While that volume belongs on the 150 books for the well-read hacker, I wouldn't put it on the list for the well-read gentleman. We live in such a world of specialization, appreciation of true general education has suffered. In the age of Romance the 150 books would have been largely classical and philosophy. I think you could put together an awe-inspiring list of 150 that everyone with a bachelor's should be familiar with. Then we would actually live in an intellectually inspired society.
"A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects."
