Choosing What to Read

A few books well read, and an intelligent choice of those few,—these are the fundamentals for self-education by reading.

Choosing a few books wisely and reading them well are the foundations of educating yourself through reading.

If only a few well chosen, it is better to avail yourself of choices others have already made—old books, the standard works tested by many generations of readers. If only a few, let them be books of highest character and established fame. Such books are easily found even in small public libraries.

If you can choose only a few books, it is better to rely on choices others have already made. Choose old books and classics that have stood the test of generations of readers. If you can choose only a few, let them be books of the highest quality and established reputation. Such books are easy to find, even in small public libraries.

For the purpose of this chapter, which is to aid in forming a taste for reading, there should be no confusion of choice by naming too many books of one author. If you read one and like it, you can easily find another.

This chapter aims to help you develop a taste for reading. To avoid making the choice confusing, I will not name too many books by any one author. If you read one and like it, you can easily find another.

It is a cardinal rule that if you do not like a book, do not read it. What another likes, you may not. Any book list is suggestive; it can be binding only on those who prize it. Like attracts like.

A basic rule is: if you do not like a book, do not read it. You may not like what someone else likes. Any book list is only a suggestion. It is binding only on those who value it. Like attracts like.

Did you ever think that the thing you are looking for is looking for you; that it is the very law of affinities to get together?

Have you ever thought that what you are looking for is looking for you? That it is the very nature of things drawn to each other to come together?

If you are coarse in your tastes, vicious in your tendencies, you do not have to work very hard to find coarse vicious books; they are seeking you by the very law of attraction.

If your tastes are crude and your tendencies vicious, you do not have to look hard for crude, vicious books. The very law of attraction draws them to you.

One's taste for reading is much like his taste for food. Dull books are to be avoided, as one refuses food disagreeable to him; to someone else the book may not be dull, nor the food disagreeable. Whole nations may eat cabbage, or stale fish, while I like neither. Ultimately, therefore, every reader must make his own selection, and find the book that finds him. Any one not a random reader will soon select a short shelf of books that he may like better than a longer shelf that exactly suits some one else. Either will be a shelf of good books, neither a shelf of the best books, since if best for you or me, they may not be best for everybody.

A person's taste in reading is much like their taste in food. Avoid dull books, just as you would refuse food you dislike. Someone else may not find the same book dull or the same food disagreeable. Whole nations may eat cabbage or stale fish, but I like neither. In the end, every reader must choose for themselves and find the book that speaks to them. Anyone who does not read at random will soon choose a short shelf of books. They may like those books better than a longer shelf that perfectly suits someone else. Either shelf will contain good books, but neither will contain the best books. What is best for you or me may not be best for everyone.

A most learned man in India, in turning the leaves of a book, as he read, felt a little prick in his finger; a tiny snake dropped out and wriggled out of sight. The pundit's finger began to swell, then his arm; and in an hour, he was dead.

A very learned man in India was turning the pages of a book as he read. He felt a small prick on his finger. A tiny snake fell out of the book and wriggled out of sight. The scholar’s finger began to swell, then his arm swelled. Within an hour, he was dead.

Who has not noticed in the home a snake in a book that has changed the character of a boy through its moral poison so that he was never quite the same again?

Who hasn't seen a book in a home that was like a snake? Its moral poison changed a boy's character so that he was never quite the same again.

How well did Carlyle divide books into sheep and goats.

How well Carlyle divided books into sheep and goats.

It is probable that the careers of the majority of criminals in our prisons to-day might have been vastly different if the character of their reading when young had been different; had it been up-lifting, wholesome, instead of degrading.

The lives of most people in prison today might probably have been very different if they had read different things when young. Their lives might have been different if their reading had been uplifting and wholesome instead of degrading.

"Christian Endeavor" Clark read a notice conspicuously posted in a large city:—"All boys should read the wonderful story of the desperado brothers of the Western plains, whose strange and thrilling adventures of successful robbery and murder have never before been equaled. Price five cents." The next morning, Dr. Clark read in a newspaper of that city that seven boys had been arrested for burglary, and four stores broken into by the "gang." One of the ringleaders was only ten years old. At their trial, it appeared that each had invested five cents in the story of border crime. "Red-eyed Dick, the Terror of the Rockies," or some such story has poisoned many a lad's life. A seductive, demoralizing book destroys the ambition unless for vicious living. All that was sweet, beautiful, and wholesome in the character before seems to vanish, and everything changes after the reading of a single bad book. It has aroused the appetite for more forbidden pleasures, until it crowds out the desire for everything better, purer, healthier. Mental dissipation from this exciting literature, often dripping with suggestiveness of impurity, giving a passport to the prohibited; this is fatal to all soundness of mind.

"Christian Endeavor" Clark read a notice prominently posted in a large city: "All boys should read the wonderful story of the outlaw brothers of the Western plains. Their strange and thrilling adventures in successful robbery and murder have never before been equaled. Price five cents." The next morning, Dr. Clark read a report in a newspaper from that city. Seven boys had been arrested for burglary, and the "gang" had broken into four stores. One of the ringleaders was only ten years old. At their trial, it came out that each boy had spent five cents on the story of frontier crime. "Red-eyed Dick, the Terror of the Rockies," or some such story has poisoned many a boy's life. A seductive, corrupting book destroys ambition, except for the ambition to live a wicked life. All that was sweet, beautiful, and wholesome in a person's character seems to vanish. Everything changes after the reading of a single bad book. The book has awakened a hunger for more forbidden pleasures. This hunger grows until it crowds out the desire for everything better, purer, and healthier. The mental excess caused by this exciting literature is fatal to all soundness of mind. Such literature often drips with suggestions of impurity and offers a passport to what is forbidden.

A lad once showed to another a book full of words and pictures of impurity. He only had it in his hands a few moments. Later in life he held high office in the church, and years afterward told a friend that he would have given half he possessed had he never seen it.

A boy once showed another boy a book full of indecent words and pictures. The second boy held it for only a few moments. Later in life, he held a high office in the church. Years afterward, he told a friend he would have given half of everything he owned never to have seen the book.

Light, flashy stories, with no intention in them, seriously injured the mind of a brilliant young lady, I once knew. Like the drug fiend whose brain has been stupefied, her brain became completely demoralized by constant mental dissipation. Familiarity with the bad, ruins the taste for the good. Her ambition and ideas of life became completely changed. Her only enjoyment was the excitement of her imagination through vicious books.

Light, flashy stories with no purpose seriously harmed the mind of a brilliant young woman I once knew. Her constant mental indulgence completely damaged her mind, much like the dulled brain of a drug addict. Familiarity with bad things ruins the taste for good things. Her ambition and ideas about life completely changed. Her only pleasure was the excitement these immoral books stirred in her imagination.

Nothing else will more quickly injure a good mind than familiarity with the frivolous, the superficial. Even though they may not be actually vicious, the reading of books which are not true to life, which carry home no great lesson, teach no sane or healthful philosophy, but are merely written to excite the passions, to stimulate a morbid curiosity, will ruin the best of minds in a very short time. It tends to destroy the ideals and to ruin the taste for all good reading.

Nothing will damage a good mind faster than familiarity with trivial and shallow things. Books may not be immoral, but they can still ruin the best minds in a very short time. These books are not true to life, convey no great lesson, and teach no sound or healthy philosophy. They are written only to stir the passions and excite unhealthy curiosity. Reading such books tends to destroy ideals and ruin the taste for all good reading.

Read, read, read all you can. But never read a bad book or a poor book. Life is too short, time too precious, to spend it in reading anything but the best.

Read, read, read all you can. But never read a bad or poor book. Life is too short and time too precious to read anything but the best.

Any book is bad for you, the reading of which takes away your desire for a better one.

Any book that makes you lose your desire to read a better one is bad for you.

Many people still hold that it is a bad thing for the young to read works of fiction. They believe that young minds get a moral twist from reading that which they know is not true, the descriptions of mere imaginary heroes and heroines, and of things which never happened. Now, this is a very narrow, limited view of a big question. These people do not understand the office of the imagination; they do not realize that many of the fictitious heroes and heroines that live in our minds, even from childhood's days, are much more real in their influence on our lives than some of those that exist in flesh and blood.

Many people still believe that reading fiction is bad for the young. They believe it gives young minds a moral twist to read things they know are not true. These include descriptions of imaginary heroes and heroines and events that never happened. But this is a very narrow view of a big question. These people do not understand the role of imagination. They do not realize that many fictional heroes and heroines live in our minds from childhood onward. These characters have a much more real influence on our lives than some people who exist in flesh and blood.

Dickens' marvelous characters seem more real to us than any we have ever met. They have followed millions of people from childhood to old age, and influenced their whole lives for good. Many of us would look upon it as a great calamity to have these characters of fiction blotted out of our memory and their influence taken out of our lives.

Dickens' remarkable characters seem more real to us than anyone we have ever met. They have stayed with millions of people from childhood to old age and influenced their whole lives for good. Many of us would consider it a great loss to have these fictional characters erased from our memories and their influence removed from our lives.

Readers are sometimes so wrought up by a good work of fiction, their minds are raised to such a pitch of courage and daring, all their faculties so sharpened and braced, their whole nature so stimulated, that they can for the time being attempt and accomplish things which were impossible to them without the stimulus.

A good work of fiction sometimes stirs readers deeply. It fills them with courage and daring, sharpens and strengthens all their faculties, and stimulates their whole nature. For a time, this stimulation lets them attempt and accomplish things that would otherwise be impossible for them.

This, it seems to me, is one of the great values of fiction. If it is good and elevating, it is a splendid exercise of all the mental and moral faculties; it increases courage; it rouses enthusiasm; it sweeps the brain-ash off the mind, and actually strengthens its ability to grasp new principles and to grapple with the difficulties of life.

This, I think, is one of the great values of fiction. If fiction is good and uplifting, it gives all our mental and moral abilities a splendid workout. It builds courage and stirs enthusiasm. It clears the ashes from the mind and actually strengthens its ability to grasp new principles and tackle life’s difficulties.

Many a discouraged soul has been refreshened, re-invigorated, has taken on new life by the reading of a good romance. I recall a bit of fiction, called "The Magic Story," which has helped thousands of discouraged souls, given them new hope, new life, when they were ready to give up the struggle.

Many discouraged people have found fresh strength and new life by reading a good novel. I remember a fictional work called "The Magic Story." It has given thousands of discouraged people new hope and new life when they were ready to give up the struggle.

The reading of good fiction is a splendid imagination exerciser and builder. It stimulates it by suggestions, powerfully increases its picturing capacity, and keeps it fresh and vigorous and wholesome, and a wholesome imagination plays a very great part in every sane and worthy life. It makes it possible for us to shut out the most disagreeable past, to shut out at will all hideous memories of our mistakes, failures, and misfortunes; it helps us to forget our trouble and sorrows, and to slip at will into a new, fresh world of our own making, a world which we can make as beautiful, as sublime, as we wish. The imagination is a wonderful substitute for wealth, luxuries, and for material things. No matter how poor we may be, or how unfortunate, we may be bedridden even, we can by its aid travel round the world, visit its greatest cities, and create the most beautiful things for ourselves.

Reading good fiction is a wonderful way to exercise and build the imagination. It stimulates the imagination with suggestions, greatly strengthens its ability to picture things, and keeps it fresh, vigorous, and healthy. A healthy imagination plays a very important part in every sane and worthy life. It lets us shut out the most unpleasant parts of the past and, whenever we wish, all painful memories of our mistakes, failures, and misfortunes. It helps us forget our troubles and sorrows and enter a new, fresh world of our own making. We can make that world as beautiful and sublime as we wish. Imagination is a wonderful substitute for wealth, luxuries, and material things. No matter how poor or unfortunate we may be, even if we are bedridden, imagination lets us travel around the world, visit its greatest cities, and create the most beautiful things for ourselves.

Sir John Herschel tells an amusing anecdote illustrating the pleasure derived from a book, not assuredly of the first order. In a certain village the blacksmith had got hold of Richardson's novel "Pamela, or Virtue Rewarded," and used to sit on his anvil in the long summer evenings and read it aloud to a large and attentive audience. It is by no means a short book, but they fairly listened to it all. "At length, when the happy turn of fortune arrived, which brings the hero and heroine together, and sets them living long and happily according to the most approved rules, the congregation were so delighted as to raise a great shout, and, procuring the church keys, actually set the parish bells ringing."

Sir John Herschel tells an amusing story about the pleasure a book can bring, even one that is certainly not among the best. In one village, the blacksmith had obtained Richardson's novel "Pamela, or Virtue Rewarded." On long summer evenings, he would sit on his anvil and read it aloud to a large, attentive audience. The book is far from short, but they listened to the whole thing. "At last, a happy turn of fortune brought the hero and heroine together. They went on to live long and happily, just as they should in a story. The listeners were so delighted that they gave a great shout. They got the church keys and actually rang the parish bells."

"It all comes back to us now," said the brilliant editor of the "Interior" not long ago, "that winter evening in the old home. The curtains are down, the fire is sending out a cheerful warmth and the shaded lamps diffusing a well-tempered radiance. The lad of fifteen is bent over a borrowed volume of sea tales. For hours he reads on, oblivious of all surroundings, until parental attention is drawn toward him by the unusual silence. The boy is seen to be trembling from head to foot with suppressed excitement. A fatherly hand is laid upon the volume, closing it firmly, and the edict is spoken, 'No more novels for five years.' And the lad goes off to bed, half glad, half grieved, wondering whether he has found fetters or achieved freedom.

"It all comes back to us now," said the brilliant editor of the "Interior" not long ago, "that winter evening in the old home. The curtains are drawn, and the fire sends out a cheerful warmth. The shaded lamps give off a gentle light. The fifteen-year-old boy is bent over a borrowed book of sea tales. He reads for hours, oblivious to everything around him. At last, the unusual silence draws his parents' attention. They see that the boy is trembling from head to foot with excitement he is trying to contain. His father lays a hand on the book, closes it firmly, and declares, 'No more novels for five years.' The boy goes off to bed, half glad and half sad, wondering whether he has been bound or set free.

"In truth he had received both; for that indiscriminating command forbade to him during a formative period of his life works which would have kindled his imagination, enriched his fancy, and heightened his power of expression; but if it closed to him the Garden of Hesperides, it also saved him from a possible descent to the Inferno; it made heroes of history, not demigods of mythology, his companions, and reserved to maturer years those excursions in the literature of the imagination which may lead a young man up to heaven or as easily drag him down to hell.

"In truth, he had received both. The blanket ban had kept him from reading certain works during a formative period of his life. Those works would have sparked his imagination, enriched his fancy, and strengthened his power of expression. But if the ban closed the Garden of Hesperides to him, it also saved him from a possible descent to the Inferno. It gave him the heroes of history as companions, rather than the demigods of mythology. It also made him wait until he was more mature to explore imaginative literature. Such reading may lead a young man up to heaven or just as easily drag him down to hell.

"The boy who is permitted to saturate his mind with stories of 'battle, murder, and sudden death,' is fitting himself, as the records of our juvenile courts show, for the penitentiary or perhaps the gallows. No man can handle pitch without defilement. We may choose our books, but we can not choose their effects. We may plant the vine or sow the thistle, but we can not command what fruit each shall bear. We may loosely select our library, but by and by it will fit us close as a glove.

"The boy who is allowed to fill his mind with stories of 'battle, murder, and sudden death' is preparing himself for prison or perhaps the gallows. The records of our juvenile courts show this. No one can handle pitch without getting dirty. We may choose our books, but we cannot choose their effects. We may plant a vine or sow a thistle, but we cannot command what fruit each will bear. We may choose our books carelessly, but eventually they will fit us as closely as a glove.

"There was never such a demand for fiction as now, and never larger opportunities for its usefulness. Nothing has such an attraction for life as life. But what the heart craves is not 'life as it is.' It is life as it ought to be. We want not the feeble but the forceful; not the commonplace but the transcendent. Nobody objects to the 'purpose novel' except those who object to the purpose. Dealing as it does in the hands of a great master, with the grandest passions, the most tender emotions, the divinest hopes, it can portray all these spiritual forces in their majestic sweep and uplift. And as a matter of history, we have seen the novel achieve in a single generation the task at which the homily had labored ineffectively for a hundred years. Realizing this, it is safe to say that there is not a theory of the philosopher, a hope of the reformer, or a prayer of the saint which does not eventually take form in a story. The novel has wings, while logic plods with a staff. In the hour it takes the metaphysician to define his premises, the story-teller has reached the goal—and after him tumbles the crowd tumultuous."

"Never before has there been such demand for fiction, or greater opportunities for it to do good. Nothing attracts us in life as much as life itself. But what the heart craves is not 'life as it is.' It is life as it ought to be. We want not the weak but the powerful, not the ordinary but the transcendent. Nobody objects to the 'purpose novel' except those who object to its purpose. In the hands of a great master, the novel deals with the grandest passions, the tenderest emotions, and the most divine hopes. It can portray all these spiritual forces in their majestic reach and uplifting power. History shows that the novel has accomplished in one generation what sermons struggled in vain to achieve for a hundred years. In light of this, we can safely say that every philosopher's theory, every reformer's hope, and every saint's prayer eventually takes the form of a story. The novel has wings, while logic trudges along with a walking stick. In the hour it takes a metaphysician to define his premises, the storyteller has reached the goal, with the crowd tumbling noisily after him."

With the assistance of Rev. Dr. E. P. Tenney, I venture upon the following lists of books in various lines of reading:

With help from Rev. Dr. E. P. Tenney, I offer the following lists of books on various subjects:

Fiction

Fiction

"The Arabian Nights Entertainment."

"The Arabian Nights Entertainment."

"Stories from the Arabian Nights" (Riverside School Library), contains many of the more famous stories. 50 c.

"Stories from the Arabian Nights" (Riverside School Library) contains many of the more famous stories. 50 cents.

Irving Bachelder's [Transcriber's note: "Bacheller"?] "Eben Holden," is a good book. 400,000 copies were sold.

Irving Bachelder's [Transcriber's note: "Bacheller"?] "Eben Holden" is a good book. It sold 400,000 copies.

J. M. Barrie's "Little Minister," a story of Scottish life, is very bright reading.

J. M. Barrie's "Little Minister," a story about Scottish life, is a lively read.

Bunyan's "Pilgrim's Progress," is one of the most famous of allegories.

Bunyan's "Pilgrim's Progress" is one of the most famous allegories.

Cervantes' "Don Quixote" is so widely known that any well-read man should know it. Its humor never grows old.

Cervantes' "Don Quixote" is so well known that any well-read man should know it. Its humor never gets old.

Ralph Connor's three books,—"The Man from Glengarry," "Black Rock," and "The Sky Pilot,"—have sold 400,000 copies.

Ralph Connor's three books, "The Man from Glengarry," "Black Rock," and "The Sky Pilot," have sold 400,000 copies.

Of George W. Cable's books, "The Cavalier," and "Old Creole Days" are among the best.

"The Cavalier" and "Old Creole Days" are among George W. Cable's best books.

Dinah Mulock Craik's "John Halifax, Gentleman," is of rare merit.

Dinah Mulock Craik's "John Halifax, Gentleman," is an exceptionally good book.

C. E. Craddock's (pseudonym), "In the Tennessee Mountains" is entertaining. A powerful story of mountain-life.

"In the Tennessee Mountains" by C. E. Craddock (a pseudonym) is entertaining. It is a powerful story of mountain life.

Of F. Marion Crawford's stories, among the best are "Mr. Isaacs" and "A Roman Singer."

"Mr. Isaacs" and "A Roman Singer" are among F. Marion Crawford's best stories.

Alexander Dumas' "Count of Monte Christo" [Transcriber's note: "Cristo"?] is a world-famous romance.

Alexander Dumas' "Count of Monte Christo" is a world-famous romance. [Transcriber's note: "Cristo"?]

Of George Eliot, "Silas Marner" is the best of the short stories, and "Romola" the best of the long. "Adam Bede" ranks barely second to "Silas Marner."

Of George Eliot's short stories, "Silas Marner" is the best. Of her long stories, "Romola" is the best. "Adam Bede" ranks a close second to "Silas Marner."

Charlotte Bronte's "Jane Eyre" remains a classic among earlier English novels.

Charlotte Bronte's "Jane Eyre" remains a classic among older English novels.

Edward Everett Hale's "Man without a Country" will be read as long as the American flag flies.

Edward Everett Hale's "Man without a Country" will be read as long as the American flag flies.

Hawthorne's "Mosses from an Old Manse" are stories of unique interest, and "The Scarlet Letter" is known to all well-read people.

Hawthorne's "Mosses from an Old Manse" contains uniquely interesting stories. All well-read people know "The Scarlet Letter".

Of Rudyard Kipling, read "Kim," and "The Man Who Would be King."

By Rudyard Kipling, read "Kim" and "The Man Who Would be King."

Pierre Loti's "Iceland Fisherman" is translated by A. F. de Koven. McClurg, $1.00.

Pierre Loti's "Iceland Fisherman" was translated by A. F. de Koven. McClurg, $1.00.

S. Weir Mitchell's "Hugh Wynne" sold 125,000 copies.

S. Weir Mitchell's "Hugh Wynne" sold 125,000 copies.

Thomas Nelson Page's "Gordon Keith" sold 200,000 copies.

Thomas Nelson Page's "Gordon Keith" sold 200,000 copies.

If you read only one of Walter Scott's novels, take "Ivanhoe," or "The Talisman." Five more of those most read are likely to follow.

If you read only one of Walter Scott's novels, choose "Ivanhoe" or "The Talisman." You will likely go on to read five more of his most popular novels.

Henryk Sienkiewicz's "Quo Vadis" is most notable.

Henryk Sienkiewicz's "Quo Vadis" is especially notable.

Robert L. Stevenson's "Treasure Island," and "Doctor Jekyll and Mr. Hyde," and "The Merry Men and Other Tales," are fair examples of the charm and insight of this author.

Robert L. Stevenson's "Treasure Island," "Doctor Jekyll and Mr. Hyde," and "The Merry Men and Other Tales" are good examples of his charm and insight.

He who reads Frank Stockton's "Rudder Grange" is likely to read more of this author's books.

Anyone who reads Frank Stockton's "Rudder Grange" is likely to read more of his books.

Mrs. H. B. Stowe's "Uncle Tom's Cabin" is still one of the great stories of the world.

Mrs. H. B. Stowe's "Uncle Tom's Cabin" is still one of the world's great stories.

Of Mark Twain, "Huckleberry Finn," "The Innocents Abroad," and the "Story of Joan of Arc" are representative volumes.

"Huckleberry Finn," "The Innocents Abroad," and the "Story of Joan of Arc" are representative works by Mark Twain.

Miss Warner's "Wide, Wide World" is unique in American fiction.

Miss Warner's "Wide, Wide World" is unique in American fiction.

John Watson's "Beside the Bonnie Briar Bush," sold 200,000 copies in America.

John Watson's "Beside the Bonnie Briar Bush" sold 200,000 copies in America.

Lew Wallace's "Ben Hur" is the greatest of scriptural romances.

Lew Wallace's "Ben Hur" is the greatest biblical romance.

Thirty-eight books by twenty-eight authors. It would have been easier to name a hundred authors and two hundred books.

Thirty-eight books by twenty-eight authors. It would have been easier to list a hundred authors and two hundred books.

I will add from "The Critic" a list whose sales have reached six figures:—

I will add a list from "The Critic" of works whose sales have reached six figures:

Books of Every-day Life

Books of Everyday Life

Romantic

Romantic