It has been said, quite correctly, that we write as well as we read. It can also be said that we think as well as we read. Since reading well is so important, it is good to get into the habit of reading good books. The better the book, the better will be our ability to think well and write well.

In this work, literary expert Joseph Pearce takes the reader on a guided tour of fifty great works of literature. The author of over thirty books, Pearce uses his experience of teaching literature at college level for over twenty years to show the reader the moral dimension of each work. He shows how each work presents a mystical mirror to the reader, offering insights into the meaning of life itself.    

“Christian civilization has given birth to numerous great books as it has given birth to numerous great saints,” Joseph Pearce writes. “The former should be canonized as are the latter. Great books, like great saints, enrich our faith as they enrich our culture. As such, reading good books should be an integrated part of leading a good life.”

Those who read this book will learn how to read the great books well, which will help them to live the good life well.     

“G.K. Chesterton says, ‘Thinking means connecting things.’ In a classical education, everything is connected to everything else.  Literature is a history lesson. It’s also a lesson in art, morality, philosophy, and theology. Pearce’s inviting overview of fifty great books is a master class in connecting things.”
—Dale Ahlquist, President, Society of Gilbert Keith Chesterton; Author, The Complete Thinker

“Simply profound! The inimitable Joseph Pearce’s latest handbook of literary insight and analysis will serve and inspire a love of literature in readers of all backgrounds and degrees of scholarly experience. Explore the Western Literary Tradition assisted by one of the greatest literary scholars of our time.”
—Eleanor Nicholson, Author, A Bloody Habit and The Hound of the Lord

“With his boisterous wit and counterintuitive insights, Pearce once again brings us to the crux of the matter: what makes literature great? His selections run the gamut of world literature, with one enduring characteristic: their stories challenge us to contemplate our love of God and our love of neighbor.”
—Stephen Mirarchi, Ph.D., Chair, English Department, Benedictine College

“An insightful guide for readers of all ages. Pearce’s clear and concise summaries, combined with his deep understanding of each work’s themes and moral spirit, make this book an invaluable resource for Catholic families and literature enthusiasts alike. 
—Maureen Wittmann, Author, For the Love of Literature; Co-Founder, HomeschoolConnections.com