Around the World in 80 Books

Around the World in 80 Books follows literature professor David Damrosch on a global literary journey during the COVID-19 lockdown. Taking inspiration from Jules Verne's classic adventure tale, Damrosch maps out a route through world literature using eighty selected works. The book moves across continents and centuries, connecting texts from different cultures through their shared themes, historical contexts, and geographic locations. Each stop on the journey pairs literature with place, from London and Paris to Tehran and Tokyo, creating connections between works both classic and contemporary. The selections range from ancient epics to modern novels, combining well-known titles with lesser-known gems from various literary traditions. Damrosch provides historical and cultural context for each work while relating many of them to current global issues. This literary travelogue demonstrates how books can transcend physical boundaries and create paths to understanding across cultures. The work suggests that literature serves as a form of travel itself, offering readers passage to distant places and perspectives even in times of restricted movement.

Readers appreciate Damrosch's literary connections and historical context throughout the journey, noting how he weaves together geography, culture, and literature. Many highlight his personal anecdotes and ability to show how books reflect their locations. Positive reviews mention: - Deep knowledge of international literature - Clear explanations of lesser-known works - Engaging travel narrative style Common criticisms: - Too much focus on Western/European literature - Some selections feel arbitrary or forced - Occasional meandering into tangential topics As one reader noted: "The premise is better than the execution - it tries to cover too much ground without enough depth." Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (1,200+ ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (150+ ratings) The book resonates most with readers who enjoy literary analysis and travel writing combined. Those seeking comprehensive analysis of each book or pure travelogue express disappointment. Multiple reviews say it works better as a reference to discover new books rather than a continuous narrative.

Reading Lolita in Tehran by Azar Nafisi A literature professor's memoir interweaves stories of teaching forbidden Western classics in Iran with reflections on how books transcend cultural boundaries.

The Library Book by Susan Orlean This investigation of the 1986 Los Angeles Public Library fire expands into an exploration of libraries' role in communities across time and cultures.

Ex Libris: Confessions of a Common Reader by Anne Fadiman Essays connect literature to life through stories of book collecting, family reading traditions, and literary pilgrimages across continents.

The Geography of Bliss by Eric Weiner A journey through multiple countries examines how different cultures and places approach the concept of happiness through their literature and philosophy.

Books: A Living History by Martyn Lyons This chronicle traces how books have shaped civilization by examining key texts and reading cultures from ancient tablets to modern printing across global societies.

🌏 David Damrosch embarked on this literary journey during the COVID-19 lockdown, using books to travel the world when physical travel was impossible. 📚 The book's structure mirrors Jules Verne's "Around the World in 80 Days," with Damrosch starting and ending in London, just like Phileas Fogg. 🎓 As Chair of Harvard's Institute for World Literature, Damrosch has pioneered the concept of "world literature" as an academic discipline, making him uniquely qualified to curate this global reading list. 🗺️ The selection includes works from 43 different countries, spanning six continents and more than 4,000 years of literary history. 📖 Among the 80 featured books are unexpected choices like a 4,000-year-old Mesopotamian epic, a Japanese puppet play, and contemporary works like Marjane Satrapi's "Persepolis."