The Pleasures of Reading

At first blush this closely written 500-page book seems not to be one for the general reader but a work which requires for its understanding and critical appreciation a degree of learning and scholarship above the average. Such a limitation would be unfortunate if the central idea of the author's thesis is to receive the broad dissemination he probably intends. However, notwithstanding a terminology that is sometimes formidable and the introduction of concepts often abstruse, any interested reader of this volume will undoubtedly find much informative material presented with sufficient clarity and simplicity so that his store of knowledge of the subject matter will be enlarged. As to the conclusions and recommendations of the writer, many will receive ready acceptance, some will be rejected, upon others judgment will have to be reserved.