Which Books Should Be Required Reading in Schools?

[Ihateregistering1]

Books that makes thin skinned people uncomfortable. Maybe if they read more such things during their early days, they wouldn't be the biggest crybabies on the internet 10 years later.
I've read a bit about the bullshit that's happening in the US universities (by chance) and holy shit, you guys need to step it up and take back control. Just because someone got offended by a regular, medieval book doesn't mean that freaking book should be "banned". The land of the free is getting less and less free. More "banned" books on universities than censored games in Germany.

This is a pretty huge misconception about the U.S.; thanks to the constitution, we can't ban books, but a place can decide to not carry it. Sure, there's many a book that people demand be banned from schools and the like, but they legally can't. Hell, I've even had several books be part of the curriculum that usually end up on 'banned book' lists (I think the proper term for such lists is Frequently Challenged Books or some such).

I think that's why he put banned in quotation marks, since we're not talking about a literal Government ban. It did remind me of this article: http://www.bustle.com/articles/90355-college-student-wants-four-books-banned-at-her-california-school-so-are-high-school-style-challenges-coming

and this quote from the article: "However, by the time students reach college, the general consensus is that they are mature enough to begin handling more serious, unsettling topics, particularly in upper level courses. As they should be, since college students are typically either adults or at the very least mature enough to be in college."

Unfortunately, we're increasingly seeing more and more efforts by both College Students and Administrators (and even Teachers) to basically insulate Students from any opinions or ideas that might make them uncomfortable. Since they can't outright demand a ban on books or speech they don't like, they hide behind concepts like claiming that opinions they don't like "invalidate their experiences", or "re-traumatize" them. Once you're no longer claiming that this thing simply offends you, but actually causes damage, then you can more easily justify that you think it needs to be gotten rid of all together.

Anyway, I'm a firm believer that students should get exposure to books that espouse ideas from all sides of the political and social debates. So I think they should read "Atlas Shrugged", but also have a highly left wing book to read as well (though I'll admit no book in particular comes to mind for that one).
-Watchmen
-To Kill a Mockingbird
-Maus
-Fahrenheit 451
-Animal Farm
-Frankenstein
-Fight Club

 

[ThatOtherGirl]

Depends on the age, but I would start with either The Wee Free Men or Guards! Guards! By Terry Pratchett.

CRIME AND PUNISMENT by Dostoevsky
WHITE FANG by Jack London
DEATH AND THE DERVISH by Me?a Selimović
THE USE OF MAN by Aleksandar Ti?ma
FOR WHOM THE BELL TOLLS by Ernest Hemingway
THE OLD MAN AND THE SEA by Ernest Hemingway
NINETEEN EIGHTY-FOUR by George Orwell

A bit heavy I know, but each one of these is a masterpiece. I choose these (there are many more authors and books I could have included) because I think they provide very important lessons about nature, war, morality and overall struggle for freedom and humanity.

This sounds like a fantastic way to make sure that the majority of your students learn absolutely nothing from you except to hate literature with an undying passion for the rest of their life.

I think this is actually the big problem with the current approach to literature in schools. We don't teach literature in schools, we throw beginners in the deep end and and hope they learn to swim before they drown. The way we handle literature is like if we handled math by starting with calculus and expecting students to just figure out the algebra.

 

[Skatologist]

I know a lot of schools teach 1984 in English, but I find Brave New World to be as just as important/relevant to dystopian literature. It also is incredibly relevant to some debates in philosophy as well.

This short comic seems to contrast the themes of it and 1984 pretty well

Which happens to feature quotes from Neil Postman's Amusing Ourselves to Death

 

[omega 616]

In my school in the UK, we were made to read one book ... ONE! Was it great novel? Was it a masterpiece? Was it influential in ANY way? No, not at all! It was a book called "Rhino boy" by John Brindly, a story about a boy who grows a rhino horn on his head.

I actually don't see the point of reading, should people be able to read? Of course but mandating that a certain book be read is silly to me.

It seems American's are taught to read between lines, analyse plots and decipher metaphors written in books (I get that from all the American TV shows, where they are asked such things) but I don't really see it as a useful skill ... like teaching kids how to properly taste wine.

Personally, I would get rid of a lot of subjects and focus intensely on Maths and English until the child has respectable grasp of both. Then move onto other subjects like it is now, it's all well and good to know the entire events of world war 1 and 2 or know the periodic table off by heart etc but how often do any of you actually use that info? Arguing on the net doesn't count. If you can't communicate properly or have a basic level of maths, life can be much harder.

 

[Fox12]

Would:

Watchmen- great piece of fiction that integrates Nietzsche, deism, fate vs. free will, block universe time structures, classical poetry (shelley), history, and lots and lots of symbols and motifs. It's also one of the most perfectly paced works of fiction from any medium. And that barely scratches the surface. It's one of the greatest English language novels of the 20th century, up there with The Grapes of Wrath, and most people haven't heard of it outside of the comic fandom. Truly distressing.

Berserk, up through the Golden Age Arc (but only in college). Similar case with Watchmen, but perhaps more complex. It ties in well with greek tragedy and classical literature, but maintains a distinctly post modern outlook. Pure genius.

To Kill a Mockingbird- great fun for all ages, and an importent bit of cultural history

Faulkner- Great for teaching advanced literary techniques, and studying psychological realism in literature

Fahrenheit 451- I know 1984 is the obvious choice, but I always thought the problem lied with our culture. We're far too willing to submit to authority.

Don't teach:

The Great Gatsby- fucking hate that book. People call it The Great American Novel (what a stupid term) even though it only captures the point of view of a small social class, in a small geographical area, during a very brief time period. Or, as my friend put it, it's about "rich people driving what they think are fast cars." What nonsense. The symbolism is also quite simplistic. The eyes of god over the valley of ash. The green light. It's as simplistic as it is pretentious. Ugh.

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde- the writing was awful. The author was high off his rocker, and it shows. I was surprised by how badly written it was. And we all know the twist ending, so it doesn't even have that saving grace.

The Sorrows of Young Werther- Oh, you thought Cloud was emo? You thought Squall was emo. You know nothing. You don't even know what emo is. You know that moment when a baby is born from its mothers womb, and it screams at the sheer horror of being born? You know that moment where man looks upon the face of the Great Old Ones, and their minds are broken beyond repair? That's this book. It. ha. ha.He. hehe. he. hehe. he.h.e.ehehe. ph'nglui mglw'nafh Cthulhu R'lyeh wgah'nagl fhtagn .

Spoiler

 

[09philj]

Nobody should be forced to read anything, and especially not children, since you'll instill a burning hatred of literature in them for a good while. However, if I had to pick a selection, these would be on the list, since they are all both interesting and accessible:

The Big Sleep by Raymond Chandler
A Firing Offense by George P. Pelecanos
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams
Stalin ate my Homework by Alexei Sayle
Day of the Triffids by John Wyndham

Oh, and plays should not be studied unless the students get to watch the play be performed.

We shouldn't be throwing young into heavy works they won't fully understand; it's an exercise in futility from which nothing is gained. I also think more children should get the opportunity to study film as a medium and be exposed to a greater variety of works early on. There are children who aren't going to get a proper exposure to the arts at home, so schools should do it. In fact, I'd argue that more needs to be done to give the young an earlier introduction to all aspects of the arts, so they can learn to form opinions of their own.

 

[Auberon]

I'm a jerk and nominate Dune as mandatory. While it's one of sci-fi classics, it's incredibly dull to read through - Gibson can get there too at points on cyberpunk side of fence.

 

[Dornedas]

The Sorrows of Young Werther- Oh, you thought Cloud was emo? You thought Squall was emo. You know nothing. You don't even know what emo is. You know that moment when a baby is born from its mothers womb, and it screams at the sheer horror of being born? You know that moment where man looks upon the face of the Great Old Ones, and their minds are broken beyond repair? That's this book. It. ha. ha.He. hehe. he. hehe. he.h.e.ehehe. ph'nglui mglw'nafh Cthulhu R'lyeh wgah'nagl fhtagn .

I'm really happy that I didn't have to read Die Leiden des jungen Werthers. But then again I didn't have to read anything from Goethe during my school time and I think that's inexcusable in Germany.

Books that I would make mandatory reading:
Well as a Nerd obviously the Lord Of The Rings. Just to let the children see where all fantasy clichés come from.

And to come back to Goethe. I would take one of his good books. Faust. Not because it teaches the children something good. Because I don't remember if it does. But they would have to read it to see how beautiful writing can be.
The whole book is written in rhyme format and not a single line seems forced or reads slow. At least in German. I don't know how it is in other languages.

And finally I would make the children read Atlas Shrugged. Because I hate kids and want them to suffer.

 

[visiblenoise]

This isn't really a literary suggestion, but it sorta fits because it'd be taught in an English class. I think humor should be taught as a part of the curriculum. Types of humor, examples of humor, how to analyze humor. There'd be a lot less misunderstanding in the world.

 

[Drake the Dragonheart]

If we're talking America, I'd say the constitution.

Know what, that is actually a very good idea. along the same line declaration of independence would be another one.

I would say "The Art of War." the understanding of strategy and tactics that can be gleaned from studying it.

I was happy to see the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy on one list of books we could choose from.

What should not be mandatory reading:
Shakespeare. Yeah no denying the influence of his works, but it was insufferable. Had English teachers that just about worshipped the guy.
Great Expectations. A terrific cure for Insomnia.

 

[contagonist]

Stranger In A Strange Land by Robert Heinlein
The Forever War by Joe Haldeman
A Scanner Darkly by Phillip K. Dick
Neuromancer by William Gibson

in that order

 

[Padwolf]

Come on guys, really? Suggesting heavy classics like Crime and Punishment, Ulysses, to make school kids read? I didn't touch Ulysses til university and I barely even understood it then. Reading it as a teen probably would have made my head explode.

While I was at secondary school (UK) I was reading things like Flour Babies, Kes, and over "come of age/bildungsroman" stories. They were great then. I loved Shakespeare myself, but if I had to choose I'd cut Othello from the damn list of plays to learn. So here's my list of books for school children:

1. Oliver Twist (this was probably the case for many of you, but no one in my school touched it. Everyone had to read Great Expectations)
2. His Dark Materials Trilogy
3. Pride and Prejudice (a little older though, but if I had to pick one Austen novel it would be this or Sense and Sensibility) They aren't so heavy going.
4. Regeneration by Pat Barker (for the older, A-level 16-18) What a fantastic book. What a fantastic trilogy.
5. All Quiet on the Western Front. Everyone should read this book. First book to make me cry on the train. I didn't read this until university, it's a shame. I would have like to see it in secondary schools.
6. The Book Thief.

 

[Shock and Awe]

Ender's Game is definitely near the top. It says a lot about leadership, teamwork, and a bit about people in general. Add that its actually a fantastic read and it has everything one would want for a book like this.

Brave New World as well. Its a good book that says a lot that is relevant to today's society. The same can be said about Fahrenheit 451.

 

[RedRockRun]

I find required reading in general to be a bad idea. Instead just include a large pool of culturally important works and let students choose rather than assigning specific books.

 

[Buffoon1980]

The first book that comes to my mind is The Corner by David Simon. If you can read that book and still think that some groups of people are just inherently 'bad', and not realise that almost every moral problem is far more complex than it might appear at first, then there's little hope for you. Also everyone should watch The Wire, for the same reason.

Other books? Ha, I'm tempted to say The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand... love it or hate it, people will have a reaction. It may kill them though... at least I'm not suggesting Atlas Shrugged...

 

[Elementary - Dear Watson]

In my school in the UK, we were made to read one book ... ONE! Was it great novel? Was it a masterpiece? Was it influential in ANY way? No, not at all! It was a book called "Rhino boy" by John Brindly, a story about a boy who grows a rhino horn on his head.

I actually don't see the point of reading, should people be able to read? Of course but mandating that a certain book be read is silly to me.

It seems American's are taught to read between lines, analyse plots and decipher metaphors written in books (I get that from all the American TV shows, where they are asked such things) but I don't really see it as a useful skill ... like teaching kids how to properly taste wine.

It teaches to be critical, and how to analyse. Using books just makes it more enjoyable, but the skill is transferrable to everything from political speeches to advertising to how to decifer what your boss is asking you to do at work. It also allows you to add subtlety to your own writing. You have to analyse and assess why they are teaching you to analyse and assess to get it...

Also, what arse end of the country are you from? I went to a bog standard comprehensive and I read and studied Macbeth, Romeo and Juliet, An Inspector Calls, 1984, Lord of the Flies, The Wasp Factory, Of Mice and Men and Great Expectations during my secondary school years.

 

[omega 616]

In my school in the UK, we were made to read one book ... ONE! Was it great novel? Was it a masterpiece? Was it influential in ANY way? No, not at all! It was a book called "Rhino boy" by John Brindly, a story about a boy who grows a rhino horn on his head.

I actually don't see the point of reading, should people be able to read? Of course but mandating that a certain book be read is silly to me.

It seems American's are taught to read between lines, analyse plots and decipher metaphors written in books (I get that from all the American TV shows, where they are asked such things) but I don't really see it as a useful skill ... like teaching kids how to properly taste wine.

It teaches to be critical, and how to analyse. Using books just makes it more enjoyable, but the skill is transferrable to everything from political speeches to advertising to how to decifer what your boss is asking you to do at work. It also allows you to add subtlety to your own writing. You have to analyse and assess why they are teaching you to analyse and assess to get it...

Also, what arse end of the country are you from? I went to a bog standard comprehensive and I read and studied Macbeth, Romeo and Juliet, An Inspector Calls, 1984, Lord of the Flies, The Wasp Factory, Of Mice and Men and Great Expectations during my secondary school years.

The school I went to is called "Rainford high technology college", it's not nearly as prestigious as it sounds ... which is saying something 'cos it doesn't sound prestigious at all.

Our school had a unique take on a few classes, such as Religious studies involved analysing religious references in films and TV ... the ones I can remember are the Matrix and an episode of the Simpsons where Bart becomes a preacher (I remember him riding a skateboard down the centre aisle, with fireworks going off).

A worrying thing that happened was the vaccine that leaves a scar on your arm (can't remember what it is for off the top of my head) was done in 2 of the canteens ... Always struck me as little bit on the wrong side of health safety guidelines.

 

[Leon Royce]

Dumbing Us Down: The Hidden Curriculum of Compulsory Schooling

by

John Taylor Gatto