Yes, folks, you too can recieve the classical (western canon) education you never were able to recieve. Why, you may ask, is such an education necessary? I'll list a few reasons as follows: 1) improved vocabulary 2) improved reading comprehension 3) improved understanding of human history and thought (western) 4) raise your consciousness and self-awareness (stole this one) ...and probably many more good reasons

 

Now the burning question to be answered is, "OK, Shamrock, you've sold me, now how do I join in?" Simple. First, purchase "The Well Educated Mind," by Susan Bauer, and which will serve as a textbook and outline for our studies. Second, purchase "Don Quixote," a novel, which will serve as our first item of study (the correct edition is important). These books can be purchased from amazon.com for about 25$ with free shipping. I'll provide links below.

 

Now for an outline of how our project will operate. The beginning chapters of a "Well Trained Mind" review reading strategies and comprehension skills, which will become of great importance because of the breadth of reading to be tackled. Next, the book will outline various genres of the western canon including History, Novel, Drama, Poetry, and Auto-biography. Then we will tackle the genres in order (they are ordered by difficulty), starting with novels, hence "Don Quixote." Once we finish a work a discussion of the work will follow.

 

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detai...=books&n=507846 (Well-Trained Mind)

 

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/014...0556952-8284829 (Don Quixote)

 

You save about 11$ if you buy through amazon.

 

If you have any questions or concerns please PM them to me. And if you would like me to add you to the list PM me. There is no pressure to keep up with the group. If you fall behind or other life events preclude your participation just drop out or pick up on the next work. For example if you miss out on "Don Quixote" be ready for "Pilgrim's Progress." Also if anyone has a suggestion for a work to read in place of what Bauer suggests, I'm all eyes.

 

One more point needs to be made. Most everyone on this board is different in some way. We have tonyi and CFDodge. We have flying_mollusk and we have Capefish. Etc, etc, etc. I know that through such a project we will only understand ourselves and each other better and therefore be more able to discuss things to a more efficient and amiable end. The more variable backgrounds and perspectives we have on this project the better.

Hah in the first line there is a grammar mistake. You put to, instead of too.

Bought Amazon stock recently?

No, but you're welcome to pay 11$ more for the books at Barnes and Noble or Books-a-Million.

Sure, I'm game. I get 35% off at my bookstore. :cool

No, but you're welcome to pay 11$ more for the books at Barnes and Noble or Books-a-Million.

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Or just pay a couple of bucks at some used book store. There is a world beyond the internet out there.

 

A used paperback Don Quixote would run about 50-cents to a buck. HERE you can get Don Quixote online for free.

Thanks for the help.

Miguel de Cervantes is one of the best writers the world has ever seen. Not only is Don Quixote entertaining, but it is also one of the most touching stories in terms of what the human mind is, and is not, when educated.

 

I hope to soon attempt to read it in it's original form. 17th Century Castillian is quite a challenge to those who don't know Spanish properly.

Miguel de Cervantes is one of the best writers the world has ever seen. Not only is Don Quixote entertaining, but it is also one of the most touching stories in terms of what the human mind is, and is not, when educated.

 

I hope to soon attempt to read it in it's original form. 17th Century Castillian is quite a challenge to those who don't know Spanish properly.

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17th century castillian is difficult even for those knowing proper modern spanish.

 

 

same situation when reading the original of beowolf.

Yeah I think I'll go with the English version.

Miguel de Cervantes is one of the best writers the world has ever seen. Not only is Don Quixote entertaining, but it is also one of the most touching stories in terms of what the human mind is, and is not, when educated.

 

I hope to soon attempt to read it in it's original form. 17th Century Castillian is quite a challenge to those who don't know Spanish properly.

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Exactly the reason why you should join up. :mischief

No time Shamrock. I am up to my eyes in work. Maybe during the summer.

 

That's too bad, I think this is going to be a lot of fun. Who all else is going to give this a go?

I wish I could too, but like cape, Im swamped.

My answer is explained in F_M's and Cape's responses.

Maybe we should try to do this over the summer so more of us can participate.

Believe me doods, everyone who is already committed to this gig already has full-time committs to school or work or in my case both. I know Cape has his side projects going plus high school, and F_M is a friggin law student, and CFD works a job plus takes class. This all said we plan a relatively slow pace, say 3-4 days a week at 30 minutes a pop. Now take a minute to analyze that on a week to week basis and it's peanuts. Think of it as an early morning run except of the mental variety. The current group we have will be greatly enriched if you fellas/ladies join up. Also, if you feel you could only give this a fair shot during the summer then you can just pick up with whatever work we are on during that time. Heck, we might only be through Don Quixote by then!

I'm curious to know what tonyi/getfuzzy thinks about this project.

If you guys are worrying that it is going to be to rigorous, it's not. Basically you can just go at your own pace.