I picked up "The Greatest Minds and Ideas of All Time" a few months ago at the public library. Of the half-dozen or so essays in it, the one that interested me the most was "The Road to Freedom," in which Durant lists what he considers to be the greatest 100 books for an education.
I am a first year student of English Literature, and I have so far been dissatisfied with my university experience thus far. Most university students seem to be no more than transplated high school students - children in an adult world. I feel alienated from most of my peers, as all they seem interested in is television, bland popular music, and snowboarding. Universities seem to have been forced to lower their expectations, leaving me feeling as though I am missing out on the real value of a broad and thorough humanistic education. As Durant himself remarks in the essay, he is not sure what students learn in college these days "apart from the latest morals." That was in 1929, and matters have hardly improved. Durant seems to have provided me with that education.
I have resolved to read Durant's recommended books. Some titles will be changed of course; I have, for instance, found more up-to-date versions of his scientific recommendations, and I have chosen to replace Wells' "History of the World" with Durant's own "Story of Civilization." I expect I will drop some books from the list, and add others, but the essentials will remain the same.
Has anyone else decided to follow the educational path Durant reccommends? If so, I would appreciate hearing about your impressions of the reading, and of any alterations that you made.
I want to express my both my deep appreciation and admiration for Durant's career, and also my regret that I am unable to thank him personally.
