In 1909, one graduated from school with the ability to teach ones self throughout the rest of ones life (unlike today, where - for the most part - "school" has become a government sponsored day care system).

You can obtain all the volumes at no charge, courtesy of Project Gutenberg:
https://www.gutenberg.org/wiki/Harvard_Classics_(Bookshelf)

These electronic versions are available for every known ereader format, text & html.

The stupid remain stupid; the ignorant grow smarter.

The list looks very good from the books I've read to the books I've heard lots of good about (or where I'm familiar with the general ideas of the authors). I could never do a reading list this diverse. I'm the type of person that really gets into one subject and read a lot about that. I often tell people that I know a lot about a little (as in contrast to knowing a little bit about a lot of things). So from the list I've read my fair share of the philosophical and religious titles represented but much less on the fiction side of things.

Project Gutenberg is great for learning, can't deny that. That list is a bit dated though, a lot of apologetics and purtitan shit, and it doesn't even have "My Secret Life" which is also available on g-berg.

haha! I've read the text and also a few commentaries about it and Ashbee's life in general. If even half of what he claims is true that dude got around!

Im happy there is some interest in it. Not perfect by any means but I found it preety good for the price.

At librivox.org you can download public domain books as mp3 files. Some books have chapters read by multiple individuals so depending on the subject or speakers voice it can be a bit distracting.

To be a little more serious, most of those are good books to read to broaden your knowledge of western history and culture and some foundational philosophy. I wouldn't recommend things like Confessions so much unless you're a theology or history of religion student personally. Such things can be very dry. I'd recommend mixing these kinds of titles into a broader reading pool rather than trying to charge through this 50 volume set uninterrupted. Mix in a few star trek novels and some YA written by african women; you'll stay much saner.

The fiction list is also ok for stone cold classics like Austen, Twain, Dickens, Dostoevsky, etc, you can't go wrong really.

Mix your Star Trek novels with Dave Marinaccio's books instead.

Some of this is a bit Anglocentric. A lot of works of Russian literature are neglected, no works by any Marxist writers whatsoever.... yeah this list is fucken old. Many great and relevant works of literature have appeared since then, and would likely enhance the lives of many more significantly than, say, Benjamin Franklin's autobiography (though I admit I haven't read it). A lot of literature that appeared after this list was made had the added advantage of being written in periods of less social conservatism, so a lot more subjects could be tackled that were previously considered taboo.

Interesting list nonetheless, and the idea of literature as conducive to enhancing one's life is one that I fully support. Dostoevsky's works have changed mine, certainly.

I agree with Sepulchrave; a lot of this list needs a serious update. You got a significant amount of timeless classics, for sure, but also a lot of superflous stuff that's only for niche interests (Confessions of St. Augustine and Imitiation of Christ are certainly two things I'd get nothing useful out of). With a good revision that aims toward a more global and, yes, less Westernized and Anglocentric approach, I'd be all for this.

Agreed with Sepulchrave and Xlxlx on all stated counts!

It is a good idea for everybody to check out at least some "classics". The western canon is good, but it is definitely important to go beyond that as well. We are in the first era where just about all the "classics" of every great civilization are available in translation in the most commonly used languages in the world, and you really can learn a lot about history, cultures, and the peoples of the world from their literary heritage. That said, you don't have to read supposed classics or Very Important Books to learn things. Reading just about any books *will* improve your knowledge, vocabulary, and intelligence. Doesn't matter if they are fiction, non-fiction, old, new, etc. Some books will certainly teach you *more* than others, but as long as you are reading you are growing. The only stipulation is that it has to be books, not magazines or clickbait articles circulating on facebook. Sorry to have to pull out the elitist book snob card, but that's how it breaks down.