The Book

Great Works And Me

Enhancing your life with Classic Literature, Music, and Art

by Richard Fallquist

Discover a practical and engaging guide to experiencing the greatest cultural masterpieces of all time. In Great Works and Me, Richard Fallquist shares his personal "speed launch" approach to the Western Canon — covering literature from the Bible to the 20th century, Shakespeare, opera, classical music, and art.

Using modern resources like YouTube lectures, scholarly summaries, and curated film adaptations, this browsable reference makes the classics more accessible than ever. Whether you're looking to revisit old favorites or explore great works for the first time, you'll find an inspiring roadmap for a lifetime of cultural enrichment.

Word Count

33,350 words

What You'll Find Inside

Curated Reading List
Organized by topic and era for easy navigation.
Accessible Learning
Using online resources for quick insights.

Broad Cultural Coverage
Spanning literature, music, opera, and fine art.
Browsable Format
Perfect for lifelong learners at any stage.

About the Book

Richard Fallquist had always wanted to learn more about the great classics of art, literature, music, and more but found the idea daunting—where to begin?

Then he had an idea: He would use his talents for list making from his career as an actuary to create his own "bucket list" guide to the classics! With this unique approach, Richard created Great Works and Me, a superb resource providing curated lists of the greatest works and masterpieces arranged by topic, including Literature by century (from the Bible to Shakespeare to the 20th Century), Music, Opera, and Art. Each listing includes summaries and discussions, plus resource lists with online lectures, analyses, videos, and more. With contagious enthusiasm and meticulous research, Richard welcomes you to accompany him as he guides you through the riches of the greatest cultural masterpieces across the ages.