The Uses of Literature

It's Calvino, which should be enough of an argument for this book by merely invoking the name. But what is valuable here is not Calvino worship, but a much needed voice from the not so distant past that argues the ways that literature is something more than summer beach reading or a way to make life fulfilling. There is a life-giving quality to deeply consuming literature, and an a thoughtful digesting of Calvino's views (along with a buffet of many others), can help you understand the necessity of Literature across the broad table of current modern life demands.Literature does not need to be the main course for everyone, but removing literature from one's intellectual diet is like saying "I don't eat anything green." You'll inevitably end up sick without it.

Got print on demand copy, but was not noted as such at time of purchase. Ugly rubber cover does not match rest of series.

As usual, Calvino does not disappoint. The writing is intelligent, and always dynamic, and he has this playful sensibility which really comes through in his non fiction work. "Why read the classics?" I found especially resonant and gratifying since I studied them in grad school. He just brings such a fresh, lively perspective to everything he writes about, heck, he almost made me want to read Dickens again in 'the novel as spectacle'Note: a lot of the pieces from section II can also be found in his collection "Why read the classics?" which is also great

The quality of this $10(!) ebook is surprisingly low. One might expect a major publishing house to ensure better OCR'ing.

Comprato per un esame. Aiuta tantissimo.

fine.