The Conscious Reader

Book excerpt: This classic thematic anthology is widely admired for its exceptionally rich collection of essays, personal writing, fiction and poetry, and for its ground-breaking inclusion of classic and contemporary images. Renowned for the quality and range of its selections, The Conscious Reader presents over 120 readings representing a range of genres, a wide array of culturally diverse authors and fascinating topics, and a broad range of academic disciplines, including art, cultural studies, education, psychology, philosophy, politics, science, technology, and environmental studies. The works range from the classical--Plato's Allegory of the Cave--to the contemporary-- Jhumpa Lahiri, Peggy Orenstein, and paired essays on the vampire cults in popular culture--and from political figures like Barack Obama and Colin Powell to generational icons like Melissa Etheridge, John Lennon, and You Tube sensation Taylor Mali. Brief, flexible apparatus includes an introduction to each theme and helpful headnotes, discussion questions, and writing assignments for each selection. Perhaps the most distinguishing feature of The Conscious Reader is its inclusion of a cutting-edge selection of images designed to provoke discussion and analysis.