The Lives of Literature: Reading, Teaching, Knowing

  Weinstein, a comparative literature professor at Brown University, mixes passion and humor to reflect on the role that literature plays in our lives. Throughout this personal work, he explores the power of literature to lead us to a deeper understanding of ourselves and our world and highlights masterful literary works by a variety of authors including Sophocles, James Joyce, and Toni Morrison. The Lives of Literature (Princeton University Press) argues that the unique value of literature is its ability to transport readers to another world, enter the lives of various characters, and acquire a unique form of knowledge on the lifelong journey of self-discovery.