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Wendy Lesser
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Why I Read: The Serious Pleasure of Books Kindle Edition

by Wendy Lesser (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
3.9 out of 5 stars 71 ratings
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  1. Print length
    239 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Farrar, Straus and Giroux
  4. Publication date
    January 7, 2014
  5. File size
    1.2 MB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00E71900E
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Farrar, Straus and Giroux (January 7, 2014)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ January 7, 2014
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1.2 MB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 239 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    3.9 out of 5 stars 71 ratings

About the author

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Wendy Lesser

Wendy Lesser

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Wendy Lesser was born in 1952 in California, where she grew up. She attended Harvard University, Cambridge University, and UC Berkeley, earning a PhD in English from Berkeley in 1982. Though she has taught on occasion (at UC Santa Cruz, Princeton University, and Hunter College, among other places), she has mainly supported herself over the years as a writer, editor, and consultant. From 1976 to 1980 she and her friend Katharine Ogden worked as public policy consultants through their firm Lesser & Ogden Associates. In 1980 Lesser founded The Threepenny Review, which she still edits; it has become one of the most respected and long-lasting literary magazines in America. She is the author of eleven books (including one novel, two memoirs, several works of literary or cultural studies, and two biographies) and the editor of two. She also writes book, dance, art, and music reviews for a variety of publications in this country and abroad, dividing her year between Berkeley and New York so as to cover cultural activities on both coasts. Lesser is married to Richard Rizzo and has one son, Nick Rizzo.

Customer reviews

3.9 out of 5 stars
71 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book well-written and appreciate its excellent list of books to read. One customer notes how it pulls information together in an easy-to-read way, while another mentions how it challenges them with new reading material.

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15 customers mention "Reading quality"13 positive2 negative

Customers appreciate the book's quality, praising its well-written content and excellent list of books to read. One customer notes how it pulls information together in an easy-to-read way.

"...Lesser supports clarity and the idea of truth in literature, which she defines broadly to include non-fiction...." Read more

"...I expected much the same from this book—excellent literary judgment—and, for the most part, I was satisfied...." Read more

"...The experience in this book is luxurious in its exact and literate explorations of the author's favorite books...." Read more

"...this is a book that truly celebrates reading and books read... and the contribution that reading can make to the wisdom, texture, and richness of a..." Read more

10 customers mention "Readability"10 positive0 negative

Customers find the book engaging and refreshing to read, with one customer noting how it challenges them to explore new reading material.

"This is an excellent and highly personal reflection...." Read more

"...author supplied a list of books in the appendix as it challenges me with new things to read." Read more

"Like all great writing, this book compels the writer to enter the mind of the author...." Read more

"If you've been a reader most of your life, this is a great book...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • J.D. Hunley
    5.0 out of 5 stars Insightful and Courageous
    Reviewed in the United States on March 10, 2014
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    This is an excellent and highly personal reflection. Lesser supports clarity and the idea of truth in literature, which she defines broadly to include non-fiction. She says she cannot define truth in literature but illustrates it throughout the book. She has the courage to say she does not like James Joyce's _Ulysses_ and did not finish reading _Finnegan's Wake_. But she offers insightful comments about many books she does like. She obviously does not support postmodern skepticism, but nowhere in the book is the term even mentioned.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Timothy Haugh
    4.0 out of 5 stars Led Me to Other Books
    Reviewed in the United States on March 23, 2014
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    A dose of honesty up front: I am well disposed towards Ms. Lesser. As editor of The Threepenny Review, she published a poem of mine in the journal some years ago. As this is not a common occurrence for me, I remain grateful for her show of excellent literary judgment. I expected much the same from this book—excellent literary judgment—and, for the most part, I was satisfied.

    Since I’m being honest here, a second dose: I am well disposed towards books about books no matter who the author is. Having few people in my life who like to discuss books as much as I do, I enjoy having this, granted, one-sided conversation with someone who clearly loves reading. She has decided to frame her conversation around topics like “character and plot”, “novelty”, “authority”, and “grandeur and intimacy”. Though there’s nothing particularly ground-breaking about this, it works well enough and gives her views some depth.

    Of course, what I’m really after here is what books make a reader tick. Ms. Lesser covers quite a bit of ground but it’s also clear that she’s got certain books on her radar right now (as she admits). In particular, she seems enamored of the classic Russian writers as well as Henry James, who gets a lot of talk time. Though I’ve dipped into these writers over the years, I can’t say they rank as personal favorites but that’s just as well. One thing I am always looking for in a book is that it will lead me to another book that I might not have decided to read. Ms. Lesser does that for me here.

    Ironically, despite her passion for the Russians and James, the book she has led me to is Sons and Lovers by D.H. Lawrence. After being left fairly cold by my previous experiences of Lawrence—The Lost Girl and Lady Chatterley’s Lover—I decided to give Sons and Lover a try. Now, a little over halfway through the novel, I have finally found a Lawrence that moves me and speaks to his reputation as a great writer. And, as I read, Ms. Lesser’s words come back to me: “But wait—never trust the artist, trust the tale. David Herbert Lawrence the person may have had it in for his father, but the novel Sons and Lovers knows enough to allow for our sympathy for Walter Morel. The book wouldn’t work without it.” (p. 107) From what I’ve read so far as I devour this novel, she’s right on target.

    I expect I will try some other of her suggestions that I haven’t read yet. Hopefully, they will work out as well as the Lawrence. In the end, I couldn’t ask for much more.
    16 people found this helpful
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  • EGG
    3.0 out of 5 stars but only because this book seems binary to me - some may love it, others not
    Reviewed in the United States on March 18, 2015
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    I gave this just a medium rating, but only because this book seems binary to me - some may love it, others not. I consider myself an avid and lifelong reader, and I have read some of the books and authors mentioned, but for me, this book is for much heavier bibliophiles, and a bit too ivory tower for me. That said, I'm happy that the author supplied a list of books in the appendix as it challenges me with new things to read.
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  • Kindle Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars My motives remain obscure to me because reading is, to a certain extent, a compulsion."
    Reviewed in the United States on February 24, 2014
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    Like all great writing, this book compels the writer to enter the mind of the author. The experience in this book is luxurious in its exact and literate explorations of the author's favorite books. I am always struck with awe when a piece of writing captures my vague or ill formed thoughts into cogent and startling insight. Sharing a compulsion is deep pleasure that is multiplied by glimpses into unknown terrain. This book contains both and can take its place as a great work with literature.
    14 people found this helpful
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  • Stephanie
    2.0 out of 5 stars Why I should have picked another book off of my to be read pile....
    Reviewed in the United States on March 11, 2015
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    Normally I am all over these types of books. I love knowing what got people into reading and what they think of various books. I especially love when a book is life changing for a person. I had high hopes going into this book but it was dry and lack luster. The author covered a lot of well loved books but there was no excitement for the books and it tended to be bland and boring. After the first few chapters I just skipped around the book and looked over the book list at the end of the book. Still not sure why NPR recomended this book.....
    4 people found this helpful
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  • oceanshaman
    5.0 out of 5 stars This one is to be taken like chocolate... for readers who love reading... it's delicious!
    Reviewed in the United States on January 16, 2014
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    If you've been a reader most of your life, this is a great book. If you have never been much of a reader, I don't know that you will be convinced to become one. This book preaches to the choir and is a festival... a love in....
    Wendy Lesser is a lover and she knows whereof she speaks....
    this is a book that truly celebrates reading and books read... and the contribution that reading can make to the wisdom, texture, and richness of a lifelong dedication...
    You want the book never to end...
    39 people found this helpful
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  • Parke Muth
    4.0 out of 5 stars Unconventional list but good reasons for reading
    Reviewed in the United States on February 19, 2014
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    Lesser has written books that are much more geared to academic research. This book is quirky is good ways. She writes well about the need for reading and the results that accrue from doing so. I found her list of her best books to be a mix of te usual suspects and a few that I would never have thought about. I have put on a few of these on my 'to read' list as she makes a good case that books talk to us both in general ways that are useful but also in ways that whisper to our own quirky selves in ways that are mysterious, rich, and strange.
    18 people found this helpful
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  • bumpyr
    3.0 out of 5 stars Not why I read..
    Reviewed in the United States on July 9, 2014
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    I read this for a book club. It didn't illuminate the act of reading for me. It read like a textbook or a dissertation. It did make me want to read some authors I haven't paid much attention to.
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Motlaq
    5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 13, 2017
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    As the book, why we read.
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  • S Riaz
    4.0 out of 5 stars Why I Read: The Serious Pleasure of Books
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 30, 2014
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    Author Wendy Lesser is the founding editor of The Threepenny Review, an American literary magazine. Having spent her life working in the world of books, this contains an analysis of why she loves reading and what it means to her. As an avid reader, I found the introduction of this book very enjoyable. Having mused on what reading means to her, she then investigates many of the themes of reading – such as character and plot, grandeur and intimacy, literary authority, truth and imperfections.

    Although much of this book has a scholarly feel and Lesser has an obvious admiration for Russian literature, she does not only examine reading from the viewpoint of the classics. Modern novels, such as “Wolf Hall,” are used as examples; as are Scandinavian crime fiction, science fiction and poetry. Other issues close to the heart of readers, such as translations and, of course, the advent of the paperless book, are all covered. Lastly, there is a list of 100 books recommended by the author.
    This was an enjoyable read and it has led me to add many books and authors to my wish list.
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  • SkySep
    5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 6, 2015
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    Excellent!
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