Background
Doren, Charles Van was born on February 12, 1926 in New York City. Son of Mark and Dorothy (Graffe) Van Doren.
(A one-voume reference to the history of ideas that is a c...)
A one-voume reference to the history of ideas that is a compendium of everything that humankind has thought, invented, created, considered, and perfected from the beginning of civilization into the twenty-first century. Massive in its scope, and yet totally accessible, A HISTORY OF KNOWLEDGE covers not only all the great theories and discoveries of the human race, but also explores the social conditions, political climates, and individual men and women of genius that brought ideas to fruition throughout history. "Crystal clear and concise...Explains how humankind got to know what it knows." Clifton Fadiman Selected by the Book-of-the-Month Club and the History Book Club
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0345373162/?tag=2022091-20
(Passages from the West's great written works, ranging fro...)
Passages from the West's great written works, ranging from the Odyssey and the Old Testament to the Interpretation of Dreams and Ulysses, comment on love, knowledge, ethics, war, art, and other abiding topics.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0835208338/?tag=2022091-20
("Charles Van Doren has laid a feast before all of us that...)
"Charles Van Doren has laid a feast before all of us that is irresistible." -Mortimer J. Adler This engaging love letter to reading follows the great authors and classics that transformed the world: from Aristotle and Herodotus in ancient Greece to Salinger and Heinlein in 20th century America. Like a professor whose enthusiasm enwraps his students, Van Doren explains what's wonderful in the books you've missed and awakens your desire to reopen the books you already know. Divided chronologically by the periods in which these classics were written, each book is put in its historical context and brought to life by Van Doren's brilliant analysis. The Joy of Reading delves into a wide range of genres-fiction, poetry, drama, children's books, philosophy, history and science. This is the one book that brings together everything you need to know about the classics you missed and ignites your passion to read and reread the greatest books the world has ever known. This book is the fruit of a lifelong love affair. Reading, I believe, is my favorite thing to do; books and I have been inseparable almost as long as I can remember ... To this day, I become distressed if I am anywhere without a book, a magazine, a newspaper, any scrap of paper to read .... I like the smell of books, certainly the feel of them. Life without books would be, for me, a vacant horror." -Charles Van Doren "Nothing recommends the joy of reading better than the communication of it by a person who has spent a lifetime enriched by the delights of reading. Charles Van Doren is that kind of reader. He has laid a feast before us that is irresistible." -Mortimer J. Adler, author of How to Read a Book "Mr. Van Doren is that rarity, a truly well read man who reads not for professional purposes but for pleasure. His book spurs us on to explore more deeply and joyfully the infinitely varied terrain of good books." -Clifton Fadiman, author of The New Lifetime Reading Plan: The Classical Guide to World Literature
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1402211600/?tag=2022091-20
Doren, Charles Van was born on February 12, 1926 in New York City. Son of Mark and Dorothy (Graffe) Van Doren.
Bachelor of Arts, St. Johns College, Annapolis, Maryland., 1947; Master of Arts, Columbia University, 1949; Doctor of Philosophy (Cutting fellow), Columbia University, 1959.
Instructor English, Columbia, 1955-1959; senior associate, Institute for Philosophical Research, Chicago, 1960-1967; associate director, Institute for Philosophical Research, since 1967; vice president editorial, Encyclopedia British, Inc., 1973-1982; chairman, Bradford Mountain Book Enterprises, Inc., New York City, since 1983. Board directors Aspen Institute Italia. President Praeger Publications, 1974-1975.
(A one-voume reference to the history of ideas that is a c...)
(Passages from the West's great written works, ranging fro...)
("Charles Van Doren has laid a feast before all of us that...)
(Concepts in Western Though Series.)
Served with United States Army Air Force, 1944-1945. Member Authors Guild.
Married Geraldine Bernstein, April 17, 1957. Children: Elizabeth, John C.L.