The Art of Literature, by the 19th century philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer, is a rare and wonderful read, and just as pertinent today as when it was written. Its focus is not on craft, but on the vocation of writing: who the true writer is, why he writes, what good writing is, what to expect from the public, etc., all delivered with great wit.

This is a rare book to find in hardcover (my own copy is the Saunders translation from 1909) but it is thankfully available now online in several places, including Project Gutenberg.

I have also included some priceless excerpts below, organized by chapter heading:

     On Authorship

     On Style

     On Men of Learning

     On Thinking for Oneself

     On Criticism

     On Reputation

     On Genius