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The Heart of the Humanities: Reading, Writing, Teaching
From one of America's great professors, a collection of works exploring the importance of reading, writing, and teaching well, for anyone invested in the future of the humanities.
A renowned professor of English at the University of Virginia, Mark Edmundson has devoted his career to tough-minded yet optimistic advocacy for the humanities. He argues for the importance of reading and writing to an examined and fruitful life and affirms the invaluable role of teachers in opening up fresh paths for their students.
In his series of books Why Read? , Why Teach? , and Why Write? Edmundson explored the vital worldly roles of reading, teaching, and writing, earning a vocal following of writers, teachers, and scholars at the top of their fields, from novelist Tom Perrotta to critics Laura Kipnis and J. Hillis Miller.
Now for the first time The Heart of the Humanities collects into one volume this triad of impassioned arguments, including an introduction from the author on the value of education in the present and for the future. The perfect gift for students, recent graduates, writers, teachers, and anyone interested in education and the life of the mind, this omnibus edition will make a powerful and timely case for strengthening the humanities both in schools and in our society.
A renowned professor of English at the University of Virginia, Mark Edmundson has devoted his career to tough-minded yet optimistic advocacy for the humanities. He argues for the importance of reading and writing to an examined and fruitful life and affirms the invaluable role of teachers in opening up fresh paths for their students.
In his series of books Why Read? , Why Teach? , and Why Write? Edmundson explored the vital worldly roles of reading, teaching, and writing, earning a vocal following of writers, teachers, and scholars at the top of their fields, from novelist Tom Perrotta to critics Laura Kipnis and J. Hillis Miller.
Now for the first time The Heart of the Humanities collects into one volume this triad of impassioned arguments, including an introduction from the author on the value of education in the present and for the future. The perfect gift for students, recent graduates, writers, teachers, and anyone interested in education and the life of the mind, this omnibus edition will make a powerful and timely case for strengthening the humanities both in schools and in our society.
480 pages, Paperback
Published February 6, 2018
20 people are currently reading
170 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
November 21, 2018
I like to think I have a special relationship with this book. Why? Because I rescued it. During a routine scan-through of the neglected Education section at the bookstore where I work, The Heart of the Humanities popped up as due out; instead of sending it into the return piles, I bought it.
The Heart of the Humanities combines three of Mark Edmundson's books (or rather, long-form essays) into one. Written over a period between 2004 and 2016, these essays tackle three questions: Why Read?, Why Write?, and Why Teach? I rescued this book from certain death by recycling because I’m interested in the answers to these questions.
Obviously, this book isn’t for everyone. It’s written for a person who already believes that books are unique magical objects of not only transportation but also transformation. It’s written for someone who writes because reading just isn’t enough. It’s written for someone who teaches because they care about the future of our society and believe education is powerful. It’s written, in short, for someone who does these three things in spite of the many reasons not to do these things.
I was most intrigued by Edmundson’s deconstruction of the ways higher education in America has increasingly become a reflection of our larger consumer culture. Students, he says, now arrive at college having been catered to by marketing materials, and they expect their classes to be entertaining, rather than challenging. He implies that reading shouldn’t always be easy; yes, it’s nice to be diverted by a story for a while, but sometimes young people especially need to be challenged.
Although the three essays tend to overlap and repeat each other a bit, I found this collection, on the whole, to be enlightening and comforting in equal measures. The magic of any sort of book, to me, is when you see your own thoughts, feelings, and experiences reflected back at you. Particularly in the sections on reading and writing, this is what Mark Edmundson did for me.
I recommend this book for anyone who believes in the power of the written word to change individual lives, and anyone who teaches the humanities in spite of being told that they’re useless.
The Heart of the Humanities combines three of Mark Edmundson's books (or rather, long-form essays) into one. Written over a period between 2004 and 2016, these essays tackle three questions: Why Read?, Why Write?, and Why Teach? I rescued this book from certain death by recycling because I’m interested in the answers to these questions.
Obviously, this book isn’t for everyone. It’s written for a person who already believes that books are unique magical objects of not only transportation but also transformation. It’s written for someone who writes because reading just isn’t enough. It’s written for someone who teaches because they care about the future of our society and believe education is powerful. It’s written, in short, for someone who does these three things in spite of the many reasons not to do these things.
I was most intrigued by Edmundson’s deconstruction of the ways higher education in America has increasingly become a reflection of our larger consumer culture. Students, he says, now arrive at college having been catered to by marketing materials, and they expect their classes to be entertaining, rather than challenging. He implies that reading shouldn’t always be easy; yes, it’s nice to be diverted by a story for a while, but sometimes young people especially need to be challenged.
Although the three essays tend to overlap and repeat each other a bit, I found this collection, on the whole, to be enlightening and comforting in equal measures. The magic of any sort of book, to me, is when you see your own thoughts, feelings, and experiences reflected back at you. Particularly in the sections on reading and writing, this is what Mark Edmundson did for me.
I recommend this book for anyone who believes in the power of the written word to change individual lives, and anyone who teaches the humanities in spite of being told that they’re useless.
May 22, 2018
I thought it was really well-written, though it got repetitive at times. But extremely helpful!
June 19, 2019
I was intrigued by the subject matter, and found this to have a strong beginning. However, I often found myself falling in and out of love with the contents. Many is the time I'd mentally say "no, no, no" to his premises. But then the next page would have some penetrating insight. If I could figure out half stars, I'd give this 3.5. A great overall idea, but not fully developed or delivered... for me, that is. But, give it a go and see what you think.
April 23, 2020
The author’s clear, passionate, and distinct voice makes this book a real pleasure to read. He brings more precision to the vague “liberal arts teach critical thinking” arguments that have become stale. He really captures what’s at stake in reading, writing, and teaching well. I was re-inspired and captivated by the many excellent points made in this work.
March 14, 2019
Read this for a college course. Packed with insightful thoughts and perspectives.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews