In this age of the internet, google searches and the ability to find whatever you want at the touch of a mouse-click, the idea of a syntopicon probably seems out-dated (and could they have picked a more ridiculous term). However, this book is definitely worth reading if you are considering tackling the Great Books. This and the second volume of the syntopicon have oragnised various chapters based on a range of topics, which includes an introductory essay, references within the Great Books series, and also additional readings that can be found elsewhere.
While suggested as a way of approaching the Great Books series, it has other uses. If you are required to write a paper on one of the topics listed, or are simply interested in them, reading the suggested references would be a good and thorough start into the ideas you should probably become familiar with. This is what old fashioned learning was about. ( )