In the sixteenth century, Zen monks in Japan developed the haiku, an unrhymed poem consisting of 17 syllables arranged in three lines of five, seven and five syllables respectively. In One Hundred Great Books in Haiku (ISBN: 9780141399423), now available in iconic paperback from the Penguin Group (Australia), David M. Bader has applied this ancient poetic form to the classics.

From Homer to Milton to Lao Tzu, the great books are finally within reach of even the shortest attention spans. Avoid eyestrain and show off your literary prowess at cocktail parties! It's the perfect gift for today's busy reader.