This is an extremely wonderful book.

It has truly been a source of great inspiration for me when it comes to compiling my booklist.

The moment I picked up this book, I was immediately drawn into its captivating world.

The ideas and concepts presented within its pages are not only thought-provoking but also highly relevant.

As I delved deeper into the text, I found myself constantly making mental notes and connections to other books that I thought would pair well with it.

This book has opened my eyes to new possibilities and has expanded my literary horizons.

It has given me the confidence to explore different genres and styles, and has encouraged me to be more adventurous in my reading choices.

Overall, I cannot recommend this book enough.

It is a must-read for anyone who is passionate about books and is looking for new and exciting ideas to add to their own booklist.

It felt a bit like he just wanted a place to collect a bunch of old interviews.

However, that's completely fine with me.

The reason is that he is really good at this task.

He seems to have a knack for gathering and organizing these old interviews in a meaningful way.

Maybe he has a specific vision or purpose for creating this collection.

Although I'm not entirely sure what that is, I trust his abilities.

He has shown in the past that he can handle such projects with great skill and attention to detail.

So, even if his motivation might seem a bit unclear at first, I'm confident that the end result will be something worthwhile.

I'm looking forward to seeing what he does with this collection of old interviews.

It could potentially provide valuable insights or perspectives that we might not have otherwise considered.

Overall, I'm happy to let him pursue this endeavor and see where it takes him.

Depending upon your reading style, you will find this book either captivating or boring. For me, it was truly captivating and exciting. I absolutely loved it! I have a great enthusiasm for books as history-makers in themselves, and that is precisely what this book is all about.

You will learn how books had a profound influence on America's founding fathers, such as Thomas Jefferson, as well as on great minds like Thomas Edison and Malcolm X. You will also discover the remarkable effect that books have upon six-month-old children.

Moreover, you will explore the importance of the book collections that belonged to famous writers, politicians, and others who have changed the course of history. You will learn about marginalia, those jottings made by people in the margins of books, and how sometimes those notes can be even more significant than the books written by those jotters.

You will also delve into our sacred books and uncover interesting historical facts about them. Additionally, you will learn about those amazing literate people who do nothing but read and critique, and how they go about doing it.

This book has inspired me to add probably a dozen titles to my personal list of books that I would like to read someday. I may even re-read this one again in the future. It is truly jam-packed with valuable information and inspiration.

Who could have known that writing in books could actually be a beneficial thing? Certainly not me. However, I have learned a great deal from this realization, and it has truly made me feel more positive about being a reader. There are countless incredibly talented and intelligent individuals who have made reading the central aspect of their lives.

Take Coleridge, for instance. He was infamous for his voracious reading habits and for jotting down his thoughts and ideas in the margins of his books. To such an extent that his friends were somewhat hesitant to lend him their books. Now, of course, there is a vast collection of the books he once owned, and scholars can closely examine the marginalia for valuable clues about where he derived his inspiration and much more. How cool is that!

I also really enjoyed the chapter on healing. In particular, the part about criminals who were required to study English literature as an alternative to serving time in prison, and the section on how reading can transform the lives of children and the significance of kids being read to by their parents. That special time when it's just the two of you, focusing on something you both love. It almost makes me consider having a child of my own!

I had a rather complex experience with this book.

On one hand, I truly loved most of it. It beautifully explores the power of books to inspire and transform our lives. It shows that people who have made significant impacts, whether we find them impressive or not, have often been passionate readers. Hitler, Helen Keller, Thomas Edison, and John Quincy Adams are just a few examples. Their love for reading and the influence books had on them are fascinating to discover. The connections between these famous figures and the books they read are both engaging and thought-provoking. As someone who values books deeply, I really enjoyed seeing how and why they are important to others.

However, there were also aspects that I didn't like. Basbanes comes across as a name-dropper, which can be quite annoying. He constantly feels the need to mention that he interviewed certain people, as if it adds more credibility to his words. Additionally, he seems to be an elitist, as almost all the people he directly interviewed have ties to prestigious institutions and publications.

The worst part for me was his stance in the debate over college curriculums. He sided with Harold Bloom, who believes that books should be chosen for pure aesthetic value only, without considering the diversity of authors. This view忽视了 the importance of representing different voices and perspectives in literature education. It frustrated me to see Basbanes support this idea, as I believe that literature should not only please but also educate and expose students to a wide range of cultures and experiences.

Despite these flaws, I did manage to forgive Basbanes and we ended on good terms. Overall, I would still recommend this book to book lovers. It offers unique insights into the world of literature and the people who have been shaped by it. However, it's important to approach it with a critical eye and be prepared to engage in some lively discussions about the ideas presented.

A book that is truly dedicated to those who have an unwavering love for books. In this remarkable work, Brisbane not only shares his own profound thoughts but also those of other passionate readers, exploring the various ways and reasons why books hold such significance.

The sections dedicated to canons, collections, translations, and margin notes are truly wonderful. They offer unique insights and perspectives that enrich our understanding of the literary world.

However, the chapters that celebrate specific readers and critics, such as Harold Bloom, seem a bit out of place. While they may be interesting in their own right, they don't quite fit seamlessly into the overall narrative.

Overall, despite this minor flaw, it is a very good read. It engages the reader, provokes thought, and reminds us of the power and beauty of books. Whether you are a casual reader or a die-hard book lover, this book is sure to offer something of value.

I truly enjoyed this book.

Although at certain moments, it gives the impression of being a somewhat forced compilation of the lists of books read by important individuals.

What I found most fascinating were the sections on Marginalia, the Unabomber (for a more in-depth exploration of this topic, I recommend checking out Chuck Klosterman's "Eating the Dinosaur," which is definitely interesting), Translation (a shoutout to Godel Escher Bach!), and the continuous compendium of "books to read" that is interwoven throughout the 316 pages.

If you have a penchant for reading about reading, for scouring books to discover other books worth reading, or for understanding the nature of books and their impact on the world, then this is a great book for you.

Basbanes, at the very least, is a competent writer who is passionate about his subject matter. He writes with clarity, but it's important to note that this isn't a traditional narrative. Instead, it's more like a patchwork quilt rather than a seamless tapestry.

If I were to rate it based solely on the act of reading it, it would receive a 3-star rating. However, this is a metabook, and it earns a 4-star rating because it serves as a guide, pointing the way to even more literary treasures.

Well written but I found the topic rather dull.

The article was indeed composed in a proficient manner. The language was clear, the grammar was correct, and the overall structure was sound. However, despite these technical merits, the topic itself failed to engage my interest.

It seemed to lack excitement and novelty. It was a subject that I had encountered before in a similar vein, and as a result, it did not offer anything new or thought-provoking.

Perhaps if the author had approached the topic from a different angle or added some unique perspectives, it would have been more captivating. As it stands, though, while the writing was of a high standard, the dullness of the topic prevented me from fully immersing myself in the piece.

I had something distinct in my thoughts for this particular book.

I was envisioning that it would delve into the books which had a profound impact on the world, that is to say, on the general public.

I was looking forward to discovering books that I had never previously heard of but were extremely popular during their era.

However, contrary to my expectations, the book adopts a much more intellectual stance - \\"the world\\" here seemingly refers to the scholarly realm.

Another review stated that you would be adding numerous books to your reading list. But unless you are unfamiliar with most of the classics, this might not be the case.

I did add a few, but it wasn't as if I was learning about, for example, Henry James for the very first time.

I do appreciate Basbanes' enthusiasm and passion for books, and I did enjoy reading this one.

Nevertheless, I truly wish it had been more in line with what I desired.

I mainly picked up this book to supplement my studies of marginalia for a term paper I was writing.

That aspect occupies only one chapter from the book. And I discovered that the chapter was primarily a recap of "Marginalia Readers Writing in Books" by H.J. Jackson. As a result, it didn't offer a great deal of new information.

The remainder of the book, however, does seem interesting. It focuses on how the books that people read have had an impact on their lives and actions.

Unfortunately, I didn't have the luxury of time to explore it deeply. I had to limit my attention to the relevant chapter for my term paper.

Nonetheless, I hope to return to this book in the future and fully engage with its other contents. It seems to have the potential to provide valuable insights into the relationship between reading and life.