A new essay encourages readers to approach the Great Books independently rather than through formal education.
Naomi Kanakia argues in favor of lay reading of texts such as Moby-Dick and Anna Karenina. She describes her own path from avoiding the classics due to past academic experiences to embracing them on her own terms after college. Kanakia contrasts this approach with professionalized close reading taught in universities and notes that most people already understand the value of such books but may feel deterred by perceived difficulty. The piece draws from her forthcoming book What’s So Great about the Great Books? Why You Should Read Classic Literature (Even Though It Might Destroy You).