How to Read (and Love) James Joyce's Ulysses: The Least You Need to Know

James Joyce's novel Ulysses is the most influential novel of all time, hands down. It's arguably the greatest spiritual work of the twentieth century. It's a very funny book. If all that isn't enough, it's very, very sexy.

And yes, it's difficult. But with a little help, even the general, nonacademic reader can read it. And maybe even fall in love with it.

This book provides that help. It's based on more than fifty years of reading, studying, and teaching Ulyssess—teaching not just English majors but readers with a wide range of interests and life experiences.

Joyce was talking about us present-day readers when he once looked out of a window at a random boy on the street and told a visitor, "One day . . . that boy will be a reader of Ulysses."

That boy is us. This book gives you the least you need to know to read, and love, Ulysses.