More Than Cocktail Party Conversation

What is it that makes a book a “classic”? 

Classic literature is thought of as esoteric cocktail party fodder. Many undergraduate students, who have to face a Western Civilization course, wonder why they need to read Homer’s Iliad or Voltaire’s Candide.  Could it be that reading the classics not only enriches your education but actually makes your life better?  If we assume this, the next question is of course – what books should I read?   This question is a common one in academia.  Since our lives are too short to read every book in the world, wouldn’t it be nice to have a rubric to analyze a book to see if it qualified as one of the “right” books to read?

Jeffrey Brenzel, philosopher and Dean of Undergraduate Admissions at Yale University thought so and recently gave a lecture about this very topic.  He explains five criteria for identifying a classic of literature, philosophy or politics.  Each criterion is insufficient on its own.  It’s the culmination of the criteria that make them a useful tool.  They are as follows:

1.  Addresses permanent and universal human concerns.  Philosophically, the work might speak to the way in which we should live.  From a literary perspective, it might say something about the way in which we could live.  Lastly, from a historical or political perspective, the work might give us insight into how humans have lived. 

2. Game-Changer.  The work must have shifted perspective on a particular topic.  It’s not enough to have simply re-stated what has already been said or thought.  Without this, contemporary thought on a particular subject would be different than it is today. 

3.  Influence other Great Works.  The work must be a response to or a catalyst for other great works.  

4.  Respected by experts.  Generations of scholars must rate the work highly.  It must be thought of as one of the best of its kind.  It’s acceptable and probable that these experts will disagree about the content of the work.  It’s only necessary that they rate it highly in the other categories. 

5.  Challenging yet Rewarding.  The work is probably not an easy read.  Rather, it demands effort to engage and understand it. But, this effort is rewarded in “multiple ways”. 

Dr. Benzel’s criteria generally make sense to me.  I think his first four criteria are spot on.  A classic work must deal with a fundamental human concern. It must have changed perspective on a particular issue.  If not, then why would it even be significant?  It also must have influenced other great works and be respected by experts.  I do, however, question an aspect of Brenzel’s final criterion.  I agree that it should be a rewarding read.  Why, otherwise would I want to read it?  But does it need to be challenging to read?  I think that a classic work should be challenging to think about.  It should challenge your preconceived notions about a particular issue, but does that necessarily translate into a challenging read?  Perhaps it does.  Perhaps it doesn’t. 

It’s important to note that there are many non-classic books that are worth reading.  The classics are important because their intellectual vigor, not necessarily their entertainment value.   There’s nothing wrong with popping open J.K. Rowling, James Patterson, Michael Crichton or Steven King.  In the right circumstances they can be as rewarding as any classic.  

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The Takeaway: Read what you want, but give classics their due.