Give me the short version! Recently I've been curious about books I should have read but never got around to, like "The Catcher in the Rye" and "Atlas Shrugged". There are lots of great books, "classics", that I'd really like to pick up some day but that aren't at the top of my list of things to do at the moment.
Are you in the same position? Then do what I do and go read book summaries on Wikipedia! The fastest way to find them is simply to go to Google and search for, e.g., "wikipedia the mythical man month". Most popular books have substantial summaries and analysis, so you can get the gist of a book without taking the time to read it. You'll be able to discuss the books at least as well as someone who read them back in high school, so you'll sound smart despite your laziness!
The Catcher in the Rye is depressing and overrated.
DD: Yeah, that was my impression from the summary! I sure saved myself a lot of time by not reading the book.
It's my impression that the majority of people who claim to enjoy Catcher in the Rye are simply attempting to appear intelligent by conforming to society's literary angst-ridden elite. In other words, if it's dark and hopeless, only supposed intellectuals will enjoy it. The Oxbow Incident is the same way, as were the MAJORITY of books I was forcefed in high school.
I don't know which is worse, the Angst category or Maya Angelou books. *shudder*
I am the furthest (or is it farthest?? See...I'm no smarty-pants) thing from an intellectual, but I enjoyed Catcher. Maybe because Holden reminded me of so many teens I used to know or do know or was, to some degree. I didn't see it as depressing. I saw it as a couple days in the life of a teenager. No more, no less. Then again, maybe I'm just not smart enough to really understand it.
Atlas Shrugged is a must read, maybe even "life changing" for some and very entertaining. I have even bought this book for some of my family so they would read it.