Smart, yes. But learned?

Peter King writes on Sports Illustrated:

Evidently Mike Shanahan Is A Learned Man

Books spotted on the bookshelf in coach Mike Shanahan’s office:

1. Tuesdays with Morrie, by Mitch Albom.

2. Purpose-Driven Life, by Rick Walker.

3. Seabiscuit, by Laura Hillenbrand.

4. Plan of Attack, by Bob Woodward.

5. A Good Walk Spoiled, by John Feinstein.

6. Finding the Winning Edge, by Bill Walsh.

7. The Winner Within, by Pat Riley.

“What did you think of ‘Seabiscuit’?” I ask.

“Haven’t read it,” Shanahan says. “Saw the movie. Really liked it.”

“You’ve got to read the book,” I say. “It’s better. One of the best sports books ever.”

I am proud to say that I have none of these books and have read none of them, as with the exception of Seabiscuit they all strike me as books for the semiliterate. Someone did give me a Mitch Albom book once, but I managed to pass it off on someone else who was actually interested in it.

To think that a man once had to read and write Latin and Greek to be considered learned. This is progress?