A good book is the purest essence of the human soul. Thomas Carlyle
Millions of books are published in many parts of the world. Most of the books do not fall into the category of ‘Great books’ due to many reasons. One reason is that great authors are rarely found in any age. The other reason is that even well-known authors cannot produce great books constantly.
What is more, there is no official body to select great books. There are many bestsellers published in developed countries, but all of them do not fall into the category of great books. However, there are certain signs that help readers to find great books in a well-equipped library or a leading bookshop.
Although we have been advised to read books by our parents and teachers, they have not told us the marks of excellence of a great book. If you know the signs of excellence of a great book, you will be able to borrow such books from a library or buy from a bookshop. As a rule of thumb, great books are usually masterpieces of different authors.
Books have multiplied through the centuries and modern publishers try to market them using many strategies. On the other hand, there have always been more books published than anyone could read. Our life is relatively short on this planet and no one will have the time or inclination to read all the books. The only option is to read great books which are relatively small in number.
Ancient Alexandria
The task of preparing a list of great books is as old as the hills. It was first done by teachers and librarians of ancient Alexandria. Quintilian of ancient Rome tried to select the best books for readers. In the Renaissance, Montaigne and Erasmus prepared lists of the books they had read. The books they had selected may not suit modern times. This is because our tastes keep on changing over the years. However, they have left us a legacy of certain principles that help us to select good books. If you look carefully, book selectors make it a point to include both ancient and modern books in their lists.
Although nobody has prepared a comprehensive list of great books, certain rules have emerged during the past few decades. For instance, great books are read by a large number of people.
The sales figures will confirm how certain books have been snapped by readers immediately on publication. Some of them are bestsellers. ‘Gone with the wind’ has had relatively few readers compared to the plays of William Shakespeare or ‘Don Quixote.’ A startling revelation is that Homer’s ‘Iliad’ has been read by at least 25,000,000 people during the last 300 years. It was definitely a great book that everyone should read. However, some great books have not reached the bestseller status. Kepler, the astronomer, wrote a book on planetary motions, but he knew that it would not sell fast. He said, “It may wait a century for a reader, as God has waited 6,000 years for an observer.”
Thomas Mann always worked on each book for a very long time. Even when the manuscript was supposedly ready, he continued to work on it. When he kept on changing things in ‘The magic mountain’, his publisher finally called him up and wailed. “We’ll never get this book out! You’ve been working on it for eternity!” “After all,” was his calm reply, “I’m writing it for eternity!”
Some great books are not written by specialists. The authors may not be well versed in science, philosophy or literature. As a result, they may not be able to write on academic problems. However, they write for ordinary readers. The books written by professors are absolutely necessary to study a particular subject. Such textbooks are meant for students. Great books, on the other hand, treat the elements of any subject going beyond the limits of a textbook.
To decide whether a particular books is great or not, you have to read it first. This point can be illustrated by taking a textbook on psychology. The author of such a book has studied the subject in depth. His book is an essential tool for students to pass examinations. There are others who write on psychological matters and there is a great demand for such books.
Popularity of bestsellers
The popularity of bestsellers usually lasts only a few years. After that readers turn to another popular book written by a different author. However, this does not happen to great books because they never become outmoded. They are usually known as ‘classics.’ People still read great books such as Aldous Huxley’s ‘Brave new world’, Harper Lee’s ‘To kill a mocking-bird’, George Orwell’s ‘Nineteen eighty-four’ and J. Vijayatunga’s ‘Grass for my feet.’ Such books have become the most potent civilising force in the world.
Fundamental human problems remain the same in all ages. To understand and find solutions you may have to read essays of Francis Bacon, Montaigne or Jiddu Krishnamurti. They have shed light on human happiness, justice, virtue, truth, honesty and stability. We will profit by their wisdom expressed in their essays. Contrary to popular belief, great books are highly readable. They will not let you down if you read them intelligently. A single essay will contain more ideas than expressed in a full-length book. What is more, you can read a great book over and over again. They have to be read more than once to understand the great diversity of interpretations. As children we read and enjoyed ‘Gulliver’s Travels’ and ‘Robinson Crusoe.’ When you read them as adults, you will come across the real beauty and significance of such books.
You can treat all great books as your personal instructors.
They will teach you how to live in this world respecting the rights of others. There are certain mysteries in the world that mark the limits of human knowledge. If you read great books, you will find your wisdom fortified with lofty ideas. As a reader of great books, you will develop a sense of brotherhood.
Therefore, make it a point to read at least one great book before you depart from this planet.
