An old Chinese proverb says, "A book is like a garden in the pocket." Many of us who have valued reading in our early years derive enjoyment from reading to our children, and now, as I do, to our grandchildren. Books are voyages of discovery and transforming instruments to all of us. A few years ago, the National Endowment for the Humanities asked schools around the country to send reading lists of their favorite books. Noticing how often books that other generations have enjoyed appear on these lists, we decided to make this compilation of tried-and-true titles. The works herein, published in 1960 or earlier, have delighted generations of readers. Some have asked, "Is the book dead?" as we move into new computer technologies. Not at all. Print text will co-exist with these new mediums. As concerned parents, educators, and counselors, we must continue to emphasize the importance of access to good reading in order to shape our students' learning process, enhance their understanding of American heritage, and open up a new world of self-fulfillment. As Aldous Huxley said, "The proper study of mankind is books." There are some excellent older books that are missing from the list, because they appeared too infrequently in the school selections: Kate Douglas Wiggin's Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm, for example; Dylan Thomas's A Child's Christmas in Wales; Frederick Douglass's Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass. Despite the absences, we hope this compilation will nevertheless bring hours of pleasure and enlightenment. The titles presented for suggested extracurricular reading provide a solid foundation and hours of enjoyment for students and scholars of all ages. We at NEH hope that the "Timeless Classics" booklist will continue to be a rich source of material for everyone. Sheldon Hackney Chairman "Books are humanity in print" ...Barbara Tuchman "Literature is an investment of genius which pays dividends to all subsequent times." ...John Burroughs "All that mankind has done, thought, gained, or been: it is lying as in magic preservation in the pages of books." ...Thomas Carlyle

SOURCE: The National Endowment for the Humanities For more information about NEH programs Write to NEH, Room 402, Washington, D.C. 20506. P91-5

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