Must reads?

Question

What book(s) contain such elemental truths or themes that everyone should read them. I'm not asking what your favorite book is, but what should be required reading, and what's so special about it?

I'll start: To Kill a Mockingbird

Forgot reason, sorry. It deals with race relations and a sense of justice as seen through the eyes of a child.

Gemelli2, interesting list. Sorry you didn't like TKAM.

Answer 1

"Angeles Ashes" -a very eye-opening look at poverty.

"Lord of the Flies" -is man good or evil at heart?

"The Kite Runner" -there is absolution

Answer 2

It maybe doesn't deal with race but with life and justice. So I think Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte is a must read. In terms of race and such I actually think you would find the book "Gone with the Wind" really facinating. I love that book. It isn't just romance. In fact it is more about politics and racial structure through the eyes of a spoiled young girl. Also recently I was living out in Afghanistan and read "The storytellers daughter" by Seira Shah and I found that really mind blowing.

Oh and though I didn't love it "Song of Solmon" had some facinating racial themes.

Answer 3

I would say Plato's Republic and Aristotle's Ethics. Ironically Plato condemns art and artists. He condemns Homer most of all. He even wants to exile artists from the city state and yet his philosophy about the individual and the state is so metaphorical and rich in art. Aristotle on the other hand thought that art was a catharsis of the soul and yet he wrote Ethics and all of his material in such a prosaic and scientific manner. Both books are so indespensable. To have read them just makes one feel that he has had a conference with the gods and it just enriches your life immeasurably. When you ask yourself if you should do a specific thing you will be contemplating the ideas of these two masters al the rest of your life. Then go to all the European classical poetry in Russian, English, French, and American literature. As Shakespeare is a cornerstone of English literature let me recommend the Sonnets and Venus and Adonis as explorations on the subject of love.

Answer 4

To Kill a Mocking Bird....

hardly contains elemental truths/themes/original ideas

Made a "moving" movie....Harper Lee and Truman Capote ????


Where to start with "required" readings????

All of Aristotle, Plato, Pythagoras, Plotinus,
Hermes Triemagitus for starters...they heavily influenced the religion, politics and cultural values of Western civilizations


The Idiot by Dostoevsky
The Prince by Machiavelli
The Art of War by Sun Tsu
Gullivers Travels by Swift

for social commentary



not all...and I have just scratched the surface...
the rest of the library is yours to explore

Answer 5

Everything I Ever Needed To Know I Learned In Kindergarden

Answer 6

Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky

Reason:
its a powerful psychological study, a great murder mystery/detective story, and it has really good social, philosophical and religious commentary. I consider this book to be very good. It follows the tragic hero plot.

Answer 7

White Oleander. It is a gritty look into the life of a child and the adult circumstances she is put into. I think no matter how you were raised, you can relate to some of the issues she deals with.

Answer 8

Cane River it is so very intriguing
Sleep in Heavenly Peace very sad but it gives people a look at a very odd situation

Answer 9

the last true story i will ever tell

it shows how the troops in Iraq are really feeling.

or "the giver" i hate this book!!! but its a very good book

it deals with y it is imposable to have a perfect utopia

Answer 10

Ishmael By David Quinn- It will change your view on the human race.