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Ways of Reading: An Anthology for Writers |
Author: David Bartholomae
Published: 2004-12-28 |
List price: $30.00
Our price: $53.77
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In stock soon. Order now to get in line. First come, first served.
As of: September 05th, 2008 02:07:07 PM
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Customer comments on this selection.
 Beware "Ways of Brainwashing" student turned teacher
The essays in this book aren't particularly enlightening; however, they are often misused not to start debate or critical thinking, but rather to show students "what they SHOULD learn and feel about the topics." I didn't like any of the essays in this book because they didn't tell me anything I didn't already know. I am already the product of a democratic, public education. Thus, I am tolerant and accepting of others' views and opinions. I don't need tolerance beaten into me over the course of a semester. This book should only be used for the formerly home-schooled and religious right, as it will only open worlds for them.
In sum, this book is best used for what I can only assume it was originally intended - as a yule log. My fondest memories of this book were in the burning of it after Christmas dinner in 1999. Book burning is one human right not mentioned in any of the essays in this book - perhaps it should be.
 From a Teacher
I have used this book to teach a freshman writing and reading course at a liberal arts school. Because of the difficulty of many of the texts, it was met by my students with little fanfare. While a few of the pieces are clearly too much for the average freshman (Foucault comes first to mind), most can be used effectively to get them to discuss issues. I have found that the students would rather talk in generals and universals than with the intricate arguments that some of the writers brilliantly present.
This is one of the those books that if you decide to use it in a class, then you better be prepared to not only sink with the ship but also be able to provide an inspiring tour of the ruins.
 Challenging, yet rewarding read
I had to read this book for my upper division journalism class this fall and found it to be one of the best books that we used in the course. The editors have tried to collect well-written, intelligent documentaries that challenge traditional connections between words and photographs.
Included are Edward Said's inspiring piece about the Palestinian holocaust and exile, a piece by Roland Barthes about the meaning of photograph, "Let Us Speak Now of Famous Men," and many others. Although some pieces are better than others, Barthes' piece is more exciting and informative than Marianne Hirsch's writing on the way that children are used in photography. Over all, the collection is a rewarding and challenge book that could be used for any upper division class. (Maybe the reason that previous reviewers did not like the book is that it was not intended for first year college composition classes.)
Blah, Blah, Blah
I had to read this book for my Freshman lit/comp class and it is by far the most pathetic collection of essays every gathered. It is almost unreadable, pretentious, and laughable. It is a collection of essays by writers who think considerably more of themselves then they are due. Subsequently they choose to use language that "shows" how much smarter they think they are.
This book is not good
Ways of Reading is the textbook for the Freshman English class I am in. I generally enjoy English classes because they are usually a chance to discuss things and talk about differing opinions. Well, that's not the case with this book. Every essay in this book is by some radical leftist. The "varying perspectives" talked about in the other reviews are simply the different perspectives of a lesbian feminist and a Brazilian communist, not actual differences in their beliefs. This book is basically a leftist handbook meant to tell the "proper opinion" on every issue. These essays aren't even particularly good. Many are poorly written, ostensibly to make a point. Now, some of the essays do have value, but taken all together they constitute not an attempt to show the best and most useful works in the English language but rather to convince students of a certain point of view. I would advise any professor not to use this book exclusively, as the essays are really repulsive to anyone who doesn't agree with the premises therein.
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