内容介绍

　　在阅读那些经典之前，任何人都需要有所准备。训练有素地阅读那些伟大著作，才能真正有所收获！

　　在信息泛滥的当下，你是否已经失去了为愉悦而阅读的艺术？有没有一些书你知道自己应该读，却茫然无措，总是读不下去？《如何阅读西方经典》让那些担心自己阅读太慢或怀疑自己理解力的读者相信，如果你能浏览网页，就没有理由不能阅读和欣赏莎士比亚。但与此同时，在没有指南和计划的情况下，任何人都可能在那些经典文本中迷失。面对伟大的书籍，我们都需要有所准备，那就是拥有一套清晰、简明且实用的阅读方法。

　　本书作者苏珊·怀斯·鲍尔是美国通识教育的传奇人物，她广泛涉猎文学、历史、艺术和科学。本书是苏珊结合自己的阅读经验所著。她在书中向我们展示了什么是古典阅读的“三段论”，并借助这一清晰实用的学习工具，带领我们去阅读那些“你不可不知”的经典文本。这些经典并不局限与文学，而是囊括了小说、自传、历史、诗歌、戏剧、科普六大文体。从亚里士多德到斯蒂芬·霍金，从希波克拉底到杀死恐龙的小行星，作者针对每种文体给出了详细的阅读指导和经典书目，并对每种文体的发展史进行了简要描述，帮助读者建立自己的知识地图。

　　身处充满各种分心事物的时代，本书无疑为我们提供了一种鼓舞人心的解毒剂。任何想要从经典阅读中获得乐趣和自我提升的读者，都将借由本书打开一道新的大门。

　　作者简介

　　苏珊·怀斯·鲍尔（Susan Wise Bauer）

　　美国超级畅销书作家，传奇女子。1968年出生于美国弗吉尼亚，从小没有接受正规中小学教育，而是接受家庭教育。10岁学习拉丁语，14岁成为职业音乐家，16岁时写出3部小说，17岁进入大学学习，用5个学期完成英语语言文学专业本科课程，又作为访问学生赴牛津大学。获费城大学神学硕士学位，弗吉尼亚大学的英语语言文学硕士学位、美国研究博士学位。现在弗吉尼亚州威廉与玛丽学院教授文学与写作。她受益于家庭教育，也非常推崇家庭教育，著有《极简科学史》《世界史的故事》《受过良好教育的心灵：如何进行家庭教育》等著作。

Content introduction

Anyone needs to be prepared before reading those classics. If you are trained to read the great books, you can really learn!

In these days of information overload, have you lost the art of reading for pleasure? Are there any books you know you should be reading, but just don't know what to do with them? "How to Read the Western Classics" convinces readers who worry that they are reading too slowly or doubt their understanding that if you can browse the web, there is no reason why you can't read and enjoy Shakespeare. But at the same time, without a guide and a plan, anyone can get lost in those classic texts. We all need to be prepared for great books by having a clear, concise, and practical way of reading them.

The author, Susan Wise Bauer, is a legend of American liberal education who has read extensively in literature, history, art, and science. This book is based on Susan's own reading experience. In her book, she shows us what the "syllogism" of classical reading is, and with this clear and practical learning tool, leads us to read those classic texts that "you must not know". These classics are not limited to literature, but include six major genres: fiction, autobiography, history, poetry, drama and popular science. From Aristotle to Stephen Hawking, Hippocrates to dinosaur-killing asteroids, the author gives detailed reading instructions and bibliographies for each genre, and gives a brief description of the history of each genre to help readers build their own knowledge map.

In an age full of distractions, this book certainly offers an inspiring antidote. Anyone who wants pleasure and self-improvement from classic reading will open a new door with this book.

About the author

Susan Wise Bauer

I mean, I'm a legendary woman. Born in Virginia in 1968, he did not receive formal primary and secondary education from childhood, but received family education. He learned Latin at the age of 10, became a professional musician at the age of 14, wrote three novels at the age of 16, entered university at the age of 17, completed the undergraduate course of English language and literature in five semesters, and went to Oxford University as a visiting student. He holds a Master of Divinity degree from Philadelphia University, a Master of Arts degree in English Language and literature, and a doctorate in American studies from the University of Virginia. He teaches literature and writing at the College of William and Mary in Virginia. She is the author of books such as The History of Minimalist Science, The Story of World History, and The Educated Mind: How to Homeschool.