How to Read a Book: The Classic Guide to Intelligent Reading
Best starting point for Van Doren's practical work on reading and learning.
Author guide
Charles Van Doren Books in Order
Charles Lincoln Van Doren (1926–2019) was an American writer, editor, and educator. He taught at Columbia University, worked as an editor and executive at Encyclopaedia Britannica, and wrote or edited books on reading, education, intellectual history, American history, and biography. He also became widely known for his role in the 1950s television quiz-show scandal.
nonfictioneducationliterary criticismhistorybiographyjuvenile nonfictionhistorical fiction
Not sure where to begin?
Start with one of these
A History of Knowledge: Past, Present, and Future
Best single-volume introduction to his survey of intellectual history.
The Joy of Reading: 210 Favorite Books, Plays, Poems, Essays, Etc.: What's in Them, Why Read Them
Accessible introduction to his literary criticism and reading recommendations.
The Lion of Cortona: Exiles
The natural entry point to his historical-fiction series.
Read in order
Books by series
edited reference series · complete
Concepts of Western Thought
A four-volume series of works organized around major concepts in Western intellectual history.
edited reference series · complete
The Negro in American History
A three-volume documentary history of Black Americans, co-edited by Charles Van Doren and Mortimer J. Adler.
- 1 The Negro in American History, Volume I: Black Americans, 1928-1968Amazon ↗
Book 1 · edited_reference · 1969
- 2 The Negro in American History, Volume II: A Taste of FreedomAmazon ↗
Book 2 · edited_reference · 1969
- 3 The Negro in American History, Volume III: Slaves and Masters, 1567-1854Amazon ↗
Book 3 · edited_reference · 1969
Outside the series
Bibliography by category
Novels (1)
- Second Chance: An American StoryAmazon ↗
nonfiction · 1968
Nonfiction (4)
-
Webster's Guide to American History: A Chronological, Geographical, and Biographical Survey and CompendiumAmazon ↗coedited_reference · 1971
- Webster's American BiographiesAmazon ↗
coedited_biographical_reference · 1974
- The Joy of Reading: 210 Favorite Books, Plays, Poems, Essays, Etc.: What's in Them, Why Read ThemAmazon ↗
literary_criticism · 1985
- A History of Knowledge: Past, Present, and FutureAmazon ↗
intellectual_history · 1991
Essays and speeches (1)
- Shakespeare: Reading and TalkingAmazon ↗
pamphlet · 1980
Children's books (4)
Edited works (7)
- The American Treasury, 1455-1955: Prose, Poetry & Song Drawn from Our Life, Laughter & LiteratureAmazon ↗
edited_anthology · 1955
- Letters to Mother: An AnthologyAmazon ↗
edited_anthology · 1959
- The Annals of AmericaAmazon ↗
edited_multi_volume_reference · 1968
- Great Documents in American Indian HistoryAmazon ↗
coedited_anthology · 1973
- The Trans/vision Book of HealthAmazon ↗
edited_nonfiction · 1974
- The American Way of Crime: A Documentary HistoryAmazon ↗
coedited_anthology · 1976
- Great Treasury of Western Thought: A Compendium of Important Statements and Comments on Man and His Institutions by Great Thinkers in Western HistoryAmazon ↗
coedited_anthology · 1977