Britannica Great Books of the Western World: book design pros and cons

[@JamesAdams-ev6fc]

Jim, I'm a big fan of your channel, but I missed this particular video. My uncle took this book series from work to retirement. He treasured the Great Books and he enjoyed reading through this formidable collection. The family still owns his copy. You know, the problem is not with the Great Books but with our desire to learn from them. A beautiful set.

[@micheldaw]

I own the 1990 2nd edition set, and I couldn't be happier! These books are meant to be savoured and slowly digested. I appreciate the black and gold covers and the slightly creamy appearance of the pages. As for marginalia, I can make notes and add comments when necessary. After all, we are meant to participate in The Great Conversation! These books are meant to be read thoroughly, and their content absorbed, not scarfed down like a $1.99 burger from McDonald's. Thank you for your channel. It's nice to see that the discussion around The Great Books set continues.

[@greatbooksbigideas]

Thanks, I appreciate it!

[@allen5455]

I read these books and I read from each every day... Like Lucas McCain in the "Riifleman" television series. I've explored the ten-year reading plan since 2014... Nearly complete on the first three years... Long way to go!

[@greatbooksbigideas]

Awesome!

[@charleskline2743]

I would really like to get a set of these. They've been on my wish list for some time. I enjoy your discussions on this fine and valuable set of books.

[@greatbooksbigideas]

They are out there in the wild. Used bookshops, library sales, eBay, Craigslist, etc. Hope you can get them soon!

[@detronbrian]

I have found that after about 10 minutes of reading, the font size and layout become easy to read. I am about half way through the set, and absolutely love these sets. When I find sets cheap, I buy them. when I find loose volumes for a steal ($1 each or so) I grab them.

[@greatbooksbigideas]

Nice! What's your method for working through the set?

[@detronbrian]

@@greatbooksbigideas I started by reading the Great Conversation, and then all of the essays in the Syntopicon as a primer. then I started with Homer and have been going in chronological order. I may write down quotes that I like, but I am not trying to master the works in a scholarly fashion, but to read them as if I was listening to wise intellectuals. for some of the math works, I do not attempt to master the math, but to marvel at the progression of thought and experimentation. I tell people like this "even if I only get 10% of what the works could provide, that puts me leagues ahead of the average person today, not to mention that the time devoted to this is time not wasted on frivolous things." I have now switched over to the second edition, but as I have both sets, I am including the 5 things only found in the 1st edition (1. The Great Conversation, 2. On Conic Section by Apollonius, 3. Tristram Shandy by Sterne, 4. Tom Jones by Fielding, and 5. Analytical Theory of Heat by Fourier.

[@detronbrian]

@@greatbooksbigideas @greatbooksbigideas I started by reading the Great Conversation, and then all of the essays in the Syntopicon as a primer. then I started with Homer and have been going in chronological order. I may write down quotes that I like, but I am not trying to master the works in a scholarly fashion, but to read them as if I was listening to wise intellectuals. for some of the math works, I do not attempt to master the math, but to marvel at the progression of thought and experimentation. I tell people like this "even if I only get 10% of what the works could provide, that puts me leagues ahead of the average person today, not to mention that the time devoted to this is time not wasted on frivolous things." I have now switched over to the second edition, but as I have both sets, I am including the 5 things only found in the 1st edition (1. The Great Conversation, 2. On Conic Section by Apollonius, 3. Tristram Shandy by Sterne, 4. Tom Jones by Fielding, and 5. Analytical Theory of Heat by Fourier.

[@paulanthonycamilleri6059]

Hi Jim. Thanks for another great video, and as always I love hearing your opinions on one of my favorite book collections. I'm clearly an outlier when it comes to the type font of this set in the sense that It has really never bothered me. I would argue in fact, that it has been a factor in making the reading of the books even more rewarding (although I can understand how this would turn some people off of reading past the first page). With such a small type font, these books pose a difficulty when trying to read them out in public, hence I find myself reading them at my desk most of the time where my concentration is solely upon the work. As you mentioned, one is forced to slow down and comprehend what they are reading. Those who wish to be able to get through these works at a similar rate to that of a novel need to look elsewhere; these works are to be chewed slowly and digested (Adler almost had an aneurysm in an interview when a caller claimed that he taught people to "speed read" the Great Books). Regarding the lack of space for annotation, I always found this to be a peculiar choice in the sense that Adler continuously stressed the importance of writing in and annotating books throughout his career. I on the other hand, found it to be beneficial overall. Rather than writing sentences on the pages, I would use symbols (argument, key point, a nice quote etc) and clarify these on post-it notes that I would leave in the book, alongside creating references to such in a separate notebook devoted to the work and its ideas. It gave me a chance to once again slow down, and think about what I had written, what I was thinking, and how the interweaving web was being modified by the new information. It was challenging, but that's the whole point. The thin paper never really was an issue for me, and justified my choice in refusing to use a highlighter. People may berate the layout but I think it's worth considering, I propose, that the decisions were largely a product of the times in order to make this set publicly available (and relatively affordable). If a larger type font and single column approach were implemented, I can only imagine the size of the collection becoming gargantuan and practically unwieldy, not to mention significantly more expensive (another possible reason why introductions and footnotes were omitted, which again I preferred to the dismay of my friends). PS. I agree regarding the condition of the 1st edition covers, my Plato volume has a significant crack in the spine, and a few of the other volumes show similar wear. Not the most aesthetic, but for me this set isn't furniture to give off a pseudo-intellectual vibe to guests.

[@greatbooksbigideas]

Thanks for the comments and the support. I agree on all counts!

[@scottselliers1672]

While I completely understand Beam's criticisms of the typeset and dual-column layout where it may concern contemporary readers, readers with experience with older manuscripts are more comfortable with the layout design. As the cost of paper lowered within the history of book publishing, the cost-saving standard of the dual-column layout eventually faded. However, for the sake of the efficient use of my shelf space as a limited resource, I appreciate the publisher's decision to utilize the dual-column layout, thin paper, and reasonable font size. Thank you for your exploration of the typesetter - you've helped me gain a broader appreciation of the design elements involved!

[@greatbooksbigideas]

You're welcome! It's great to read everyone's comments. I didn't think this video would generate that much discussion!

[@cathyberry9793]

Thank you for sharing your experience with these books. We inherited the 1952 set when my husband’s mom passed away. I started with Book 1 in April and am just now (mid Aug) up to “Prudence” in the Syntopicon. Very slow going indeed, but that’s mostly because I find myself rereading entire paragraphs just trying to “keep up” with the author of these discussion topics. I typically sit with a couple of pillows on my lap, and the book propped up on top to better read the tiny font. I keep a journal nearby to copy down favorite quotes and topics I want to look out for in the actual books, which I hope to get to before 2025. 😉 I also purchased a bottle of bookbinding glue because the spines are starting to crack as you demonstrated.

[@tmboyle344]

Say what you will about the set, the two volumes of the Syntopicon alone are worth their weight in gold. Thank you for the video.

[@greatbooksbigideas]

Thanks!

[@SarahGreatBooks]

These volumes are not easily accessible to me in the UK, so I got the ebook. When I finally saw one in person I was so glad that I didn’t need to read the tiny font. I do most of my reading in bed and it would have been so difficult. Plus I can take my kindle anywhere really easily and save the shelf space. Win win

[@greatbooksbigideas]

It is indeed small! Is there an official ebook version of the books, or are you gathering individual texts from various publishers? I'm glad you found something that works for you!

[@SarahGreatBooks]

@@greatbooksbigideas there’s an official one (y) it’s all exactly the same as the books

[@greatbooksbigideas]

Thanks for the info.

[@careyleblanc607]

Great video explaining all of the qualities of the books! Thanks for your time and effort. Sometimes, I also struggle with the double column, especially if the topic is difficult. When I get a little tired of that format, I fold an 8-1/2 x 11 sheet of copy paper in the width of a column and I just move that sheet around as a book mark. I cover the columns I don't want to see to make it easier to read. Other times, the double columns are fine. (edited: I hit post too soon)

[@greatbooksbigideas]

My pleasure!

[@asdisskagen6487]

I'm 56 and own an early edition set; I haven't had any problems reading the books. For anyone who may be concerned, Amazon sells book lights and page magnifiers at a very reasonable price.

[@greatbooksbigideas]

I have one of those lights on a headband strap that works great for reading in bed.

[@guesswhatilearnedtoday1087]

I just started reading the Aeschylus works over the weekend and the first one was hard to read. I had attributed it to the layout of the text, but I found I had no problem reading the next play. The print is pretty tiny for me. I annotate frequently but have been using notecards with minimal writing in the books and it has been working fine for me.

[@paulanthonycamilleri6059]

It was probably the translation. Cookson's translation of The Suppliant Maidens (which I believe is the first of Aeschylus' play in the set) along with a couple of others proved to be an exercise in endurance, but you get used to the archaic style after a while.

[@greatbooksbigideas]

Some of the older translations are a slog, and there are better ones out there. Penguin Classics comes to mind. But with this set you get all the plays together. Your annotation style sounds like a great idea at to go about it. Enjoy the Aeschylus. His Oresteia trilogy is essential reading. I really like Prometheus Bound, too.

[@easterneuropeantracksuit3312]

@@paulanthonycamilleri6059 Paul Anthony I have the same last name as you where are you from?

[@nualafaolin7129]

Thanks for the overview! I’ve got these as pdfs, so I can just zoom in!😉 I haven’t got to any scientific ones yet, are they also double columns? I just can’t get over how they managed to cram in so much (isn’t all of Shakespeare included, War and Peace, Don Quixote? 🤯)

[@detronbrian]

not to mention the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire yes, these are dense but magnificent.

[@nualafaolin7129]

@@detronbrian wow, that’s a huge amount of volumes right? Or did they abridge it? Actually, do you know if anything is abridged or are they all full versions?

[@greatbooksbigideas]

Yeah I think most of the science books are 2 column as well. One advantage to reading electronically is the zoom feature! It is rather miraculous how they packed so much into those volumes. Yes, complete Shakespeare and all the rest.

[@detronbrian]

@@nualafaolin7129 Summa Theologica they did selections but this was a massive work, and I believe the second edition John Calvin's Institutes of the Christian Religion was also abridged.

[@greatbooksbigideas]

Unabridged. That was a selling point versus the Harvard Classics, which abridged many of their works. Somewhere I read that the Thomas Aquinas isn't the complete Summa Theologica, but I might be wrong about that.

[@JamesAdams-ev6fc]

Jim, where does the icon of the Madonna and Child come from? (Behind you, next to the lamp.) Is it Catholic or Eastern Orthodox?

[@greatbooksbigideas]

I'm not sure. I think it's Eastern Orthodox. Can't remember where we got it from, unfortunately!

[@stretmediq]

I never had a problem problem reading them but then when I read anything I take off my glasses and hold the book about 2 inches from my face so I can block out the world 🤣

[@greatbooksbigideas]

LOL

[@ModernConversations]

Only way they should be selling these is large print.😐