I have heard it said, and it has become my belief, that if a person would study one classic essay per week, then in a few short years, they will be among the most educated people in the nation, earning the equivalent of a degree in literature. Below is the start of a selection of articles and essays, arranged by topic, that I consider classic—articles that, upon serious reflection, have the potential to drastically improve the way a person views the world and approaches life (A greater number of stars (*) indicates a superior level of transcendence):

Communication:

David Cain, “The Secret to Connecting With People” (4 Pages, ***)

David Cain, “How to Always Have Something Better to Talk About Than the Weather” (5 Pages, ***)

Education:

Eliot Butler, “Everybody is Ignorant, Only on Different Subjects” (16 Pages, ****)

Goals and Achievement:

Advice from Elder Widstoe (3 Pages, ****)

Morality:

Clayton M. Christensen, “The Importance of Asking the Right Questions” (4 Pages, ****)