Rating: 
Summary: (4.5) A cirriculum for self-education
Review: "A guide to the classical education you never had." This is the perfect tool for anyone who wants to challenge their reading level, improve comprehension and increase powers of critical judgment. Bauer has written a thorough and informative guide, wherein he tackles various disciplines, outlining techniques for adults who wish to improve their deductive reasoning. Within the histories of five genres- fiction, autobiography, history, drama and poetry, the author suggests techniques for improvement in critical thinking as well as interpreting the intent of the author. For example, under the chapter on autobiography, a first read-through, or grammar-stage reading, is followed by the second level, logic-stage reading and finally, the third level, rhetoric-stage reading. The reader's levels of perception are increased with each stage of reading. Each section is followed by a selection of specific annotated works, such as "The Confession" of Augustine and "The Meditations" of Rene Descartes. I consider these annotated examples after each chapter one of the premier attractions of The Well-Educated Mind. Specifically applicable to each genre, the selections provide important insights into the nature of each discipline. The sources are wide-ranging, including many notable authors, from Machiavelli to Emily Dickinson. For instance, in Chapter Eight, "Reading Through History with Drama", sub-topic "The Triumph of Ideas", Bauer discusses the Romantics and their revolt against the Age of Enlightenment, replacing humans as thinking machines with emotional perception and creativity. In this manner, playwrights are perceived as artists uninhibited by the rules of convention, shaking off Aristotelian ideals and becoming freer in expression, albeit angst-ridden. Like many avid readers, I have a stack of books on my nightstand, "must read" novels and non-fiction titles. The Well-Educated Mind is a book that has a special place in my intended-reading stack and every few evenings it offers a few hours of enlightenment, as I delve into chapters on history, autobiography or poetry. Any such venture into the world of literature offers an opportunity to broaden my ideas and indulge my curiosity. Using the same technique as in her previous book, The Well-Trained Mind, now a staple of parents that home school their children, Bauer introduces readers to the pleasures of classical education. Erudite and accessible, Bauer's effort is exceptionally appealing in manner of presentation and choice of annotated works. The author misses nothing, including inconsistencies in translation and divergent historical perspectives. The Well-Educated Mind is a welcome addition to any personal library. Luan Gaines/2003.
Rating: 
Summary: For Catching Up or Reviewing
Review: "The Well Educated Mind" by Susan wise Bauer is a book I would recommend to anyone who is playing catch-up or looking for an easy review. For those same purposes, after you read "The Well Educated Mind", I suggest that you also go on to read another book that is an education in itself called (and don't be mislead by the title) "West Point: Character Leadership Education: Thomas Jefferson" by Norman Thomas Remick.
Rating:
Summary: What I never learned in public school
Review: Being a student of the public school system while growing up, I always thought that when you were told to read a book, you read the words on the pages, grasped the gist of the story, and that was that. I got the shock of my life when I hit high school and suddenly the teachers were discussing the symbolism and messages behind what the author wrote. But no one bothered to explain to me HOW to do that. College was a disaster because I had no idea how to do the things my literature professors required. Now, FINALLY, thanks to this book, I am learning how to read a book and analyze it using the 3 stages of the Trivium (grammar stage, logic stage, rhetoric stage) -- Classical Education. My friend and I are having a ball learing how to do this, taking notes, analyzing things logically, asking questions and discussing the finer points that the author makes. For anyone who is homeschooling (as my friend and I are), or for anyone who feels like their understanding of fine literature is lacking, this book is wonderful!! I highly recommend it! It has an easily readable style, (not dry as wood chips like some books I have attempted), has a sprinkling of humor here and there, and best of all, it respects that fact that the majority of people who would be reading it are busy adults with PLENTY to do each day, and is therefore not demanding; it only requires 30 min. of reading a day 4 times a week, thus making an allowance for those days that "life" happens to you. Side note: between my friend and I, the oldest homeschool child we have is approximately 7th grade. Therefore, we did not begin by reading the books that the author recommends. We chose classical literature that was closer to the level that the oldest child was reading and books that we knew we would have our children read on their own at some point. We both plan to use what we learn from this book to help show our own children how to read and evaluate good literature.
Rating: 
Summary: Elitist and trivial
Review: Don't buy this book unless you enjoy being talked down to. The author assumes the reader is a product of the flawed public school system and is a bit dim. So perhaps it is intended for people who learned nothing in high school and perhaps went on to learn nothing in a liberal arts college. That would be fine, the book has an audience at least, but the other major shortcoming of the book is that it consists mostly of half page summaries of the classics. If you cut those out there isn't much book left. It certainly couldn't have taken much effort to put this book together. As far as the actual content goes it isn't anything I didn't learn in high school, but I went to a good high school so perhaps other people will be excited by it. The only insightful tip I gleaned from the book was to read the classics in the order they were written. The time spent reading the rest of the book would be better spent reading one of the classics it gives a summary of, or sleeping, which is probably what will end up happening to you if you don't stay annoyed with the superior tone of the book.
Rating:
Summary: Classical Education for Dummies
Review: I bought this book based upon the glowing reviews I read on this site and upon a recommendation from a friend. I have to say I was dissapointed - I think I was expecting more of a scholarly work on how to read the classics I missed in college. I was inspired to do this after reading "Great Books"by David Denby. I think this book is probably ok for those who haven't had an extensive education or exposure to university-level literature courses because it doesn't assume either of these. But if you have, I think you will be sadly disappointed at the simplistic advice given on how to read and take notes (really!) and an abbreviated Cliff Notes type of synopsis of the works recommended, which makes me wonder about the depth of knowledge the author had regarding these works in the first place. At any rate, if you are really looking for intellectual depth in pursuing your classical education, I would recommend "How to Read a Book" by Van Doren paired with "The Great Ideas: A Lexicon of Western Thought" by Mortimer Adler (this has actual thought-provoking essays on great works). And read Denby's book for inspiration.
Rating: 
Summary: It Depends What You're Looking For
Review: I first heard of this book when I read a review on MSNBC many months ago. I looked forward to buying this book amd getting back into the habit of reading classics and generally stopping what I call the 'specialization and dumbing down of the mind' which I'm sure afflicts most of us that have gotten out of school and have so specialized in our chosen fields that we slowly become less knowledgeable of most other things outside of that field. Especially disconcerting is the loss of all that extraneous information from college that we no longer use, but would love to be able to talk about.
In any case, I cracked open the book and started reading with great anticipation. Though some sections were good, and the background was enjoyable (for example the development of the novel), the approach seemed to waver between too basic and too regimented. It also seemed a bit of a disconnect to treat almost every genre as separate and distinct, and not make much of an effort to intergrate them.
As I said in my title, it depends what you're looking for. If you're looking for a regiment to bring you back to the classics, much like being in a college survey course, and are willing to stick to it, you'll probably get much enjoyment out of this book. I expected a little more enlightenment and a little less college-course regiment, so it wasn't for me.
Rating:
Summary: Finally, makes sense of the Great Books enterprise...
Review: I have two graduate degrees, but despite that I've always felt undereducated. I've read quite a few "important books," but they never fit together in my mind into any sort of logical progression. This book has finally made sense of the pattern! Bauer begins with a brief examination of the reading process, and then explains, clearly and intelligently, how five different genres developed, from ancient times up until the present. She also shows how the genres relate to each other. She starts with the novel, from Don Quixote to magic realism, and follows that up with autobiography because (like novelists) autobiographists are telling a story; she then goes on to history (because historians also tell a story, but have a different relationship to the "facts") and finishes up with plays and poetry. Along the way, she defines all the important literary terms you've heard floating around, and slots them neatly into their place. One of the best guides to self education I've read, and one that finally got me back on the path to serious reading. (Incidentally, what is the reviewer talking about below, when he says "the author admits she hasn't read the books"? Totally untrue--no such statement. Ms. Bauer says that she has always had trouble getting through Moby Dick, but apart from that demonstrates a great mastery of the material, and the annotations are amazingly helpful--they highlight the themes of the books and show, briefly, how the terms and developments covered in the "history of the genre" sections play into each.)
Highly recommended for any serious reader.
Rating:
Summary: How to get the educated mind that you THOUGHT you had.
Review: I ordered this book for two reasons: First, because I use "The Well-Trained Mind" in homeschooling my children. Second, because I have always harboured the nagging suspicion that I was not as well-read as I thought I was. Upon reading the book, I came away with the realization that while I was well-read, I was not well-educated. My reading has always been voracious and varied. That is not disputable. However, my approach to books has changed from that of a wino (consuming books) to that of an oenophile (savouring books.) Along with a couple of willing discussion partners, I am about to embark upon a rhetorical review of many Great Books and I am thrilled. I've read many of these several times over, but I am about to understand them for the first time. Many people make the "fit body" resolution at the start of the New Year, but how many make the "fit mind" resolution? I challenge you to purchase this book and make a "fit mind" resolution this year! You won't be sorry.
Rating:
Summary: How to get the educated mind that you THOUGHT you had.
Review: I ordered this book for two reasons: First, because I use "The Well-Trained Mind" in homeschooling my children. Second, because I have always harboured the nagging suspicion that I was not as well-read as I thought I was. Upon reading the book, I came away with the realization that while I was well-read, I was not well-educated. My reading has always been voracious and varied. That is not disputable. However, my approach to books has changed from that of a wino (consuming books) to that of an oenophile (savouring books.) Along with a couple of willing discussion partners, I am about to embark upon a rhetorical review of many Great Books and I am thrilled. I've read many of these several times over, but I am about to understand them for the first time. Many people make the "fit body" resolution at the start of the New Year, but how many make the "fit mind" resolution? I challenge you to purchase this book and make a "fit mind" resolution this year! You won't be sorry.
Rating:
Summary: YES!
Review: I thought I was educated before, but this wonderful book taught me new reading skills and whetted my appetite for the classics. Though I went to a good high school and college, I spent most of my time hearing about how "great" the Great Books were, without being much encouraged to sit down and crack one open. The Well-Educated Mind has helped to change that, which is why I disagree with the negative review posted earlier on this page. Maybe we "should" have learned how, why, and what to read in our schools, but many of us were not taught, and the Well-Educated mind aims to fill that gap. For this reason, I would highly recommend it for high-school students or for those about to start college.
The opening section alone, on getting the most out of reading, should be handed out in every local library. Don't miss the chapters on drama and poetry, either: too many people ignore these genres because of their seeming inaccessibility, but here Susan Wise Bauer provides superb keys and useful skills.
Knowledgeable without being a show-off, friendly without dumbing-down, Bauer makes an excellent guide for those who want to enter the "great conversation."
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