Each individual top 10 list is like its own steeplechase through the international canon.

List at the end of the clip, though I find Lev Grossman's intro more interesting.

I've only read half of these books listed. I really think Hamlet is one of the best things written.

i agree with the list
classical only
but very true

2 out of ten are french!!

This kind of list doesn't work . The ten greatest are only the greatest for those who think they are!

I presume the "King" mentioned is Stephen King? He's certainly a big author.

I'd probably replace something there with Dostoevsky, Hamlet with King Lear, like Michael Chabon probably pick Pale File over Lolita, but I'm not sure of that just yet... Basically make it more personal like most of us would do. Pretty interesting obscenity, I agree.

Got that right, Torley. Zane asked Jonathan Franzen, Norman Mailer, David Foster Wallace, Tom Wolfe, Michael Chabon, Jonathan Lethem, and Stephen King, among others, to pick their favorite books. Very American authors, come to think of it.

Hamlet with King Lear,

What the? You can't mean that!

I do and I'd have to tell you quite a long story if I have to answer why. If you think it won't bore you to bits, ask about it the next time we log on to dai.sy.

...probably pick Pale File...

Argh, typo!

Thanx haraya — I wonder if anyone's done a roundup of top sci-fi epics... I'd like to see how Stephen King's The Stand does vs. Frank Herbert's Dune does vs. Isaac Asimov's Foundation (there are notable others I'm missing here).