In Defense of Difficult Reading

Why commit to books that ask so much of your attention?This piece from the American Scholar, published just last week, dives into a question many of us wrestle with: why bother with "difficult" books? Naomi Kanakia's new book isn't about curriculum wars, but a gentle, yet firm, appeal to the "common reader" to engage with the Great Books. It's a thoughtful exploration of why committing to challenging, often older, texts can cultivate a deeper understanding of ourselves and the world, even if it feels like hard work. She even takes on the progressive critiques, making a surprisingly compelling case for their enduring relevance.A review of Naomi Kanakia's book, which offers a defense of reading classic literature for the lay reader. The book argues that "Great Books" cultivate sustained attention and offer collective wisdom, while directly engaging common progressive critiques of such texts. It ultimately advocates for preserving the capacity for patient, challenging reading in contemporary life.Read at source: American Scholar