If you can believe it the library on my US Army base in Germany has a complete set of a printing from the 1960s. I set a goal to read them all in a year.
@@ThinkingWest You'd have to be an expert speed reader. Which reminds me of something Woody Allen said about a popular speed reading course of the past. "I took the Evelyn Woods speed reading course and read _War and Peace_ in 20 minutes .......... it was about Russia."
I have the set in the original Collier's classic green (replete with the old (but delightful) book smell). I also have a beautiful early 2000's printing from Easton Press bound in red leather with gilded edges, gold leaf embossing, raised hub spines, and silk bookmarks -- and the most incredible leather book smell--aaaah. Both are a pleasure to behold and to read, but I confess that the one I actually read is the TWO BUCK ebook version I got for my Kindle for the iphone. Whenever I'm standing around waiting for something or just waiting in line, I pull out my iphone and fire up the Kindle app and start reading. Even standing in the grocery checkout lane, I can often knock out a page or two. If I'm waiting for a bus or BART, or riding the ferry or other public transportation, I can often easily do 10-20 pages or more.
I just bought the entire 71-volume Harvard Classics, all 37452 pages, on Kindle for $1.99! Not kidding, glad to have it. No guilded edges, but then again no page yellowing or musty smell. lol Thanks for explaining this wonderful series to us. 📚 💙
One set, I don't know if you've covered it already, is _The Story Of Civilization_ , a lifetime work by Will and Ariel Durant. Durant's complaint with the record of history was that it tended to elaborate on rulers and warfare and not enough on the day-to-day lives and affairs of the common man. His approach was to detail history in a manner which brought the reader closer to what the world was like as it applied to the innumerable nuances of history which the scholars usually overlooked, or at best gave short shrift to. The entire set covers eleven large volumes from prehistory to the Age Of Napoleon in as accurate a manner as the resources of his times allowed. He humbly and modestly admitted that future scholars would probably find errors or things to include as future research of past history unfolds. Personally I think he did a pretty good job. Will Durant's writing style is a pleasure to read, and for a historian I think his well timed inclusions of humor (though rare) are a refreshing bonus. [EDIT] Ahhhh ... I see that you DID cover this set in your _12 Great Books of Western History_ which I thought was an excellent presentation, by the way.
Thanks for the time and effort you have put into this. I've always wanted to see a comparative overview between the two sets and you did that really well. And thanks for your interesting blog too.
My 7 books come from 5 different editions. I buy them as I see them and order them as I need them, trying to read the whole thing in order. My collection will look neat when it is finished
I was lucky enough to find a early set of the Harvard Classics (that has the volume numbers on the spine) the print dates on mine are 1909 and 1910, except for the lectures volume that came later (but matches the binding of my normal volumes) I did get the Harvard Classics Shelf of Fiction, but it is a Frankenstein set of mixed bindings.
Great! You've taught me something - I didn't know earlier printings had the volume numbers on them, which is something I prefer as an easy means of organizing and keeping track.
I got a blackish set from 1910. I may have preferred a colored set, but this one is in fairly good condition, looks like nobody read it. I got it to read, maybe I would get a prettier newer set in the future.
Is there a modern equivalent of a great book series like this that you know of? Not in terms of the books included but in terms of translations, critical essays etc.?
I have heard several times now Dewey is usually misrepresented. I am probably guilty of that - and I hope I can give him a fairer representation in the future.
If you can believe it the library on my US Army base in Germany has a complete set of a printing from the 1960s. I set a goal to read them all in a year.
Years ago I came across a first edition, first printing copy of The Princess Bride in an on base library, so I absolutely believe it.
That is a tough goal!
@@ThinkingWest You'd have to be an expert speed reader. Which reminds me of something Woody Allen said about a popular speed reading course of the past. "I took the Evelyn Woods speed reading course and read _War and Peace_ in 20 minutes .......... it was about Russia."
@@DATo_DATonian Have to love Allens quip on cheating on his Metaphysics final by looking into the soul of the boy next to him!
I have the set in the original Collier's classic green (replete with the old (but delightful) book smell). I also have a beautiful early 2000's printing from Easton Press bound in red leather with gilded edges, gold leaf embossing, raised hub spines, and silk bookmarks -- and the most incredible leather book smell--aaaah. Both are a pleasure to behold and to read, but I confess that the one I actually read is the TWO BUCK ebook version I got for my Kindle for the iphone. Whenever I'm standing around waiting for something or just waiting in line, I pull out my iphone and fire up the Kindle app and start reading. Even standing in the grocery checkout lane, I can often knock out a page or two. If I'm waiting for a bus or BART, or riding the ferry or other public transportation, I can often easily do 10-20 pages or more.
I just bought the entire 71-volume Harvard Classics, all 37452 pages, on Kindle for $1.99! Not kidding, glad to have it. No guilded edges, but then again no page yellowing or musty smell. lol Thanks for explaining this wonderful series to us. 📚 💙
Great! Much more economical...and easier to carry around...
now it costs 0.49€ hhhhhhh
Just did the same last night 😅
The musky smell is one of the traits I love ❤️ about the old books 😂
@@TheGringoSalado And finding them in an out of the way booksellers in some lost and forgotten town.
One set, I don't know if you've covered it already, is _The Story Of Civilization_ , a lifetime work by Will and Ariel Durant. Durant's complaint with the record of history was that it tended to elaborate on rulers and warfare and not enough on the day-to-day lives and affairs of the common man. His approach was to detail history in a manner which brought the reader closer to what the world was like as it applied to the innumerable nuances of history which the scholars usually overlooked, or at best gave short shrift to. The entire set covers eleven large volumes from prehistory to the Age Of Napoleon in as accurate a manner as the resources of his times allowed. He humbly and modestly admitted that future scholars would probably find errors or things to include as future research of past history unfolds. Personally I think he did a pretty good job. Will Durant's writing style is a pleasure to read, and for a historian I think his well timed inclusions of humor (though rare) are a refreshing bonus. [EDIT] Ahhhh ... I see that you DID cover this set in your _12 Great Books of Western History_ which I thought was an excellent presentation, by the way.
Got Durrant set earlier this year. Love it
I feel like i've found a hidden gold mine with this channel. Thanks for the reviews on the Harvard classics and the great books set.
Thanks Classical Witcher!
I have an unread near fine full fifty vol set that I’m am going to sell. Printed in1993
Mine is the millennium edition
Thanks for the time and effort you have put into this. I've always wanted to see a comparative overview between the two sets and you did that really well. And thanks for your interesting blog too.
Thanks Khalid!
Could not agree more!We need more people like you!(SIMON)
My 7 books come from 5 different editions. I buy them as I see them and order them as I need them, trying to read the whole thing in order. My collection will look neat when it is finished
I like it. You'll get to compare different editions without fully committing to a complete set.
Thank you, Brother. And may GOD bless and keep you!
Thank you, Mark!
I was lucky enough to find a early set of the Harvard Classics (that has the volume numbers on the spine) the print dates on mine are 1909 and 1910, except for the lectures volume that came later (but matches the binding of my normal volumes) I did get the Harvard Classics Shelf of Fiction, but it is a Frankenstein set of mixed bindings.
Great! You've taught me something - I didn't know earlier printings had the volume numbers on them, which is something I prefer as an easy means of organizing and keeping track.
@@ThinkingWest the spine numbers are also crucial if you are going to do the "15 minutes a day" reading, as it lists volume numbers.
Thanks for the tip! Luckily (and I don't remember if I said in the video) the mostly complete set I picked up has them on it.
I got a blackish set from 1910. I may have preferred a colored set, but this one is in fairly good condition, looks like nobody read it. I got it to read, maybe I would get a prettier newer set in the future.
I love physical copies of books, but I could not pass up The Harvard Classics, all 51 volumes, on Kindle from Amazon for 49 cents.
Someday I hope to save up enough to get myself a set.
I feel lucky enough to have the complete 50-book set with included reader’s guide. I have the registered edition printed in the 1960’s.
Awesome. Take good care of it!
This was a great presentation.
Thank you!
I got the registered deluxe edition. When I started collecting, I didn’t realize that the deluxe only cover half the original run. Honestly sad.
I just bought the Easton press edition :)
Is there a modern equivalent of a great book series like this that you know of? Not in terms of the books included but in terms of translations, critical essays etc.?
Unfortunately, I don't think so. Doesn't seem like that kind of scholarship is in the interest of any publishers these days.
@@ThinkingWest For a quick read,"Great Books" by David Denby.Great primer to leap into the intellectual abyss.(SIMON)
Third video segment is labeled "additions" when it should be "editions".
Odd. UA-cam actually auto generated those section titles, but thanks for pointing that out.
Thank you the overview, I notice you didn't mention "The Harvard Classics Shelf of Fiction".
Do you have that as part of your collection?
Not yet!
Thanks!
Is the 1980 Collector’s Edition you have a shorter set? I’m seeing it for sale and it’s only like 23 physical books
Complete set should be 50 volumes. Sounds like you're looking at a set that isn't complete.
What is the main difference between a complete 1909 set vs 1969. Content wise and not design.
I'm not aware of content changes in the Harvard Classics set. From my understanding, it stayed pretty true to its original form.
1.5 dollars for 71 books in 2022 collection for Ebooks.
I just like physical books
@@ThinkingWest No E-reader for me either.My fourteen year old has to help me turn on the computer so I can leave comments!(SIMON)
you need to re-read john dewey's work
he was not about SKILL!!!
his thing was education & experience!
good grief
I have heard several times now Dewey is usually misrepresented. I am probably guilty of that - and I hope I can give him a fairer representation in the future.
How is it that you don't know how to spell edition?
If you are referring to captions, they are auto-generated. Otherwise, I make mistakes.