About this episode

The episode discusses the significance of James Michener's novel 'Centennial' in portraying Colorado's character and history.

If you’ve been reading my columns, you’ve noticed I’m basically illiterate. I blame my dyslexia and public education, but my Olympic-level laziness could be the driving factor. Anyway, I basically can’t read (and, still, I graduated from CU Boulder, so another endorsement of public higher education). So, for me to recommend a book is like a nun recommending sexy lingerie. How can you take it seriously? But how can it not get you thinking? As we celebrate Colorado’s 150th birthday, may I strongly suggest you read, or re-read, James Michener’s classic novel “ Centennial ,” which arguably presents one of the most accurate portraits of the Colorado character. A Colorado story I understand this is a sizable ask. The book is massive. Now that phonebooks are extinct, parents put “Centennial” on chairs for their little kids to reach the table. I listen to books on tape. So, when I saw this book took 50 hours, I almost went back to my comic book (which we now call “graphic novels,” like that is somehow going to impress women). It’s not that “Centennial” gives an accurate accounting of Colorado’s history, it doesn’t. It’s that it colors a painting of the true Colorado spirit and the…

Topics covered

• Colorado history
• literature
• book recommendation
• James Michener
• public education
• dyslexia

Keywords

• Centennial
• James Michener
• Colorado
• literature
• public education
• dyslexia
• book recommendation

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: CU Boulder

Books & works: Centennial

Places: Colorado

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