsandcenturies,Bloominstructsreadersinhowtoimmersethemselvesinthedifferentliteraryforms.ProbingdiscussionsoftheworksofbelovedwriterssuchasWilliamShakespeare,ErnestHemingway,JaneAusten,WaltWhitman,EmilyDickinson,CharlesDickens,andWilliamFaulknerhighlightthevariedchallengesanddelightsfoundinshortstories,poems,novels,andplays.Bloomnotonlyprovidesilluminatingguidanceonhowtoreadatextbutalsoillustrateswhatsuchreadingcanbring--aestheticpleasure,increasedindividualityandselfknowledge,andthelifetimecompanionshipofthemostengagingandcomplexliterarycharacters.Bloom'sengagingproseandbrilliantinsightswillsendyouhurryingbacktooldfavoritesandenticeyoutodiscovernewones.Hisultimatefaithintherestorativepowerofliteratureresonatesoneverypageofthisinfinitelyrewardingandimportantbook.