moderns or ancients?

Throughout present-day America, thousands upon thousands of books are available for the populace to read. With so many choices, how should a person begin to decide where to start in the vast sea of printed pages?

If first-hand accounts are best and truest, then would that not apply to books as well? A great place to begin studying would be to go back to the primary sources and just read them. Yes, it is an gi-normous task, but when all is said and done, the education that will automatically be absorbed by simply reading such great works is incomparable. There are so many books about the same topic and even story, and most of them are just watered-down versions and variants of the original author's points, ideas, worldview, thoughts, and emotions. Why bother even opening the cover to the muddled and confusing interpretations of renown books by inconsequential writers, when, in roughly the same amount of time, the door to an unknown world can be thrown open wide and articulately described and explained by choosing an original title over a newfangled copy-cat?

Even though the classic books may appear daunting, a person should not give up. After all, the authentic books have already passed the test of time and are really worthwhile to read, unlike so many of the contemporary novels and history rewritings. Plus, the results will be more rewarding and the material exposed/learned will be of much more use and significance to the reader if the tough books are persevered through (not even half of the classics require such arduous and keen reading). However there are times to read commentaries to aid in the understanding of a book or its parts, but this type of reading should not comprise all nor a majority of what a person reads.

What will you read next: an ancient, time-tested classic or a modern and diluted rendition of a classic?

note: I am not discounting the modern and educational writings of all present-day literature, but rather seeking to show the importance to read and understand the ancient classics; after all, goodness, beauty, and truth can be found everywhere, even in pagan books.