Slate smartypanteses Ron Rosenbaum and Steven Metcalf are discussing Rosenbaum's latest book: The Shakespeare Wars: Clashing Scholars, Public Fiascoes, Palace Coups.

As a wee bairn, I thought Shakespeare was dull and overwrought. I went to a production of Macbeth, fell asleep halfway through and woke up only because one of the actors slammed a baby(doll) against a table.

Then I took graduate classes and was forced to read Hamlet -- hmm! Not bad. Then I accidentally ended up at a production of Henry IV: tremendous! ...And surprisingly accessible, considering the play was put on more than 400 years after its original performance.

Shakespeare doesn't have to be the lofty prose, ornamented with "symbolism," that was foisted on you by your 11th-grade English teacher. In fact, Rosenbaum argues (successfully, I think) that it's the ultimate cure for self-importance.

So read this. And then, have a little fun already and read this.