world. His purity, power, and passion, his magnificent imagination and
wonderful fertility, will place him in company with Shakspeare in the
eternal society of the great. Read Shelley's fragments from Calderon,
and Fitzgerald's translation, especially "Zalamea" and "The
Wonder-Working Magician," two of his greatest plays. (Spain, 17th cent.)
[76] Petrarch's lyrics have been models to all the great poets of
Southern Europe. The subject of nearly all his poems is his hopeless
affection for the high-minded and beautiful Laura de Sade. His purity is
above reproach. He is pre-eminent for sweetness, pathos, elegance, and
melody. (Italy, 14th cent.)
[77] Ariosto is Italy's great epic poet. Read his "Orlando Furioso," a
hundred-fold tale of knights and ladies, giants and magicians. (Italy,
1474-1533).
[78] Tasso is the second name in Italian epic poetry; and by some he is
placed above Ariosto and named in the same breath with Homer and Virgil.
Read his "Jerusalem Delivered," and "Aminta," and glance at his minor
poems composed while in confinement. (Italy, 16th cent.)
[79] Camoens is the glory of Portugal, her only poet whose fame has
flown far beyond her narrow borders. Read his grand and beautiful poem,
the "Lusiad," a national epic grouping together all the great and
interesting events in the history of his country. (16th cent.)
[80] Omar Khayyam, the great astronomer poet of Persia, has no equal in
the world in the concise magnificence with which he can paint a grand
poetic conception in a single complete, well-rounded, melodious stanza.
Read Fitzgerald's translation. (12th cent.)
[81] Firdusi, the author of the "Shah Nameh," or Poetic History of the
great deeds of the sultans. Hafiz, the poet of love, and Saadi are other
great Persian poets deserving at least a glance of investigation.
(11th-14th cents.)
[82] Arnold's "Light of Asia" claims our attention for the additions it
can make to our breadth of thought, giving us as it does briefly and
beautifully the current of thinking of a great people very unlike
ourselves. (Eng., 19th cent.)
[83] Pushkin is called the Byron of Russia. Russian songs have a
peculiar, mournful tenderness. "They are the sorrows of a century
blended in one everlasting sigh." (19th cent.)
[84] Lermontoff is the Russian Schiller. (19th cent.)
SCIENCE.
The most important sciences for the ordinary reader are Physiology,
Hygiene, Psychology, Logic, Political Economy, Sociology and the Science
of Government, Astronomy, Geology, and Natural History; but an
elementary knowledge of all the sciences is very desirable on account of
the breadth of mind and grasp of method which result therefrom. The
International Scientific Series is very helpful in giving the brief
comprehensive treatment of such subjects that is needed for those who
are not specialists. The best books in this department are continually
changing, because science is growing fast, and the latest books are apt
to be fuller and better than the old ones. The best thing that can be
done by one who wishes to be sure of obtaining the finest works upon any
given subject in the region of scientific research, is to write to a
professor who teaches that subject in some good university,--a professor
who has not himself written a book on the subject,--and get his judgment
on the matter.
[85] Physical health is the basis of all life and activity, and it is
of the utmost importance to secure at once the best knowledge the world
has attained in relation to its procurement and preservation. This
matter has far too little attention. If a man is going to bring up
chickens, he will study chicken books no end of hours to see just what
will make them lay and make them fat and how he may produce the finest
stock; but if he only has to bring up a few children, he will give no
time to the study of the physical conditions of their full and fine
development. Some few people, however, have a strange idea that a child
is nearly as valuable as a rooster. There is no book as yet written
which gives in clear, easily understood language the known laws of diet,
exercise, care of the teeth, hair, skin, lungs, etc., and simple
remedies. Perhaps Dalton's "Physiology," Flint's "Nervous System,"
Cutter's "Hygiene," Blaikie's "How to get Strong," and Duncan's "How to
be Plump," Beard's "Eating and Drinking," Bellows' "Philosophy of
Eating," Smith on Foods, Holbrook's "Eating for Strength," "Fruit and
Bread," "Hygiene for the Brain," "How to Strengthen the Memory," and
Kay's book on the Memory, Walter's "Nutritive Cure," Clark's "Sex in
Education," Alice Stockham's "Tokology" or "Hygiene for Married Women,"
and Naphy's "Transmission of Life" will together give some idea of this
all-valuable subject, though none of these books except the first are in
themselves, apart from their subject, worthy of a place on the first
shelf.
[86] Dr. Strong's little book, "Our Country," is of the most intense
interest to every American who loves his country and wishes its welfare.
(U. S., 19th cent.)
[88] The "Federalist" was a series of essays by Hamilton, Jay, and
Madison, in favor of the Federal Constitution, and is the best and
deepest book on the science of government that the world contains.
(Amer., 1788.)
[89] Bryce on the American Commonwealth is a splendid book, a complete,
critical, philosophic work, an era-making book, and should be read by
every American who wishes to know how our institutions appear to a
genial, cultured, broad-minded foreigner. Mr. Bryce has the chair of
Political Economy in Oxford, and is a member of Parliament. His chief
criticism of our great republic is that it is _hard to fix
responsibility_ for lawlessness under our institutions, which is always
an encouragement to wrongdoers. His book should be read with De
Tocqueville. (Eng., 19th cent.)
[90] Montesquieu's "Spirit of Laws" is a profound analysis of law in
relation to government, customs, climate, religion, and commerce. It is
the greatest book of the 18th century. Read with it Bagehot's "Physics
and Politics."
[91] Mill's "Logic" and "Political Economy" are simply necessities to
any, even moderately, thorough preparation for civilized life in
America. (Eng., 19th cent.)
[92] Read Bain on the "Emotions and the Will," "Mind and Body," etc.
(Eng., 19th cent.)
[93] Herbert Spencer is the foremost name in the philosophic literature
of the world. He is the Shakspeare of science. He has a grander grasp of
knowledge, and more perfect _conscious_ correspondence with the external
universe, than any other human being who ever looked wonderingly out
into the starry depths; and his few errors flow from an over-anxiety to
exert his splendid power of making beautiful generalizations. Read his
"First Principles," "Data of Ethics," "Education," and "Classification
of the Sciences," at any rate; and if possible, all he has written.
Plato and Spencer are brothers. Plato would have done what Spencer has,
had he lived in the 19th century.
[94] Darwin's "Origin of Species" stands in history by the side of
Newton's "Principia." The thought of both has to a great extent become
the common inheritance of the race; and it is perhaps sufficient for the
general reader to refer to a good account of the book and its arguments,
such as may be found in the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." (Eng., 19th
cent.)
[95] Read Herschel and Proctor in Astronomy, to broaden and deepen the
mind with the grand and beautiful conceptions of this most poetic of the
sciences. Proctor's books are more fascinating than any fiction. (Eng.,
19th cent.)
[96] For a knowledge of what has been going on in this dim spot beneath
the sun, in the ages before man came upon the stage, and for an idea
about what kind of a fellow man was when he first set up housekeeping
here, and how long ago that was, read Lyell's "Geology;" Lubbock's
"Prehistoric Times," "Origin of Civilization and Primitive Condition of
Man," and Lyell's "Antiquity of Man" (Eng., 19th cent.); and Dawson's
"Chain of Life." (U. S., 19th cent.)
[97] Read Wood's beautiful and interesting books on Natural History;
especially his "Evidences of Mind in Animals," "Out of Doors,"
"Anecdotes of Animals," "Man and Beast," "Here and Hereafter." (Eng.,
19th cent.)
[98] Whewell's "History of the Inductive Sciences" is a very broadening
book.
[99] De Tocqueville's "Democracy in America" is one of the great books,
and is superior in depth and style even to Bryce. The two books
supplement each other. See note 89: (France, 18th cent.)
[100] "Constitutional History of the United States." (Ger., 19th cent.)
[101] "Wealth of Nations," "Moral Sentiments." (Eng., 18th cent.)
[102] "Principles of Population." One of the most celebrated of books.
(Eng., 18th cent.)
[103] "Principles of Social Philosophy." (Eng., 19th cent.)
[104] "Essays on Political Economy," "Leading Principles of Political
Economy." (Eng., 19th cent.)
[105] "Comparative Politics." (Eng., 19th cent.)
[106] "The Theory of Political Economy," "The Logic of Statistics."
(Eng., 19th cent.)
[107] "The Nation, the Foundation of Civil Order and Political Life in
the United States." (U. S., 19th cent.)
[108] "Leviathan." See note 190. (Eng., 16th cent.)
[109] "The Prince." (Italy, 1469-1527.)
[110] "Chips from a German Workshop," and various works on Philology.
(Ger., 19th cent.)
[111] "Study of Words," etc. (Eng., 19th cent.)
[112] "Words and Places." (Eng., 19th cent.)
[113] "Natural History of Selborne." (Eng., 19th cent.)
[114] "Animal Kingdom." (France, early 19th cent.)
[115] "Voyages." (Eng., 18th cent.)
[116] "Heat as a Mode of Motion," "Forms of Water," etc. (Eng., 19th
cent.)
[117] "On Sound." (Eng., 19th cent.)
[118] "Scientific Researches." (Eng., 19th cent.)
[119] "Conservation of Energy." In a book on this subject edited by E.
L. Youmans. (Ger., 19th cent.)
[120] "Man's Place in Nature." (Eng., 19th cent.)
[121] Botany. (U. S., 19th cent.)
[122] "Methods of Study in Natural History." (U. S. 19th cent.)
[123] Physics. (U. S., 19th cent.)
BIOGRAPHY.
Biography carefully read will cast a flood of light before us on the
path of life. Read Longfellow's "Psalm of Life," and try to find the
teachings he refers to in the lives of great men. The world still lacks
what it very much needs,--a book of _brief_ biographies of the greatest
and noblest men and women of every age and country, by a master hand.
The aim should be to extract from the past what it can teach us of value
for the future; and to do this biography must become a comparative
science, events and lives must be grouped over the whole range of the
years, that by similarities and contrasts the truth may appear. Smiles's
"Self-Help" is a partial realization of this plan.
The manner of reading should be: R. D.
[124] Plutarch's "Lives" comes nearer to a comparative biography than
any other book we have. He contrasts his characters in pairs, a Greek
and a Roman in each couplet. It is one of the most delightful of books,
and among those most universally read by cultured people of all nations.
Dryden's translation revised by Clough is the best. (Rome, 1st cent.)
[125] In Wendell Phillips's oration on "Toussaint L'Ouverture," there is
a fascinating comparison of the noble negro warrior with Napoleon. (U.
S., 19th cent.)
[126] Boswell's "Johnson" is admittedly the greatest life of a single
person yet written. (Eng., 18th cent.)
[127] Lockhart's "Life of Scott" is a favorite with all who read it.
Wilkie Collins especially recommends it as finely picturing genius and
nobility of character. (Eng., 19th cent.)
[128] Marshall's "Life of Washington" is an inspiring book. Gladstone
said to Mr. Depew: "Sixty years ago I read Chief-Justice Marshall's
'Life of Washington,' and I was forced to the conclusion that he was
quite the greatest man that ever lived. The sixty years that have passed
have not changed that impression; and to any Englishman who seeks my
advice in the line of his development and equipment I invariably say,
'Begin by reading the Life of George Washington.'" (U. S., 19th cent.)
Franklin's "Autobiography" is brief, philosophic, and delightfully frank
and clear. (U. S., 18th cent.)
[129] "The Life of Lincoln," by Nicolay and Hay, is a book that has very
strong claims to the attention of every American, and every lover of
liberty, greatness, nobility, and kindliness. (U. S., 19th cent.)
Grant's "Memoirs" deserves reading for similar reasons. The great
General lived an epic, and wrote a classic. (U. S. 19th cent.)
[130] Read Carlyle's "Life of John Sterling," "Oliver Cromwell's
Letters and Speeches," and "Heroes and Hero Worship." (Eng., 19th cent.)
Renan's "Life of Christ." (France, 19th cent.)
[131] Canon Farrar's little "Life of Dante" is, considering its brevity,
one of the best things in this department. (Eng., 19th cent.)
[132] Emerson's "Representative Men" most strongly stirs thought and
inspires the resolution. (U. S., 19th cent.)
[133] "The Portrait Collection of the Hundred Greatest Men," published
by Sampson, Low, & Co., 1879.
[134] Read Parton's "Sketches of Men of Progress." (U. S., 19th cent.)
[135] "Lights of Two Centuries." (U. S., 19th cent.)
[136] "Our Great Benefactors." (U. S., 19th cent.)
[137] "Book of Martyrs." (Eng., early 16th cent.)
[138] "The Life and Times of Goethe," and "Michaelangelo." Most
interesting books. (Germany, 19th cent.)
[139] "English Statesmen." (Eng., 19th cent.)
[140] "Life of Napoleon." (France, 19th cent.)
[141] "Lives of the Poets." (Eng., 18th cent.)
[142] Walton's "Lives." (Eng., 17th cent.)
[143] "Life of Dr. Arnold." (Eng., 19th cent.)
[144] "Life of Washington." (U. S., 19th cent.)
[145] "Life of Nelson." (Eng., 19th cent.)
[146] "Life of Pitt." (Eng., 19th cent.)
[147] "Life of Byron." (Eng., 19th cent.)
[148] "Lives of Female Sovereigns and Illustrious Women." (Eng., 19th
cent.)
[149] "Lives of the Saints." (Eng., 19th cent.)
[150] "Memories of many Men." (U. S., 19th cent.)
[151] "Reminiscences." (U. S., 18th cent.)
The Life and Letters of Darwin, Talleyrand, and Macaulay; the Journals
of Miss Alcott, Marie Bashkirtseff, and Eugenie de Guerin; the
Autobiography of Joseph Jefferson; the "American Statesmen" series,
edited by John T. Morse, Jr., and the "English Men of Letters" series
are all valuable books. The Journals of Miss Alcott and Marie
Bashkirtseff are stories of heart struggles, longings, failures, and
triumphs, and are of exceeding interest and great popularity. The
Journal of Eugenie de Guerin deserves to be better known than it is, for
the delicate sweetness of feeling that fills its pages.
HISTORY.
Remarks may be made about History very similar to those in the special
remarks concerning Biography. The field is too vast for an ordinary
life, and there is no book that will give in brief compass the net
results and profits of man's investment in experience and life,--the
dividends have not been declared. Guizot and Buckle come nearer to doing
this than any other writers; but _the_ book that shall reduce the past
to principles that will guide the future has not yet been written. The
student will be greatly assisted by the "Manual of Historical
Literature," by C. K. Adams. It is an admirable guide. Putnam's series,
"The Stories of the Nations," and Scribner's "Epoch" series are very
useful, especially for young people.
The manner of reading the best history should be: R. D. G.
[152] Green's "History of the English People" has probably the first
claims on the general reader. (Eng., 19th cent.)
[153] Bancroft's "History of the United States" should be read by every
American citizen, along with Dr. Strong's "Our Country." (U. S., 19th
cent.) The only trouble with Bancroft is that he does not bring the
history down to recent times. Hildreth for the student, and Ridpath for
practical business men supply this defect. Doyle's "History of the
United States" is perhaps the best small book, and his "American
Colonies" is also good. McMaster's "History of the People of the United
States" is a brilliant work, given largely to an account of the social
life of the people.
[154] Guizot's "History of Civilization" and "History of France"
(France, 19th cent.) are among the greatest books of the world; and with
Buckle's "History of Civilization" (Eng., 19th cent.) will give a
careful reader an intellectual breadth and training far above what is
attained by the majority even of reading men.
[155] Parkman is the Macaulay of the New World. He invests the truths of
sober history with all the charms of poetic imagination and graceful
style. His literary work must take its place by the side of Scott and
Irving. Read his "France and England in North America," "Conspiracy of
Pontiac," and "The Oregon Trail."
Freeman, Fiske, and Fyffe are also great historians, who require notice
here. Freeman's "Comparative Politics," "History of the Saracens,"
"Growth of the English Constitution," "History of Federal Government,"
and "General Sketch of History" are all great works,--the last being the
best brief account of general history that we possess. (Eng., 19th
cent.)
Fiske's "Civil Government," "War of Independence," and "Critical Period
of American History" are standard books. (U. S., 19th cent.)
Fyffe's "Modern Europe" is called the most brilliant picture of the
Revolutionary Period in existence. It is certainly one of the best of
histories.
[155a] "Fifteen Decisive Battles of the World." (Eng., 19th cent.)
[156] "History of England in the 18th Century," "History of European
Morals." These books take very high rank in respect to style, accuracy,
and completeness. (Eng., 19th cent.)
[157] "Ten Great Religions," by James Freeman Clarke. (U. S., 19th
cent.)
[158] "Comparative History of Religion."
[159] "Intellectual Development of Europe." A work of great power. (U.
S., 19th cent.)
[160] "Middle Ages." (Eng., 19th cent.)
[161] "Constitutional History of England." Bagehot's "English
Constitution" should be read with the works of Hallam, Freeman, and May
on this topic, because of its brilliant generalizations and ingenious
suggestions. (Eng., 19th cent.)
[162] "History of England." (Eng., 18th cent.)
[163] "History of England." (Eng., 19th cent.)
[164] "History of England." (Eng., 19th cent.)
[165] "Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire." (Eng., 18th cent.)
[166] "History of Greece." (Eng., 19th cent.)
[167] "History of New England." (U. S., 19th cent.)
[168] "Conquest of Mexico," "Peru," "Ferdinand and Isabella," etc.
Prescott's style is of the very best, clear, graphic, and ever
interesting. (U. S., 19th cent.)
[169] "Rise of the Dutch Republic." (U. S., 19th cent.)
[169a] "Rise of the Republic of the United States." (U. S., 19th cent.)
[170] "Ancient Egyptians." (Eng., 19th cent.)
[171] "History of Rome." (Eng., 19th cent.)
[172] "History of the Germans." (Ger., 1798.)
[173] "Latin Christianity." (Eng., 19th cent.)
[174] "History of the Papacy in the 16th and 17th Centuries." Ranke is
one of the strongest names in history. (Ger., 19th cent.)
[175] "Italian Republics." (France, 1773-1842.)
[176] "History of France." (France, 19th cent.)
[177] "French Revolution." (Eng., 19th cent.)
[178] "History of France," "Norman Conquest of England." (France, 19th
cent.)
[179] "Germania." His "Life of Agricola" is also worthy of note for the
insight into character, the pathos, vigor, and affection manifested in
its flattering pages. (Rome, 1st cent.)
[180] "History of Rome." (Rome, 1st cent. B. C.)
[181] "The War of Catiline." (Rome, 1st cent. B. C.)
[182] History of nearly all the nations known at the time he wrote.
(Greece, 5th cent. B. C.)
[183] "Anabasis, the Retreat of the Greek Mercenaries of the Persian
King." (Greece, 5th cent. B. C.)
[184] "History of the Athenian Domination of Greece." (Greece, 5th cent.
B. C.)
[185] "History of the Jewish Wars." (Jerusalem, 1st cent.)
Mackenzie's "History of the Nineteenth Century" is the best English book
on the subject.
Rawlinson's "Five Great Monarchies" is strongly recommended.
PHILOSOPHY.
There have been, since the waters of thought began to flow, two great
streams running side by side,--Rationalism and Mysticism. Those who sail
upon the former recognize Reason as king; those upon the latter enthrone
some vague and shadowy power, in general known as Intuition. The
tendency of the one is to begin with sense impressions, and out of these
to build up a universe in the brain corresponding to the outer world,
and to arrive at a belief in God by climbing the stairway of induction
and analogy. The tendency of the other is to start with the affirmed
nature of God, arrived at, the thinker knows not how, and deduce the
universe from the conception of the Divine Nature. If this matter is
kept in mind, the earnest student will be able to see through the mists
sufficiently to discover what the philosophers are talking about
whenever it chances that they themselves knew. Spencer, Plato, Berkeley,
Kant, Locke, are all worthy of a thorough reading; and Comte's
philosophy of Mathematics is of great importance.
The manner of reading good philosophic works should be: R. D. G.
[186] Spencer's Philosophy is the grandest body of thought that any one
man has ever given to the world. No one who wishes to move with the tide
can afford to be unfamiliar with his books, from "First Principles" to
his Essays. He believes that all ideas, or their materials, have come
through the avenues of the senses. (Eng., 19th cent.)
[187] Plato and Socrates are a double star in the sky of Philosophy that
the strongest telescopes have failed to resolve. Socrates wrote nothing,
but talked much. Plato was a pupil of his, and makes Socrates the chief
character in his writings. Ten schools of philosophy claimed Socrates as
their head, but Plato alone represented the master with fulness.
Considering the times in which he lived, the grandeur of his thought,
the power of his imagination, and the nobility, elegance, originality,
and beauty of his writings, Plato has no superior in the whole range of
literature. With Plato, ideas are the only realities, things are
imperfect expressions of them, and all knowledge is reminiscence of what
the soul learned when it was in the land of spirit, face to face with
ideas unveiled. Read his dialogues, especially "Phaedo" and the
"Republic." (Greece, 429-348 B. C.)
[188] A most acute idealist, whose argument against the existence of
matter is one of the great passages of literature. (Eng., 18th cent.)
[189] Kant argues that the _forms_ of _thought_, _time_, and _space_ are
necessarily intuitive, and not derived from sensation, since they are
prerequisites to sensation. Read the "Critique of Pure Reason,"
"Critique of Practical Reason," in which he treats moral philosophy, and
"Observations on the Sublime and Beautiful." (Germany, 18th cent.)
[190] Locke bases knowledge on sensation. His "Essay on the Conduct of
the Understanding" is one of the most valuable books in the language.
Spencer, Mill, and Locke have so fully imbibed all that was good in
Hobbes that it is scarcely necessary to read him. (Eng., 17th cent.)
[191] Comte's "Positive Philosophy" rejects intuitive knowledge. It is
characterized by force of logic, immense research, great power of
generalization (which is frequently carried beyond the warrant of
facts), and immense bulk. (France, 19th cent.)
[192] Sensationalist. A very strong writer. (Eng., 19th cent.)
[193] "Limits of Religious Thought." A very powerful exposure of the
weakness of human imagination. (Eng., 19th cent.)
[194] "Matter and Force." A powerful presentation of Materialism. (Ger.,
19th cent.)
[195] "Freedom of the Will." A demonstration of the impossibility of
free will. (Amer., 18th cent.)
[196] A very acute English philosopher. (Eng., 1748-1832.)
[197] Moral and Metaphysical Philosophy. (Eng., 19th cent.)
[198] A deep, clear thinker, of sceptical character, who laid bare the
flaws in the old philosophies. (Eng., 1711-1776.)
[199] One of the most profound metaphysicians the world can boast, and
inventor of quaternions, the latest addition to Mathematics. (Scot.,
19th cent.)