I read The Woman in White last year…just an exceptional book of which I was unaware…don’t remember exactly how I found it. But a great read! Glad to see it on your list for 2026!
I love Tristram Shandy. So much verbal energy going in so many different directions. There was somebody (was it CSL?) who said they kept Tristram Shandy on their bedside table and opened to a random page each night for bedtime reading. It's just as enjoyable read that way, and hardly less confusing than it is when you read it from front to back.
I read Tristram Shandy in my university English degree. It's one of the more memorable books of that period in English literature for me. I hadn't read anything like it before and I thought it was great 👍
Great article. I think I TRIED to read Tristram Shandy for a class, don't remember if I succeeded, but what I do remember was good. Of the others, I can promise you that Moby Dick, War and Peace, and Daniel Deronda are everything one would expect from the masterful writers and more. George Eliot is my favorite 19th century European writer, and War and Peace is one of my favorite books ever. 💖📚
There is a connection between Fielding's Tom Jones and Dickens' David Copperfield, but I'll leave you to read it for yourself. I'll be looking for a copy of Sterne's Tristram Shandy.
I'm not fond of the C. S. Lewis quote. "Escaped lunatic" is about as distasteful as "pathetic cripple" would be. But putting that aside, I think your overarching theme is probably the best one can do: "we all have some measure of freedom, however constrained and compromised, and our lives are judged by what we do with it." It's quite broad, of course, but it really has to be. Bon voyage on this journey of yours. It's both extraordinarily ambitious and eminently worthwhile.
Interested to see your thoughts on these. I have read a few of these, and will be reading a few of these this year at different times. Crime and Punishment is my favorite of the ones I have read off this list. I read it in 3 days, because I could not put it down.
Idk..I was just completely sucked into the story. I had the opportunity to spend most of those days reading, and just went for it. It was my first Dostoyevsky and none of it was audio too. Brothers Karamazav took me months lol!
I'm looking forward to following along with your reading, Joel! Love the timshel angle- and I'm impressed by your ability to [at least hypothetically] pull on that thread with each book before reading it. I've read 4 on your list (yes, Raskolnikov-- so claustrophobic) and will be paying particular attention to your experiences with the others to see which might deserve a higher spot on my TBR list.
I like this idea a lot! Maybe not the 12 month curriculum (I very much read per my whims), but I like the idea particularly of choosing at least one classic a month to read. I picked up Jane Eyre from my unread shelf and I’m already invested, so thank you for the inspiration!
My scariest classic on my already-bought-yet-haven’t-read shelf is The Brothers K- that might take me more than a month 🤭
My main reading goal is to really rad down my unread shelf, which is an unruly 60 books. Maybe not much for some, but it’s big for me. I have a habit of buying spiritual reading (classic and modern) and not touching it… that ends this year (hopefully) 😊
I'm reading Stalingrad with Life & Fate on the shelf to follow. Read all the rest except Don Quixote. Tried many times, seen Man of La Mancha to pique another try....can;t do it. Finished your Idea Machine....you would have been an excellent abolitionist....all the language. I am an unregenerate Virginian repentant only for all my forbears, forgiving of none of yours. I did enjoy your book, the history is grand and beautifully researched. Thank you..
I am particularly looking forward to your thoughts on Crime and Punishment, War and Peace, Moby Dick and Life and Fate. I have not read the first three since college. Life and Fate is gathering dust on my “to read pile” although @Tyler Cowen and @Russ Roberts ‘ discussion of it nudged me to get started.
Your reading prowess never fails to impress me.
As soon as I read this all I could think of was this scene from 40 Year Old Virgin.
I read The Woman in White last year…just an exceptional book of which I was unaware…don’t remember exactly how I found it. But a great read! Glad to see it on your list for 2026!
The only way to appreciate Crime and Punishment is to read all the way to the end, one of the most beautiful endings I've ever experienced.
I’ve heard that from many people. I’m looking forward to it.
I love Tristram Shandy. So much verbal energy going in so many different directions. There was somebody (was it CSL?) who said they kept Tristram Shandy on their bedside table and opened to a random page each night for bedtime reading. It's just as enjoyable read that way, and hardly less confusing than it is when you read it from front to back.
I read Tristram Shandy in my university English degree. It's one of the more memorable books of that period in English literature for me. I hadn't read anything like it before and I thought it was great 👍
Great article. I think I TRIED to read Tristram Shandy for a class, don't remember if I succeeded, but what I do remember was good. Of the others, I can promise you that Moby Dick, War and Peace, and Daniel Deronda are everything one would expect from the masterful writers and more. George Eliot is my favorite 19th century European writer, and War and Peace is one of my favorite books ever. 💖📚
There is a connection between Fielding's Tom Jones and Dickens' David Copperfield, but I'll leave you to read it for yourself. I'll be looking for a copy of Sterne's Tristram Shandy.
I'm not fond of the C. S. Lewis quote. "Escaped lunatic" is about as distasteful as "pathetic cripple" would be. But putting that aside, I think your overarching theme is probably the best one can do: "we all have some measure of freedom, however constrained and compromised, and our lives are judged by what we do with it." It's quite broad, of course, but it really has to be. Bon voyage on this journey of yours. It's both extraordinarily ambitious and eminently worthwhile.
Interested to see your thoughts on these. I have read a few of these, and will be reading a few of these this year at different times. Crime and Punishment is my favorite of the ones I have read off this list. I read it in 3 days, because I could not put it down.
Three days! Holy cow!
Idk..I was just completely sucked into the story. I had the opportunity to spend most of those days reading, and just went for it. It was my first Dostoyevsky and none of it was audio too. Brothers Karamazav took me months lol!
I'm looking forward to following along with your reading, Joel! Love the timshel angle- and I'm impressed by your ability to [at least hypothetically] pull on that thread with each book before reading it. I've read 4 on your list (yes, Raskolnikov-- so claustrophobic) and will be paying particular attention to your experiences with the others to see which might deserve a higher spot on my TBR list.
Fine reading challenge. Life and Fate is one of my favorite novels. I hope you enjoy the book as much as I did.
I like this idea a lot! Maybe not the 12 month curriculum (I very much read per my whims), but I like the idea particularly of choosing at least one classic a month to read. I picked up Jane Eyre from my unread shelf and I’m already invested, so thank you for the inspiration!
My scariest classic on my already-bought-yet-haven’t-read shelf is The Brothers K- that might take me more than a month 🤭
My main reading goal is to really rad down my unread shelf, which is an unruly 60 books. Maybe not much for some, but it’s big for me. I have a habit of buying spiritual reading (classic and modern) and not touching it… that ends this year (hopefully) 😊
Enjoy your romp through the classics!
I see what you did there. Well done. The best attitude toward great literature is to treat it like a romp, a game, a fine excess.
I'm reading Stalingrad with Life & Fate on the shelf to follow. Read all the rest except Don Quixote. Tried many times, seen Man of La Mancha to pique another try....can;t do it. Finished your Idea Machine....you would have been an excellent abolitionist....all the language. I am an unregenerate Virginian repentant only for all my forbears, forgiving of none of yours. I did enjoy your book, the history is grand and beautifully researched. Thank you..
Tree of Smoke! Yes!!!
I am particularly looking forward to your thoughts on Crime and Punishment, War and Peace, Moby Dick and Life and Fate. I have not read the first three since college. Life and Fate is gathering dust on my “to read pile” although @Tyler Cowen and @Russ Roberts ‘ discussion of it nudged me to get started.
Your reading prowess never fails to impress me.
As soon as I read this all I could think of was this scene from 40 Year Old Virgin.
https://youtu.be/OPkhuy8aDNY?si=N9quE1ARXdB9JMaA
Joel, you've set yourself an ambitious syllabus! I'm looking forward to reading your thoughts on Woman In White. It's one of my favorites.