Why Read the Classics- Organized

"Why Read the Classics?" by Italo Calvino uses good organization in order to make a point to the reader. The first chapter, "Why Read the Classics?", gives you several definitions of the word "classics". The passages begin by giving about a paragraph or so of information concerning the classics. For example, Italo Calvin wrote that you should not be embarrassed if you have not read a famous book because no one on the entire earth can read all of them (3). He also wrote that when we re-read a classic, it should surprise us as we compare what we now see in the story to what we had remembered the previous time it was read (5). After describing these and many more, the author summarized all of that information into a single sentenced definition all referring to the word "classics". The passages proceeding the fourteenth and final definition act as the concluding paragraphs by talking a little more about the classics and giving practical advice. Each following chapter is used to give a brief summary of different classics as well as Italo Calvino's input of the book. These classics were apparently some of Italo's favorites. However, I am not sure how he had organized the chapters based on the book, since they were not in alphabetical order.

Calvino, Italo. Why Read the Classics. New York: Vintage, 1991. Web. July-Aug. 2011.