Indeed, in only the fifth sentence of his book, Mr. Hirsch, now 87 years old, argued that cultural literacy “constitutes the only sure avenue of opportunity for disadvantaged children, the only reliable way of combating the social determinism that now condemns them to remain in the same social and educational condition as their parents.”

Mr. Hirsch devoted — invested — 53 pages in the paperback edition listing the things all Americans should know, from Captain Ahab to Emile Zola. Louisa May Alcott is in there, but so is Booker T. Washington and, now that you mention it, so is Junipero Serra. Also Vladimir Lenin, Robert E. Lee, Lawrence of Arabia and D.H. Lawrence. And Selma, Ala.

Do you know the basic outlines of the Sacco-Vanzetti case, which you would not expect to find in an intellectual bucket list prized by conservatives? You should. In fact you must. How about the Russo-Japanese War? Essential. The Scopes Trial? Of course.

What about the historical significance of the words ‘’Kitty Hawk”? If you don’t know, check out David McCullough’s new book. Hint: The title is “The Wright Brothers.” (Of course some people will not even know who the Wright brothers were. Lynne V. Cheney attracted enormous attention in 1994 when she pointed out that the National Standards for United States History included not one reference to the Wright brothers.)