Thanks Bethanne. I think only a guy could have written this book. Women are not so keen on appearing more knowledgeable than they are nor expounding on topics they know nothing about. Not afraid to ask for directions. I'm in it for learning more about the world and other folks in it, not figuring out the fastest road to superficial gleanings. I would prefer Pierre not even bother with my book, and no doubt he won't bother with it, so no worries.

I've got 2 all-purpose responses for books one hasn't read: (both require some accessorizing) 1. The Literary Lion, (requires either a monocle or martini glass) "I found it rather derivative and somewhat jejeune-one only has so much time you know..." And, of course #2: The Editorial/Agents Assistant-(to be delivered while chewing gum, filing one's nails, or text-messaging one's friends at Starbucks) "Um, yah, it doesn't meet my needs at the present time... Oooh, Sudoku!" Probably should write my own book about this...

As a former rep and a current bookseller, I have always had to "pretend" I know more about or have actually read many books that I haven't. In fact, this subterfuge goes back to my college days when I skimmed books for what I needed to pass my classes. Then you can add into the whole mix the idea of whether "listening" to an audio book counts as "reading" a book. I wouldn't say it is an indication of the decline and fall of our modern civilization (there are so many other indicators out there for that). However, I would say that 1) sometimes skimming a book or table of contents so that I can hold my own in conversation has actually made me read the whole book, and 2) I am more than willing to admit to the books I have never read but should have to be considered well-read (I barely made it through Moby Dick by skipping the boring parts and have never been able to finish a James Joyce book). Maybe, I am doomed! Patrick Ewing BooneBridgeBooks.com

Well said on all the above, and the fact you've never been able to finish a James Joyce book is something to be proud of... The fact that he's still famous after all the years is proof that God is fond of practical jokes...

I admit, when I first heard the title of this book, I was not interested in it. I love to read, why would I want to read this book? But I read an brief Q&A with Pierre in the New York Times Magazine. It was a great interview, and it made me really want to read his book. He doesn't seem to be anti-reading at all. Instead, he seems to admit and accept the challenges of the "so many books, so little time" lifestyle of book lovers. He also address an issue that hit close to home for me: how quickly we forget the details of what we HAVE read. From what I gathered, his book suggests ways in which to acquaint yourself with classics and modern classics that you haven't had a chance to read yet (or read and forgotten). And in that sense, I agree. I may not want to choose to start Moby Dick above all the new contemporary fiction that I've been itching to read, but I should know general information and knowledge of the book. I love catching up on the classics I've missed - but there are some classics that are very low on my list.

But here I am talking about a book I haven't read. :) I do actually want to give this book a chance and see what he has to say.