Books to Read: Favorites

“The true University of these days is a Collection of Books.”

— Thomas Carlyle (1795-1881), The Hero as a Man of Letters

Here are some of my all-time favorite books...

Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, The Little Prince(1943), Harcourt Brace, ISBN: 0152465030—
Saint-Exupéry's The Little Princeis one of the most loved books by both children and adults. A fable in the most classic sense, this wise story offers layer upon layer to be peeled away with each reading. The narrator runs across the little prince while repairing his airplane in the desert. The elfin prince asks the narrator to draw a picture of a sheep, then proceeds to tell him about his beloved rose and the volcanoes on his asteroid home. In his galactic travels, he meets a variety of archetypal characters— a king, a tippler, and a geographer, all of whom possess particular absurdities seen all too clearly through the eyes of the little prince. The bewildered prince visits Earth, which appears just as strange and alien as the other planets, until he meets a small fox who shows him what he has been looking for. I recommend the hardcover edition which has the author's ink colored drawings which are simply delightful!

Madeleine L'Engle, A Wrinkle in Time(1962), Yearling Books, ISBN: 0440498058—
My niece introduced this well-loved classic to me and it's been one of my favorites. Madeleine L'Engle's A Wrinkle in Timewon the 1963 Newbery Medal for children's books. Combining theology, fantasy, and science, it is the story of travel through space and time to battle a cosmic evil. With their neighbor Calvin O'Keefe, young Meg Murray and her brother Charles Wallace embark on a cosmic journey to find their lost father, a scientist studying time travel. Assisted by Mrs.Whatsit, Mrs. Who, and Mrs. Which— the children travel to the planet Camazotz where they encounter a repressed society controlled by IT, a disembodied brain that represents evil. Readers will feel a sense of power as they travel with these three children, challenging concepts of time, space, and the triumph of good over evil. Learn about the tesseract, the fourth dimension, angelic witches, the warriors of light, and the saving power of love.

Joseph Campbell, Power of Myth,Illustrated Ed. (1988), Doubleday, ISBN: 0385247745— Based on a six-part PBS television series hosted by Bill Moyers, this classic is especially compelling because of its engaging question-and-answer format, creating an easy, conversational approach to complicated and esoteric topics. Joseph Campbell, the world's foremost authority on mythology, and Bill Moyers, one of most distinguished journalists, offer a brilliant combination of wisdom and wit. Campbell explains to Moyers how myths are our ties to the past, and how they help us understand ourselves and our world. Topics from modern marriage to virgin births, from Jesus to John Lennon, and handsomely illustrated with over one hundred fascinating photographs. Most impressive is Campbell's encyclopedic knowledge of myths, demonstrated in his ability to recall the details and archetypes of almost any story, from any point and history, and translate it into a lesson for spiritual living in the here and now.

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Here are some of my all-time favorite books...
	*Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, The Little Prince(1943), Harcourt Brace, ISBN: 0152465030— Saint-Exupéry's The Little Prince*is one of the most loved books by both children and adults. A fable in the most classic sense, this wise story offers layer upon layer to be peeled away with each reading. The narrator runs across the little prince while repairing his airplane in the desert. The elfin prince asks the narrator to draw a picture of a sheep, then proceeds to tell him about his beloved rose and the volcanoes on his asteroid home. In his galactic travels, he meets a variety of archetypal characters— a king, a tippler, and a geographer, all of whom possess particular absurdities seen all too clearly through the eyes of the little prince. The bewildered prince visits Earth, which appears just as strange and alien as the other planets, until he meets a small fox who shows him what he has been looking for. I recommend the hardcover edition which has the author's ink colored drawings which are simply delightful!
	*Madeleine L'Engle, A Wrinkle in Time(1962), Yearling Books, ISBN: 0440498058— My niece introduced this well-loved classic to me and it's been one of my favorites. Madeleine L'Engle's A Wrinkle in Time*won the 1963 Newbery Medal for children's books. Combining theology, fantasy, and science, it is the story of travel through space and time to battle a cosmic evil. With their neighbor Calvin O'Keefe, young Meg Murray and her brother Charles Wallace embark on a cosmic journey to find their lost father, a scientist studying time travel. Assisted by Mrs.Whatsit, Mrs. Who, and Mrs. Which— the children travel to the planet Camazotz where they encounter a repressed society controlled by IT, a disembodied brain that represents evil. Readers will feel a sense of power as they travel with these three children, challenging concepts of time, space, and the triumph of good over evil. Learn about the tesseract, the fourth dimension, angelic witches, the warriors of light, and the saving power of love.
	*Joseph Campbell, Power of Myth,Illustrated Ed. (1988), Doubleday, ISBN: 0385247745*— Based on a six-part PBS television series hosted by Bill Moyers, this classic is especially compelling because of its engaging question-and-answer format, creating an easy, conversational approach to complicated and esoteric topics. Joseph Campbell, the world's foremost authority on mythology, and Bill Moyers, one of most distinguished journalists, offer a brilliant combination of wisdom and wit. Campbell explains to Moyers how myths are our ties to the past, and how they help us understand ourselves and our world. Topics from modern marriage to virgin births, from Jesus to John Lennon, and handsomely illustrated with over one hundred fascinating photographs. Most impressive is Campbell's encyclopedic knowledge of myths, demonstrated in his ability to recall the details and archetypes of almost any story, from any point and history, and translate it into a lesson for spiritual living in the here and now.