I really like this idea. I didn't even know about Whose Names Are Unknown... added it to the queue.
Re:How to live an intellectually rich life
by WillAdams on Saturday May 03, 2025 @08:30AM
(#43878631)
Previous discussion:
I’m not a literary scholar, but this seems like a great use case for ChatGPT. I’ve used it for music explorations and found it surprisingly good at providing context and interesting suggestions. I tried your idea with The Grapes of Wrath and it surfaced Whose Names Are Unknown, with a thoughtful explanation. Obviously it’s qualitative, but you can shape the prompt to reflect your taste and still get some worthwhile discoveries.
[1] https://chatgpt.com/share/68150654-bebc-8010-ad4b-050f5b39d4...
Re:How to live an intellectually rich life
by fellowniusmonk on Friday May 02, 2025 @02:37PM
(#43873298)
I would also suggest the childrens books Cheaper by the Dozen, The Musicians of Brennan, Morris' Disappearing Bag and The Red Badge of Courage.
I'd maybe throw in some of the little house on the prairie books as well, especially the one where they all almost froze to death.
I think being able to appreciate books as an adult is pretty contingent on being exposed to good books as a youth.
e.g., _Kim_ by Rudyard Kipling should be paired w/ Robert Heinlein's _Citizen of the Galaxy_, or _The Grapes of Wrath_, which was cribbed from Sanora Babb's notes w/o permission should be paired w/ her _Whose Names Are Unknown_:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1197158.Whose_Names_Are_...