Because by reading a book that is tough, you have an opportunity to grow. I don’t think anyone could argue against such good advice, but most of us have the obvious problem of not knowing which of the books we can identify as over our heads is worthwhile. Scads of folks praise Proust, for example, (sacred cow-tipping alert) but should I give a rat’s rearend about the man’s writing? Couldn’t I just read a couple essays on him and then work to read something better?

Actually, Proust is a bad author to question. The latest Booker winner would be a far better choice.