On Demand
Books That Changed America
Monday, December 08, 2008
Poet, novelist, and critic Jay Parini talks about the thirteen books he says shaped America’s history and identity – from William Bradford's Of Plymouth Plantation to Dale Carnegie’s How to Win Friends and Influence People. His new book is Promised Land: Thirteen Books That Changed America.
Event: Jay Parini will be speaking and signing books
Monday, December 8 at 7 pm
Union Square Barnes & Noble with the New School
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Just a guess: Would all the books on Mr. Parini's list be American? If so, why the criticism of a Brit picking BritLit?
And if anything of the founders is on there, is John Locke on there (given how important an influence Locke was on the founders)?
Think it might have been Melvyn Bragg not Malcolm!
Hugh .. that was my thought too.
Also, this feels somewhat elitist!
Surely the chap who bored him was Melvyn Bragg?
Are there any books that disagree with your obvious left-wing views that make the list? What about Barry Goldwater's Conscience of a Conservative or anything written by Ayn Rand or Milton Freedman.
I find it interesting that you like the Federalist papers. Weren't the founding fathers about limited federal government? Which again goes against your left wing views?
Hugh...I think his complaint was that the Brit picked all British lit for books that changed the World...whereas Parini's Book is Books that Changed America...just a thought
Is the Bible on the list?
If it isn't there is no doubt that it should be Tom...regardless of one's opinion on whether they like the fact that the Bible has had a major hand in shaping the thoughts and lives of the American....American Tradition, the bible certainly belongs on this list and the list that helped shape the World.
American people* that was supposed to be...
It sounds like books discussed are part of US publishing history- hence, no Bible. Is any Dr. Seuss on list? He changed American literacy, education, and children's publishing around the world.
Elitist? To read and talk of what one has read? Heaven forbid people be educated. Sentiments like that one smack of fascism.
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