Four hundred years on, the idea of “well read” is both much harder to define (less of a consensus) and also more difficult to fulfil from the global cornucopia of choice. The book list I’d consider essential to any description of well read might not be the next person’s; yet both such lists would be equally valid. I’d suggest that three kinds of reading define the well-read mind. I’ve only scratched the surface, but these would be indispensable to my definition of well read. If you’ve got a question for Book Clinic submit it below or email bookclinic@observer.co.uk

Source: The Guardian May 12, 2018 16:52 UTC