The Graphic Canon: Volume 1

The most important works of literature in both Western and Eastern culture retold as short graphic interpretations. The concept alone makes want to praise it as a fantastic book, but this suffers seriously from anthology syndrome. Some of these comics are simply not good. There where multiple points where I simply found myself reading the excerpts explaining why each piece was important, and then moving on to the next one. I managed to find Volume 2 for a cheap price, so I'll keep going because I find it educational, but it's not necessarily something I'd recommend unless you are more interested in the academic side of things.