The Downhill Slope of Reading and Books - Intellectual Takeout

Inspired by author David McCullough’s tribute to Herman Wouk in the former’s book, “History Matters,” I recently picked up a copy of Wouk’s “The Winds of War” and dove into the story. - Jeff Minick

• As I read, Wouk’s book triggered a couple of questions far removed from the storyline. 

My copy of “The Winds of War” is 885 pages of small print. 

With so many characters, the plot is complicated. 

To someone ignorant of the main events of that time, the history might be impossible. 

Yet the novel ran on bestseller lists for months. 

Sales soared in 1983, following a miniseries based on the book.

• Given its size and its assumptions, I wondered whether young American adults today would read a book like “The Winds of War?” 
• Could they even read this 50-year-old novel with any comprehension?

Unfortunately, all evidence points to a negative response to both questions...