The Bwog
I Wish This Came Out My Freshmen Year

Though most of us are bogged down with midterms and papers, Bwog writer Hannah Goldfield provides some alternative reading.

Ducking your head and barreling through the cloud of cigarette smoke outside Butler might be worth it tonight. Act fast and you can snag a copy of poli-lit-culture journal n+1's latest pamphlet, distributed, guerrilla-style, throughout the library a few hours ago.

Titled "What We Should Have Known," the unassuming, slim, blue volume is targeted at college freshmen, meant to help them traverse the intellectual spiderweb in which they're bound to get caught over the next four years. It consists specifically of transcripts of two panel discussions (which took place this past summer at the n+1 headquarters) about books, mostly: the books you're assigned to read and the books the panel members, a mix of n+1 editors and contributors, think you should read, on your own, sooner rather than later. If you get lost in the sea of titles, don't fret--the ones that truly changed their lives are conveniently compiled into lists on the last few pages.

After tonight, "What We Should Have Known" will set you back $10--unless you're a freshman, in which case you might find a copy slipped under your door tomorrow, or, if not, your student ID will get you one for free. Because saving untainted souls from the Western Canon--or at least guiding them through it--is priceless.

Read more: Books, Freshmen, Regret

Posted by Anonymous: [#1] [reply] [track]
( posted October 17, 2007 at 9:49 PM )
Augustine wasn't white, and I wish you'd all stop perpetuating the stereotype that he was. In addition, the compilers of the Old and New Testaments also would likely not pass as white in today's society (as well as Jesus, but that should go without saying). Also, unless you think Dubois is a token black dude or an Uncle Tom, I think you should mention him as an exception to the white male rule.

But I don't want to start a debate about this stupid shit. I'd rather know what they suggest we read without paying ten bucks?
Posted by Yup: [#2] [reply] [track]
( posted October 17, 2007 at 10:17 PM )
Ditto the last comment. For once, I'm actually interested in hearing what freshmen have to say. Speak, ye minions!
Posted by Whiteness: [#3] [reply] [track] (in reply to #1)
( posted October 17, 2007 at 10:17 PM )
I think "white" just became the term used to describe a brand of conservative, imperialistic, euro-centric way of thinking perpetuated or supported by various texts, including those you mentioned
Posted by hannah: [#4] [reply] [track] (in reply to #3)
( posted October 17, 2007 at 10:20 PM )
exactly. but i removed the word because i didn't mean to set off that bomb and plus, it was my term, not n+1's.
Posted by etc: [#5] [reply] [track]
( posted October 17, 2007 at 10:32 PM )
I'm glad that n+1 is "articulating a better reason to read the best books ever written than that they authorize and underwrite a system of brutal economic competition and inequality."

Good thing we've got an alternative to that oft-used, highly persuasive argument for the Core.
Posted by first: [#6] [reply] [track] (in reply to #1)
( posted October 17, 2007 at 10:34 PM )
they'd probably tell you to go read an econ textbook (ok, adam smith) and realize why they charge money for this. i was just in butler, and it was pretty decent guerilla marketing, as far as this niche goes.
Posted by hmph: [#7] [reply] [track]
( posted October 17, 2007 at 10:52 PM )
check out the actual suggestions made in the pamphlet. homer? cervantes? salinger? there's really not much revolutionary in there. even delillo and james wood aren't, even if they're a hundred years too recent to grace lit hum syallabi.

they originally planned to distribute this at harvard which would make more sense considering it has no core and its undergraduates learn little outside of whatever narrow interests they whimsically pursue. no wonder the n+1 editors "regret going to college"...
Posted by someone : [#8] [reply] [track]
( posted October 17, 2007 at 11:16 PM )
please post the suggestions
Posted by suggestions: [#9] [reply] [track] (in reply to #8)
( posted October 17, 2007 at 11:16 PM )
you can see them at the bottom of the first page:

[ external link to www.nysun.com ]
Posted by THE GEOMETER: [#10] [reply] [track]
( posted October 17, 2007 at 11:16 PM )
SOMETHING STUPID THAT IS SORT OF RELATED TO GEOMETRY. MY EXISTENCE IS MOST DISPLEASING
Posted by hiii: [#11] [reply] [track]
( posted October 17, 2007 at 11:26 PM )
i have a crush on the geometer.
Posted by Wowzas: [#12] [reply] [track]
( posted October 17, 2007 at 11:45 PM )
You are an idiot.
Posted by anybody know: [#13] [reply] [track]
( posted October 18, 2007 at 12:07 AM )
if these are still in butler?
Posted by they may be: [#14] [reply] [track] (in reply to #13)
( posted October 18, 2007 at 12:41 AM )
you might find some still on the tables; if you don't, i'm sure many a frosh will not want his or her copy.
Posted by oh my god: [#15] [reply] [track]
( posted October 18, 2007 at 12:41 AM )
the ny sun columnist was right in prophesying that n+1 probably has cult worshippers at columbia, including the writer of this article. i refused to believe it, but now i'm embarrassed.
Posted by what: [#16] [reply] [track]
( posted October 18, 2007 at 12:43 AM )
tables were they on? were they just scattered around the library or something?
Posted by wait--: [#17] [reply] [track]
( posted October 18, 2007 at 12:49 AM )
where do we get one with our id?
Posted by OMG!!!!!: [#18] [reply] [track]
( posted October 18, 2007 at 2:15 AM )
Mark Krotov is so hot.
Posted by ohh: [#19] [reply] [track]
( posted October 18, 2007 at 3:26 AM )
whoa, I've been wondering what the deal was with these pamphlets that have been sitting in front of me for the last few hours.
Posted by here:: [#20] [reply] [track] (in reply to #17)
( posted October 18, 2007 at 11:05 AM )
collegepamphlet@nplusonemag.com
Posted by I hate this school: [#21] [reply] [track]
( posted October 18, 2007 at 12:09 PM )
Throw the word "guerilla" on something and the hipsters on this campus cream their pants. Counter-culture isn't counter-culture. Develop your own identities.
Posted by sorry: [#22] [reply] [track] (in reply to #15)
( posted October 18, 2007 at 12:54 PM )
but how does writing a post about ongoings at columbia prove one's participation in a cult?
Posted by krotovlove: [#23] [reply] [track] (in reply to #18)
( posted October 18, 2007 at 12:55 PM )
and he's so good in bed
Posted by Alex Star: [#24] [reply] [track]
( posted October 18, 2007 at 1:16 PM )
Keith Gessen is pretentious, second-rate version of me.
Posted by i read it: [#25] [reply] [track]
( posted October 18, 2007 at 3:41 PM )
it was in butler coffee shop,i read it, it sucked.....none of the lists have books you havet heard of before, the people in it are really pretentious, i dont know why they made such a book, i am just completely confused as to why it was published and why it is news
Posted by just so you know: [#26] [reply] [track]
( posted October 19, 2007 at 3:29 AM )
keith gessen is really good in bed
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