The Book of Interests

The book is therefore not exclusively intended to develop the pupil's power of reading from one particular stage to the next. It is a book of general educational purpose - to which a training in reading is necessarily and inevitably incidental. The Book of Interests is not claimed to be for children of a certain age or a certain attainment: it is presented quite simply, if not so modestly, as a book which all children should read at one particular stage of their psychological development - a stage that will be clearly and unmistakably recognised by all experienced teachers. This unusual, 'General-Utility,' character is entirely due to the book's linking of reading with activity and experience.
The interests represented are many and various. The attention of a child, though often intense and single-minded, is seldom long sustained. Variety, change of theme, and contrast have therefore been made a feature of the book in order that the child's will-to-read and satisfaction in activity may not flag through boredom. The way in which many of the chapters may be turned to immediate practical activity, and the absorbing experiential content of the others, should be noted.

The Book is conceived to be interesting, entertaining, easy to read so the pupil can enjoy the text. It consists of texts collected from various sources.

CONTENTS:

PREFACE  ......4
LAWRENCE OF ARABIA ......11
PELORUS JACK ......14
A JOURNEY BY AIR ......16
BUT IT ISN'T ......22
THE GREAT TAN ......23
THE LARGEST IN THE WORLD ......30
RAILWAY ENGINES ......37
THE PECULIAR HORSE ......47
FOREST TREES ......49
THE CRUMPLED  PAPER......56
ROAD  SIGNS ......69
THE BOOKING OFFICE ...... 75
RIVERS,  LAKES  AND  INDIANS ......80
KNOTS   AND  ROPES ......90
DO  YOU  KNOW ? ......95
WONDERS  OF THE WORLD ......97
MUSIC IN THE  AIR ...... 107
DON  BRADMAN ......111
MAZES ......113
STRANGE CREATURES ......117
THE THREE MUSKETEERS (A NARRATIVE PLAY) ......121
A MOTOR CAR ......130
A MONTH'S WAGES ......132
OLD CUSTOMS ......134
THERE ISN'T TIME ......141
FRIENDS OF MAN ......143
CAN IT BE DONE? ......148
THE LOST TICKET ......150
TALL SHIPS ......153
STRANGE AND CURIOUS ......164
THE BATTLE OF BRITAIN, 1940 ......165

In the Narrative Play the part of the Narrator is particularly important in the telling of the story. It is therefore recommended that this part should be taken either by the teacher or by a fluent reader with some power of verbal expression.