#1
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Required Reading
If you had the power to make two books required reading for every adult american which books would you choose and why?
It's a pretty open ended question and the crux of it is which two books do you think would most benefit socity if they were widely read. Everyone will read it so it's important to pick a book that's accessible to most people (imbeciles can be excluded) I don't know if this is my final answer but my first thought is Frankenstein by Mary Shelley A Brief History of Time by Stephen Hawking Some other ideas to get you started: Political Books Animal Farm or 1984 by George Orwell Hegemony or Survival: America's Quest For Dominance by Noam Chomsky The Federalist Papers by Alexander Hamilton et al Grammar books Eats, Shoots and Leaves by Lynne Truss The Elements of Style by William Strunk and E.B. White Science books The Feynman Lectures on Physics The Selfish Gene by Richard Dawkins The Origin of Speces by Charles Darwin On Human Nature by Edward O. Wilson Stumbling on Happiness by Daniel Gilbert Mathematics Books Godel, Escher, Bach by Douglas Hofstadter Flatland by Edwin A. Abbott Books on Religion The Koran The Bible The End of Faith by Sam Harris I'm weak on books on history and art so I'm sure there are worthy ones that I'm just not listing. Same goes for works of literature. I'm more familiar with those but can't usually distinguish between the good and the great. |
#2
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Re: Required Reading
I would make everyone read a book on basic macro economic principles so they at least understand the impact of all their voting decisions. Or maybe a book that just explains their personal economic situations in a straight-forward way, like the wealthy barber. But I feel this is the most important subject that high school does not address.
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#3
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Re: Required Reading
[ QUOTE ]
I would make everyone read a book on basic macro economic principles so they at least understand the impact of all their voting decisions. Or maybe a book that just explains their personal economic situations in a straight-forward way, like the wealthy barber. But I feel this is the most important subject that high school does not address. [/ QUOTE ] IMHO evey high school student should be forced to take at least once course on personal finance (how to balance a check book, how mortgages work, the importance of credit, what types of monthly bills to expect etc....) I read the Wealthy Barber 15 years ago, and it would be an excellent resource for anyone. OP, Under the science section I would recommend "The Age of Spiritual Machines". I don't have a science background, nor an interest in science, but I really liked this book. |
#4
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Re: Required Reading
GR,
I used to work at a bank and totally agree with you. People, adults even, cannot do banking for the life of them. As if its some hard science. Goof, I think Hamlet is another winner. |
#5
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Re: Required Reading
[ QUOTE ]
The Elements of Style by William Strunk and E.B. White [/ QUOTE ] This should be the focus of high school english courses. |
#6
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Re: Required Reading
i love hamlet
i think you should add "the elegant universe" by greene under science everyone should read the plague by camus |
#7
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Re: Required Reading
Origin of Species is an epic book, however I believe there are many modern biology related books that give a more informed, researched and pithy argument for evolution.
I also think this list should contain a text on human sexuality. It probably isn't the best suggestion, but possibly Abnormal by Michel Foucault (series of transcribed lectures. There is probably a much more definitive text than this. |
#8
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Re: Required Reading
Daryn,
I thoguht about it but the list is just suggestions. The idea is for everyone to pick their two books. Also string theory has some potential flaws. |
#9
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Re: Required Reading
huck finn and when genius failed.
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#10
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Re: Required Reading
Science section needs some Carl Sagan imo.
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