Why read?
Mark Edmundson
Reading Time
at 250 WPM2h 26m
The average reader, reading at a speed of 250 WPM, would take 2h 26m to read Why read?.
Personalise your estimate by entering your reading speed below
Test my reading speedEnter speed in words per minute
5
days at 30 min/day
146
total minutes
Why read?
Published
2004
Publisher
Bloomsbury
Pages
146
ISBN-10
1582344256
Description
"In this book, author Mark Edmundson dramatizes what the recent identity crisis in the humanities has effectively obscured: that reading can change your life for the better. Edmundson's controversial Harper's Magazine article "On the Uses of the Liberal Arts: As Light Entertainment for Bored College Students" has been the most photocopied essay on college campuses over the past five years. Here he picks up where that piece left off." "Edmundson enjoins educators to stop offering condescending analystic technique and facile entertainment and to begin teaching students to read in a way that can change their lives for the better. He argues that questions about the uses of literature - what would it mean to live out of this book, to see it as a guide to life - are the central questions to ask in a literary education. Right now these questions are being ignored, even suppressed. And if religion continues to lose its hold on significant sections of society, what can take its place in shaping and guiding souls? Great writing, Edmundson argues."--BOOK JACKET.
Subjects
Frequently Asked Questions
How many pages are in Why read??
This edition of Why read? has approximately 146 pages. Please note, this is an estimate and the exact page count can vary between hardcover, paperback, and e-book versions.
How long does it take to read Why read??
For most readers, Why read? typically takes between 3h 3m and 2h 2m to complete. This is based on the book's length of approximately 36,500 words and common reading speeds.
Here's a detailed breakdown: • Continuous reading at 250 WPM: approximately 2h 26m of focused reading • Casual reading (30 minutes/day): you could finish in roughly 5 days • Estimated word count: 36,500 words
Your individual reading time will vary based on your personal reading pace, the amount of daily reading time, and your familiarity with the subject matter.
What is the word count of Why read??
The estimated word count for Why read? is approximately 36,500 words. This figure is calculated using industry-standard methods that consider genre-specific word density patterns, typical formatting and layout characteristics, and standard words-per-page ratios for published books.
This is an approximation — actual word count may vary based on font size, formatting, edition, and the presence of illustrations or charts.
Who is the author of Why read??
Why read? was written by Mark Edmundson.
When was Why read? published?
The publication date for this specific edition is 2004. The original work may have been published on a different date.