he books listed on this page relate in someway to the "great books" and/or the Western Canon. They may be by proponents of the study of the great books, or they may be a critique of the whole idea. The critque of the American educational system in recent years has brought forth a plethora of texts from both ends of the spectrum. You, the reader, be the judge.
Sinaiko endorses the notion that there is a canon of great works from the great traditions of the world and argues for permanent standards of excellence. He rejects most contemporary critical views of classical literature and philosophy, including those of "experts" who seek to monopolize access to great works, academics whose extreme emphasis on historical context disallows any current relevance, and theorists whose lenses distort with personal bias rather than sharpening focus on the works they discuss. Sinaiko reclaims the canon for all of us, opening up discussion on texts ranging from Plato to Tolstoy, Confucius to Mary Shelley, and encouraging each reader to listen and respond to the rich diversity of powerful views on the human condition that such works offer.
Herman L. Sinaiko is professor of humanities at the University of Chicago, where he has received both the Quantrell Award and the Amoco Prize for excellence in undergraduate teaching.
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