I like to binge read and self educate. When coming to a new topic (let’s say History of Western Art or Pharmacology) I’ve never found a single place where I could look up the key texts that a university student would be reading to get into the subject. Usually I search around and find an actual university’s reading list or something equally well put together but it’s hit and miss.

Had anyone ever come across a single place that holds this kind of info over a wide range of subjects? (Books specifically)

  • Libb@jlai.luEnglish
    6·
    22 hours ago

    Had anyone ever come across a single place that holds this kind of info over a wide range of subjects? (Books specifically)

    Without info on what you have already tried, it’s a but difficult to suggest anything:

    • Have you tried your public library? Edit: it’s a great place to get info on almost any topic, and to find books (1).
    • Look up whatever topic you’re interested in on Wikipedia and borrow the references they mention? There are a lot of books referenced there and you can borrow them from your public library, buy them from a used book shop, from online…
    • Ask people?
    • Read an Introductory book and from that use the references they should provide to read further. Which also means books without references have close to no interest unless you’re looking to learn more about their author’s opinion on whatever the subject is more than about the subject itself ;)

    I’ve quit university many, many decades ago what I tend to do is search for people knowing the topic and see what book they consider interesting. I will pick one, or two, read them and from there pick other books they reference.

    I will also use references suggested by persons I admire. I just read that French writer (I’m French) saying good things about two other French authors on a topic I’m interested in, whose names I had never heard of. I noted their names and the title of their books and will find a copy of each of them.

    1: as long as your public library is not censoring stuff, obviously.