Thursday, October 7, 2010

Great Books Week: What Makes a Book Great?

What Makes a Book Great?

I'm afraid my answer isn't going to be terribly eloquent, nor will it do much to spur debate about the Great Books.  And honestly, I've been reading a lot of Good Books lately, not Great ones.  But some things that I think make a book Great:
  • Timeless.  So much of what is out there does not stand the test of time, or of place.  A Great Book can be read a couple hundred years after it was written and still stir the soul.
  • Great books can be read over and over throughout your life, and each time you will gain new insight. 
  • Thought-provoking.  A good book makes you think too, but a Great Book, I don't know, makes you think upon things that matter.
Told you this wouldn't be terribly insightful.  

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