Invitation to the Classics: A Guide to Books You've Always Wanted to Read (Masterworks Series) [Paperback]

Os Guinness (Editor), Louise Cowan (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1, 2006

Practically a classic itself, Invitation to the Classics is a popular guide to those great works of literature that you always meant to read. Full color and engaging, this book is a gateway to the fulfilling pursuit of understanding our culture by exploring its most enduring writings.

"These sparkling essays remind us of the deep pleasures of literature and its power to instruct and delight."--Publishers Weekly

"A magnificent resource, an urgently needed publication in an era when politically correct higher education is trying to deconstruct Western civilization. Wonderful!"--Charles Colson

"This important publication should be in every library and out on the table in every Christian home."--Dallas Willard

"Immerses us in the wisdom of the ages, those noble thoughts that enrich society's values and guide our youth along positive paths toward fruitful lives."--President Jimmy Carter

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Louise Cowan is professor of literature at the University of Dallas and cofounder of the Dallas Institute of Humanities and Culture. She is the author of many books and essays on literary and educational topics.

Os Guinness is a senior fellow with The Trinity Forum and the author of many books, including Time for Truth, The Call, and Long Journey Home.

Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Baker Books (August 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 080106810X
• ISBN-13: 978-0801068102
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.8 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #283,395 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

42 of 47 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars great book..not like any other guide to Classics, January 15, 2008

By 

Dimitra C. Bolger "DimiZee" (Portsmouth RI) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Invitation to the Classics: A Guide to Books You've Always Wanted to Read (Masterworks Series) (Paperback)

While there are many "guides" to the Classics out there, this one is one of my husband and my favorites; I am a graduate of St. John's College (MA in Great Books) and my husband had one of the authors (Louise Cowan) for undergrad...

We like the book for the philosopy it espouses...Christian humanistic but much smarter than your average "Christian" book. It is a great resource for overviews on the great thinkers and provides questions and good resources for more info. on each of the "great" writers." I find the questions to be more substantive and the resources to be more carefully researched than in other "guides" that I have read.

11 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Good but too Christian, February 18, 2010

By 

C. Philpott (New York, NY) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Invitation to the Classics: A Guide to Books You've Always Wanted to Read (Masterworks Series) (Paperback)

This is an excellent guide to the classics and places them in history nicely but it definitely written from a Christian point of view. The introduction says something about "standing beside other religions" but the book does not deliver that. I would love a version of this book without it being centered around Christianity.