Here's an updated idea of how to do it:
1) Put in the complete, where available:
i) Melvyn Bragg's Books that Changed the World
ii) Norwegian Book Clubs in Oslo (2002)
http://www.gutenberg.org/wiki/Best_Books_Ever_Listings_%28Bookshelf%29
2) Put in the Harvard Classics
http://www.gutenberg.org/wiki/Harvard_Classics_%28Bookshelf%29
3) Put in the BestSellers 1900-1917:
http://www.gutenberg.org/wiki/Bestsellers%2C_American%2C_1900-1922_%28Bookshelf%29
4) The Most Popular 100 books from the last 30 days:
http://www.gutenberg.org/browse/scores/top#books-last30
5) Then, use a program to alternate between these three below until you run out of room:
i) One randomly chosen item off of a randomly chosen Bookshelves
http://www.gutenberg.org/wiki/Category:Bookshelf
ii) The complete works of one author under your Most popular Authors last 30 days:
http://www.gutenberg.org/browse/scores/top#authors-last30
Just an idea. But that might be a cool, comprehensive way to make a collection. Candy + cod liver oil.
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Greg M. Johnson
http://pterandon.blogspot.com