Good books help make a civil society

by Dana Gioia

"I must study politics and war."

"But book reading of any kind is falling as well."

"Young people do not understand the ideals of citizenship... and their appreciation and support of American democracy is limited."

"I sit with Shakespeare and he winces not"

"Indeed, we sometimes underestimate how large a role literature has played in the evolution of our national identity."

I did think that this was a good paper. I think what she said in it was very true and that literature is very important. I think that reading is timeless and would have to disagree with her there. I think that everyone needs to study certain things, and she is right about that. How she would phrase things in this paper made it all flow together. I think that this was important to read at the beginning of the year.