Synopses & Reviews
The runaway French bestseller hailed by the New York Times as a survivors guide to life in the chattering classes.” If civilized people are expected to have read all important works of literature, and thousands more books are published every year, what are we supposed to do in those awkward social situations in which were forced to talk about books we havent read? In this delightfully witty, provocative book, a huge hit in France that has drawn attention from critics around the world, literature professor and psychoanalyst Pierre Bayard argues that its actually more important to know a books role in our collective library than its details. Using examples from such writers as Graham Greene, Oscar Wilde, Montaigne, and Umberto Eco, and even the movie
Groundhog Day, he describes the many varieties of non-reading” and the horribly sticky social situations that might confront us, and then offers his advice on what to do. Practical, funny, and thought-provoking,
How to Talk About Books You Havent Read is in the end a love letter to books, offering a whole new perspective on how we read and absorb them. Its the book that readers everywhere will be talking aboutand despite themselves, readingthis holiday season.
Pierre Bayard is a professor of French literature at the University of Paris VIII and a psychoanalyst. He is the author of
Who Killed Roger Ackroyd?and of many other books.
Jeffrey Mehlman is a professor of French at Boston University and the author of a number of books, including
Emigré New York. He has translated works by Derrida, Lacan, Blanchot, and other authors.
A New York Times Notable Book of the Year Many feel the pressure to be able to say that they have read all important works of literature and feel awkward when they land in a social situation where they are asked to talk about a book they have not read. In this witty, provocative book, literature professor and psychoanalyst Pierre Bayard suggests that it's possible to have an interesting conversation about a book without reading it. He argues that its actually more important to know about a books role in our collective library than its details. Using examples from such writers as Graham Greene, Oscar Wilde, Montaigne, and Umberto Eco, and even the movie
Groundhog Day, Bayard describes the many varieties of non-reading” and the sticky social situations that might confront "non-readers." Practical, funny, and thought-provoking,
How to Talk About Books You Haven't Read is an homage to books that offers a new perspective on how we read and absorb them. Its the book for readers and book lovers to enjoy, ponder, and argue about. "I probably shouldn't bring any of this up, but Mr. Bayard holds that one of the best reasons for reading a book is that it allows you to talk about yourself.
How to Talk About Books You Haven't Read is an amusing disquisition on what is required to establish cultural literacy in a comfortable way. Lightly laced with irony, the book nonetheless raises such serious questions as: What are our true motives for reading? Is there an objective way to read a book? What do we retain from the books we've read?"
Joseph Epstein, Wall Street Journal "I read and adored Pierre Bayards book. It's funny, smart, and so truea wonderful combination of slick French philosophizing and tongue-in-cheek wit, and an honest appraisal of what it means, or doesn't mean, to read."
Clare Messud, author of The Emperors Children It may well be that too many books are published, but by good fortune, not all must be read . . . A survivors guide to life in the chattering classes . . . evidently much in need.”The New York Times
"In this work of inspired nonsensewhich nevertheless evokes our very real sense of insecurity about the gaps in our cultural knowledgereading is not only superfluous, it is meaningless. Our need to appear well-read is all."Sarah Gold, Chicago TribuneIn this hilarious and elaborate spoof, Bayard proves once again that being almost ridiculously erudite and screamingly funny are by no means mutually exclusive."Booklist "Bayard begins this primer by explaining that even the most voracious readers can only read so many books, and for every book one chooses, 'all the other books in the universe' are put aside. Even if one has not read a book, it is still possible to be aware of its 'cultural location' or how it is situated in relation to other titles in our collective awareness. For example, the author confesses that he has not read Joyce's Ulysses, but he knows that it is a stream-of-consciousness retelling of the Odyssey, and that it takes place in Dublin in a single day. Searching his 'intellectual library,' he feels confident discussing what he knows. Books that we do read become a part of us, and those we discuss are mostly what Bayard calls 'screen books,' or substitute objects we create out of our own notion of the book. The second part espouses the idea that 'readers and nonreaders alike are caught up in an endless process of inventing books' through discussion. And finally, the last part reveals how the author believes the exercise of discussing unread books offers the opportunity for self-discovery and the freedom to invent one's own text. By using our own experiences and memories, we create our own book in the telling. Witty, thought-provoking, and definitely worth actually reading, this title promises to be popular with English teachers looking for ideas to jump-start writing exercises, as well as with teens who realize that they simply can't read everything."Dana Coburn, School Library Journal A witty and useful piece of literary sociology, designed to bring lasting peace of mind to the scrupulous souls who grow anxious whenever the book-talk around them becomes too specific.”London Review of Books With rare humor, Bayard liberally rethinks the social use [of literature] and the position of the reader . . . Read or skim How to Talk About Books You Havent Read. Or simply listen to what people say about it so that you can talk about it with ease. In either case, you may not be able to forget it.”Les Inrockuptibles
Review
Praise for How to Talk About Books You Havent Read: "I probably shouldn't bring any of this up, but Mr. Bayard holds that one of the best reasons for reading a book is that it allows you to talk about yourself. H
ow to Talk About Books You Haven't Read is an amusing disquisition on what is required to establish cultural literacy in a comfortable way. Lightly laced with irony, the book nonetheless raises such serious questions as: What are our true motives for reading? Is there an objective way to read a book? What do we retain from the books we've read?"--
Joseph Epstein, Wall Street Journal “Witty and charming and often fun.”
—Sam Anderson, New York Magazine "I read and adored Pierre Bayards book. It's funny, smart, and so true—a wonderful combination of slick French philosophizing and tongue-in-cheek wit, and an honest appraisal of what it means, or doesn't mean, to read."--
Clare Messud, author of The Emperors Children “It may well be that too many books are published, but by good fortune, not all must be read…A survivors guide to life in the chattering classes…evidently much in need.”—New York Times
"In this work of inspired nonsense -- which nevertheless evokes our very real sense of insecurity about the gaps in our cultural knowledge -- reading is not only superfluous, it is meaningless. Our need to appear well-read is all."--Sarah Gold, Chicago Tribune“In this hilarious and elaborate spoof, Bayard proves once again that being almost ridiculously erudite and screamingly funny are by no means mutually exclusive." —Booklist “Brilliant…A witty and useful piece of literary sociology, designed to bring lasting peace of mind to the scrupulous souls who grow anxious whenever the book-talk around them becomes too specific.”—London Review of Books “With rare humor, Bayard liberally rethinks the social use [of literature] and the position of the reader…Read or skim How to Talk About Books You Havent Read. Or simply listen to what people say about it so that you can talk about it with ease. In either case, you may not be able to forget it.”—Les Inrockuptibles
Review
“Brilliant…A witty and useful piece of literary sociology.”—
London Review of Books “I read and adored Pierre Bayards book. I t's funny, smart, and so true—a wonderful combination of slick French philosophizing and tongue-in-cheek wit, and an honest appraisal of what it means, or doesn't mean, to read.”—Claire M essud, author of The Emperors Children
Synopsis
The runaway French bestseller hailed by the New York Times as "a survivor's guide to life in the chattering classes." If civilized people are expected to have read all important works of literature, and thousands more books are published every year, what are we supposed to do in those awkward social situations in which we're forced to talk about books we haven't read? In this delightfully witty, provocative book, a huge hit in France that has drawn attention from critics around the world, literature professor and psychoanalyst Pierre Bayard argues that it's actually more important to know a book's role in our collective library than its details. Using examples from such writers as Graham Greene, Oscar Wilde, Montaigne, and Umberto Eco, and even the movie Groundhog Day, he describes the many varieties of "non-reading" and the horribly sticky social situations that might confront us, and then offers his advice on what to do. Practical, funny, and thought-provoking, How to Talk About Books You Haven't Read is in the end a love letter to books, offering a whole new perspective on how we read and absorb them. It's the book that readers everywhere will be talking about--and despite themselves, reading--this holiday season.
Synopsis
If civilized people are expected to have read all important works of literature, and thousands more books are published every year, what are we supposed to do in those awkward social situations in which we're forced to talk about books we haven't read? In this delightfully witty, provocative book, a huge hit in France that has drawn huge attention from critics around the world, literature professor and psychoanalyst Bayard argues that it's actually more important to know a book's role in our collective library than its details. Using examples from such writers as Graham Greene, Oscar Wilde, Montaigne, and Umberto Eco, and even the movie "Groundhog Day," he describes the many varieties of "non-reading" and the horribly sticky social situations that might confront us, and then offers his advice on what to do. Practical, funny, and thought-provoking, "How to Talk About Books You Haven't Read "is in the end a love letter to books, offering a whole new perspective on how we read and absorb them. It's the book that readers everywhere will be talking about-and despite themselves, reading-this holiday season.
Check out these articles about the French edition of "How to Talk about Books you Haven't Read"
"New York Times" - 'Read It? No, but You Can Skim a Few Pages and Fake It' by Alan Riding
(also published in the "International Herald Tribune")
"Chronicle of Higher Education" - 'Huckleberry Who? by Lennard J. Davis
"Times Online "(UK edition) - 'Viewpoint' by Sarah Vine
"The Harvard Crimson" - 'You've Read 'Gravity's Rainbow'? Bullshit'm by Madeline K. B. Ross
"Broad Street Review" - 'The only book you'll ever need' by Leonard Boasberg
Synopsis
The runaway French bestseller hailed by the New York Times as “a survivors guide to life in the chattering classes.” If civilized people are expected to have read all important works of literature, and thousands more books are published every year, what are we supposed to do in those awkward social situations in which were forced to talk about books we havent read? In this delightfully witty, provocative book, a huge hit in France that has drawn attention from critics around the world, literature professor and psychoanalyst Pierre Bayard argues that its actually more important to know a books role in our collective library than its details. Using examples from such writers as Graham Greene, Oscar Wilde, Montaigne, and Umberto Eco, and even the movie Groundhog Day, he describes the many varieties of “non-reading” and the horribly sticky social situations that might confront us, and then offers his advice on what to do. Practical, funny, and thought-provoking, How to Talk About Books You Havent Read is in the end a love letter to books, offering a whole new perspective on how we read and absorb them. Its the book that readers everywhere will be talking aboutand despite themselves, readingthis holiday season.
Synopsis
“Provocative, challenging and witty…In challenging the line between reading and non-reading, Bayard actually whet my appetite to read more.”—USA Today With so many important books out there, and thousands more being published each year, what are we supposed to do in those inevitable social situations where were forced to talk about books we havent read? Pierre Bayard argues that it doesnt really matter if youve read a book or not. (In fact, in certain situations, reading the book is the worst thing you could do.) Championing the various forms of “non-reading,” How to Talk About Books You Havent Read is really a celebration of books, for book lovers everywhere to enjoy, ponder, argue about—and perhaps even read.
About the Author
Pierre Bayard is a professor of French literature at the University of Paris VIII and a psychoanalyst. He is the author of Who Killed Roger Ackroyd?and of many other books. Jeffrey Mehlman is a professor of French at Boston University and the author of a number of books, including Emigré New York. He has translated works by Derrida, Lacan, Blanchot, and other authors.