Review: How to Use the Power of the Printed Word, ed. by Billings S. Fuess, Jr.
| How to Use the Power of the Printed Word Ed. by Billings S. Fuess, Jr., contains my absolute favorite article: the late Steve Allen’s “How to Enjoy the Classics.” Witty, with wonderful illustrations, I first encountered the article in Psychology Today back in the early 70s, as part of a series of articles called “The Power of the Printed Word,” sponsored by International Paper. In 1980, the articles were collected and published as this anthology. While all the articles are worth reading, Steve Allen’s article had an immediate effect on me — I headed to the college library and took out the books Mr. Allen mentioned. While I cannot say I finished them all (some I was just too young to tackle or appreciate), reading as many of the classics as I could became a major part of my reading regimen. It still is. There are many worthy guides to such reading available. Further, sites like Goodreads are more than happy to furnish such lists, as are various libraries and educational organizations. The Brooklyn Public Library even has a service called Brooklyn Book Match, where you can fill out a form on almost any topic, and a librarian will curate a list of five books to help you start a deep dive into your chosen topic. Okay, this review has gone a bit far afield, but it is a topic dear to my heart, and I hope you search out How to Use the Power of the Printed Word and enjoy it as much as I did. |
Not Just Another Grouchy Grammarian 