Comments on: Best of the Blogs: The Harvard Classics Project http://www.overthinkingit.com/2008/06/07/best-of-the-blogs-the-harvard-classics-project/ Overthinking It subjects the popular culture to a level of scrutiny it probably doesn't deserve. Sun, 21 Mar 2010 13:19:48 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Beej http://www.overthinkingit.com/2008/06/07/best-of-the-blogs-the-harvard-classics-project/#comment-9693 Beej Fri, 12 Jun 2009 19:16:50 +0000 http://www.overthinkingit.com/?p=304#comment-9693 I think that academia has gotten too stuffy for its own good these days. Sites like this fellow's actually make higher learning fun, like it should be. There is nothing wrong injecting pop culture into classics because what made them classics in the first place is a lasting relevance to cultures outside those in which they were written. If they don't stand up with some level of cultural relevance, then perhaps those people sitting in their ivory towers need to reconsider why those books are on the list in the first place. Kudos to Chris! I think that academia has gotten too stuffy for its own good these days. Sites like this fellow’s actually make higher learning fun, like it should be. There is nothing wrong injecting pop culture into classics because what made them classics in the first place is a lasting relevance to cultures outside those in which they were written. If they don’t stand up with some level of cultural relevance, then perhaps those people sitting in their ivory towers need to reconsider why those books are on the list in the first place.

Kudos to Chris!

]]> By: Beavis and Butthead meets Byron « Hanging Around On The Wrong Side Of The World (still) http://www.overthinkingit.com/2008/06/07/best-of-the-blogs-the-harvard-classics-project/#comment-1514 Beavis and Butthead meets Byron « Hanging Around On The Wrong Side Of The World (still) Fri, 12 Sep 2008 14:41:40 +0000 http://www.overthinkingit.com/?p=304#comment-1514 [...] meets Byron Posted by Moll under its a blog innit | Tags: bloggery, books |   Via Overthinking It (my new favourite blog) I just came across Chris Marcil’s blog following his attempt to read [...] [...] meets Byron Posted by Moll under its a blog innit | Tags: bloggery, books |   Via Overthinking It (my new favourite blog) I just came across Chris Marcil’s blog following his attempt to read [...]

]]> By: Dan Alt http://www.overthinkingit.com/2008/06/07/best-of-the-blogs-the-harvard-classics-project/#comment-430 Dan Alt Sun, 08 Jun 2008 15:09:15 +0000 http://www.overthinkingit.com/?p=304#comment-430 Well, in this case, a standard height and width IS a valid assumption, given that all of these books are the same size. When the middle school where I used to teach was torn down, I picked up a few of these at the "we'd rather not move these to the new library" bin. Haven't gotten around to actually READING them, you understand, but I plan to before I die. Bear in mind, my Yale education was at the graduate level, so I didn't learn about anything outside of my narrow area of study. I'm not as literate as you folks. But I know how to calculate the metallicity of an F0 star. At least, I would, if I hadn't slept through a lot of lectures. Well, in this case, a standard height and width IS a valid assumption, given that all of these books are the same size.

When the middle school where I used to teach was torn down, I picked up a few of these at the “we’d rather not move these to the new library” bin. Haven’t gotten around to actually READING them, you understand, but I plan to before I die.

Bear in mind, my Yale education was at the graduate level, so I didn’t learn about anything outside of my narrow area of study. I’m not as literate as you folks. But I know how to calculate the metallicity of an F0 star. At least, I would, if I hadn’t slept through a lot of lectures.

]]> By: fenzel http://www.overthinkingit.com/2008/06/07/best-of-the-blogs-the-harvard-classics-project/#comment-424 fenzel Sat, 07 Jun 2008 22:55:55 +0000 http://www.overthinkingit.com/?p=304#comment-424 Or weight. We should come up with a measure of intellectual material that measures other media in terms of the equivalent weight -- we could call them book-pounds. Or weight.

We should come up with a measure of intellectual material that measures other media in terms of the equivalent weight — we could call them book-pounds.

]]> By: wrather http://www.overthinkingit.com/2008/06/07/best-of-the-blogs-the-harvard-classics-project/#comment-423 wrather Sat, 07 Jun 2008 22:29:02 +0000 http://www.overthinkingit.com/?p=304#comment-423 I like measuring books by the foot, but to do so commits the logical error of imagining a standard height and width. Perhaps another measure, such as volume, is needed. I like measuring books by the foot, but to do so commits the logical error of imagining a standard height and width.

Perhaps another measure, such as volume, is needed.

]]> By: fenzel http://www.overthinkingit.com/2008/06/07/best-of-the-blogs-the-harvard-classics-project/#comment-420 fenzel Sat, 07 Jun 2008 20:52:07 +0000 http://www.overthinkingit.com/?p=304#comment-420 Well, Moby Dick alone would take you about eight months. And if you're not reading Moby Dick, what's the damned point? Well, Moby Dick alone would take you about eight months.

And if you’re not reading Moby Dick, what’s the damned point?

]]> By: Punch and Pie http://www.overthinkingit.com/2008/06/07/best-of-the-blogs-the-harvard-classics-project/#comment-416 Punch and Pie Sat, 07 Jun 2008 16:19:18 +0000 http://www.overthinkingit.com/?p=304#comment-416 Does anyone know, at fifteen minutes a day, how long it would take to read through all five feet of Western Canon? It's like digging your way out of Shawshank with a freaking rock hammer. Does anyone know, at fifteen minutes a day, how long it would take to read through all five feet of Western Canon? It’s like digging your way out of Shawshank with a freaking rock hammer.

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