NationStates Jolt Archive

Okay- if you could chose one (non-religious) book to make required reading in today's schools, which would you chose and why? I'll start.

Shake Hands With The Devil by Romeo Dallaire. It describes exactly what is wrong with world politics, showing the indifference of all first world powers to the genocidal murder of 800 000 people. It also shows the destruction of a confident cold war soldier, and helped to destroy some of my personal naivety to the UN and world politics in general. It is a tragic, deeply moving book, and is an eye opener to those of us who don't understand the implications of what happens in the third world.

Crime and Punishment, the best book I have ever read by a long way.

History of Sexuality by Michel Foucault.

Les Miserables.

Because it has so much.

It exposes the evils of classism.
It shows how people exploit others in the name of greed.
It shows how the pursuit of rigid justice can become an obsession.
It shows how one's political ideology can so radically be changed.
It has a great chapter on shit.
It explores every human emotion and motivation

American students should read Fear and Loathing: On The Campaign Trail '72 by Hunter S. Thompson.
In addition to that, everyone ought to read Waiting for the Barbarians by J.M. Coetzee.

Crime and Punishment, the best book I have ever read by a long way.

Dostojevsky (spelling is wrong) right? It's sitting on my shelf at home. I have trouble getting through it (though I may just have a poor translation)

History of Sexuality by Michel Foucault.

why?

Dostojevsky (spelling is wrong) right? It's sitting on my shelf at home. I have trouble getting through it (though I may just have a poor translation)
Ooohhh...it's good. And dark. And delves into the darkest corners of the human mind. It shows how guilt/fear can cripple us.

Dostojevsky (spelling is wrong) right? It's sitting on my shelf at home. I have trouble getting through it (though I may just have a poor translation)

Get the translation by David McDuff (Penguin Classics) it's absolutley gripping.

The Face of Battle, by John Keegan. For all those people who strongly believe that soldiers ONLY do what they're told - it's a healthy wake-up call.

Lies My Teacher Told Me: Everything Your American History Textbook Got Wrong, by James W. Loewen

Get the translation by David McDuff (Penguin Classics) it's absolutley gripping.

Thanks. I think I'll do that.

why?
It's an interesting exploration of how power manifests itself in the modern age (examined through the lens of sexuality) and exposes students to alternate viewpoints that they won't encounter anywhere else in their curriculum.

It's an interesting exploration of how power manifests itself in the modern age (examined through the lens of sexuality) and exposes students to alternate viewpoints that they won't encounter anywhere else in their curriculum.

Cool. Just for my own curiosity (I actually made this thread so I could add stuff to my reading list), what kind of points does it make?

Lies My Teacher Told Me: Everything Your American History Textbook Got Wrong, by James W. Loewen
I'd be wary of books with titles like this. The quality of their scholarship is dubious and always, always written with a preconceived notion of how history is, which never makes for good work.

Nothing: just teach them how to read and let them make their own decisions after that.

I'd be wary of books with titles like this. The quality of their scholarship is dubious and always, always written with a preconceived notion of how history is, which never makes for good work.
I haven't found this particular book to be problematic, and it makes a good balance to the common school history book, which is also of dubious quality, and always written with a preconceived notion of history.

Cool. Just for my own curiosity (I actually made this thread so I could add stuff to my reading list), what kind of points does it make?
It examines how the type of control exercised by the modern state has shifted from sovreign power (let live and make die) to biopower (make live and let die). It also discusses the way sexuality has treated in society, analyzing the way society treats difference in sexual practices. There's much more nuance and class in the books (it comes in three volumes) then I can convey in a post this short - I'll write a longer explanation of Foucault's theories, if you like, in a later post.

It examines how the type of control exercised by the modern state has shifted from sovreign power (let live and make die) to biopower (make live and let die). It also discusses the way sexuality has treated in society, analyzing the way society treats difference in sexual practices. There's much more nuance and class in the books (it comes in three volumes) then I can convey in a post this short - I'll write a longer explanation of Foucault's theories, if you like, in a later post.

Thanks, I'll take a look at that book.

I haven't found this particular book to be problematic, and it makes a good balance to the common school history book, which is also of dubious quality, and always written with a preconceived notion of history.
I think many of the claims made by both the left and the right about traditional American history text books are largely unfounded, and stem from both sides demanding for their perspective to be the one represented, thus the call for "altnernate" readings of history to "balance" traditional textbooks. More recently written history textbooks not only are based on excellent scholarship (at the very least read the bibliographies at the end of each chapter; the list of sources is quite impressive), but they also accomodate both sides of most issues in an attempt to represent all viewpoints in order to allow students to make their own judgements about historical facts. Their only goal is to make facts available; agency still resides in the student/reader, unlike "alternate" histories, whose goal of conversion to their view is as palpatable of a missionary's.

Oooh...I think this conversation is about to get interesting....back to you Whispering Legs!

The Demon Haunted World, Carl Sagan. It stresses the importance of critical thinking, and makes it clear why we need to include a good science and math curiculum in our educational system. Also it contains the "baloney detector". Which can also be found at www.xenu.net/archive/baloney_detection.html

The Native Son, Richard Wright - It's well-written and keeps the attention of a young reader while exploring topics such as racism and classism.

Na...we should toss the books and teach all our children via video games!

Na...we should toss the books and teach all our children via video games!
Maybe we should just toss the children and give up on continuing the species.

Just an idea.

Maybe we should just toss the children and give up on continuing the species.

Just an idea.

HA

Science of discworld, part one. Its a brillaint read and it teaches you alot about science, critical thinking and looking at the world objectiviely.

Watership Down, by Richard Adams if you haven't read it. I'm not going to get into the deeper meanings but it's an excellent read. Currently, I'm rereading it after not having read it in about ten years.

Preacher: The Worlds Greatest Graphic Novel OR
The Watchmen OR
ANYTHING by Frank Miller

Preacher: The Worlds Greatest Graphic Novel OR
The Watchmen OR
ANYTHING by Frank Miller
Marry me?

It's really quite simple.
Either: Fox In socks: Dr Seuss
or
The cat in the hat: Dr Seuss.

Nuff said, really.

Required reading should be the kind that makes you want to go off and do "voluntary reading", in my opinion.

Marry me?

Is there anyone you're not flirting with?

Fast Food Nation.

I mean, if they are really keen on curbing obesity, and such, this would be a good way to start. It's subtle, but effective. The book explores the darker side of the fast food culture, and goes into great detail. I thought it was nicely done. It gives history, and explains about the mistreatment of the minimum wage slaves, and the exploitation...etc....

Are we talking American schools or worldwide? I think the choice would depend on the cultural background of the students and their age.

My suggestions :

6-8 years : Anything by Astrid Lindgren, Cornelia Funke, Roald Dahl or Erich Kaestner. The books all are fun to read and gripping, while teaching you a lot at the same time, mainly to think for yourself.

8-10 years : Same as above, it might also be a good idea to introduce them to some classics, like "Robinson Crusoe" by Daniel Defoe or Mark Twain's "Tom Sawyer". You can also go for a children's edition of Greek myths, the Odyssey or the Illiad. Don't go and introduce them to things like Harry Potter, Artemis Fowl or Lemony Snickett's "A series of unfortunate events" at school. These are all great reads, but the kids can just as well read them at home.

10-12 : "Momo" by Michael Ende, "Number the stars" by Lois Lowry, "His dark materials" by Philip Pulman, Kira-kira by Cynthia Kadohata, Julie of the Wolves by Jean Craighead George

12-14 : "Antigone" by Jean Anouilh (it's a play, but well worth reading anyway), "Blindness" by Jose Saramago, "Allah is Not Obliged" by Ahmadou Kourouma, "Atonement" by Ian McEwan, "A fine balance" by Rohinton Mistry, "The woman who walked into doors" by Roddy Doyle

14-16 : "Foucault's Pendulum" by Umberto Eco (might be bit tough yet, that choice should be made by the students maybe), "Paradise" by Toni Morrison, "So vast the prison" by Assia Djebar, "Life and Opinions of the Tomcat Murr" by E.T.A Hoffmann, "One man's bible" by Gao Xingjang

If you want to even pretend you have any knowledge above 'layman' in World Politics/International Relations - The Globalisation Of World Politics (3rd Edition) - John Baylis & Steve Smith

Is there anyone you're not flirting with?

Ah, Gawdly and I are old friends...
Besides a Goddess must have many worshippers... *impish smile*
Otherwise I die. You wouldn't want that, would you?

Ah, Gawdly and I are old friends...
Besides a Goddess must have many worshippers... *impish smile*
Otherwise I die. You wouldn't want that, would you?

Someone has been reading Small Gods, by Terry Pratchett.

Someone has been reading Small Gods, by Terry Pratchett.

That would also be required reading, except replace Small Gods with Moving pictures, my favourite discworld novel.

That would also be required reading, except replace Small Gods with Moving pictures, my favourite discworld novel.

That's pretty good, but I prefer Going Postal and Nightwatch.

Watership Down, by Richard Adams if you haven't read it. I'm not going to get into the deeper meanings but it's an excellent read. Currently, I'm rereading it after not having read it in about ten years.
Deeper meanings? There are deeper meanings? I thought it was just a pleasant read about some bunny rabbits frolicking in the English countryside... :confused:

[/jk]

Ah, Gawdly and I are old friends...
Besides a Goddess must have many worshippers... *impish smile*
Otherwise I die. You wouldn't want that, would you?

Yeah, you've either been reading Small Gods or American Gods

I think all 4th graders should have to read Thomas Hobbes' Leviathan.

That'll weed out the slackers.

Then we sweep up the survivors with Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics.

None of this coddlin' 'em with Huck Finn and Tom Sawyer. :p

I think all 4th graders should have to read Thomas Hobbes' Leviathan.

That'll weed out the slackers.

Then we sweep up the survivors with Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics.

None of this coddlin' 'em with Huck Finn and Tom Sawyer. :p

On an unrelated note, Hobbes of famed comic Calvin and Hobbes is named after good old Thomas.

"The Sound And The Fury" by Faulkner

If you can understand what the hell's going on in that book (jumps ahead and behind without offering notice, has dialogue in choppy chicken-scratch english, etc.), you can read and understand just about anything that's non-PhD-level.

Lies My Teacher Told Me: Everything Your American History Textbook Got Wrong, by James W. Loewen

::wants this book::

I like Dune by Frank Herbert, just because it is a good book. As for required... IDK. Farenheit 451 and 1984 definatly. (They aren't read at my school :( )

Hamlet, by William Shakespeare. It's so important!

I don't have a book specificly, but children should be taught how media is constructed and how to read it. It is the most present thing in our lives, it more or less 'makes' our decisions for us without us realising we've given any agency up. But we spend almost no time learning how to watch media. It should be a stronger part of the critical reading sections of english, or any place that has a dominate media.

I don't have a book specificly, but children should be taught how media is constructed and how to read it. It is the most present thing in our lives, it more or less 'makes' our decisions for us without us realising we've given any agency up. But we spend almost no time learning how to watch media. It should be a stronger part of the critical reading sections of english, or any place that has a dominate media.

How about America: The Book (A Guide To Democracy Inaction)?

Fahrenheit 451, definetly. More than any other book I've read in school, that book touched me. It kept me interested, the writing was wonderful...I loved it. It remains one of two required reading books I've kept.

Flatland is another good one. Both entertaining and innovative, with just a touch of philosophy.

Finally, The Awakening. It always brings up interesting discussions, and makes a person really think.

I'm shocked that nobody has suggested To Kill a Mockingbird yet.

Stranger In A Strange Land - Robert A. Heinlein

My flatmate's work in progress.

So I don't have to :p

On an unrelated note, Hobbes of famed comic Calvin and Hobbes is named after good old Thomas.

To make the note even morte unrelated. In Brazil, Calvin and Hobbes becomes Calvin e Haroldo! Who is this Haroldo guy?

Back on topic, If you are going to make 4th graders read Leviathan, at least make it a facsimilie copy, with Hobbes' personal spelling. That will mess them up altogether.

Sophie's World would not be a bad book to make compulsory reading at any age.

I don't have a book specificly, but children should be taught how media is constructed and how to read it. It is the most present thing in our lives, it more or less 'makes' our decisions for us without us realising we've given any agency up. But we spend almost no time learning how to watch media. It should be a stronger part of the critical reading sections of english, or any place that has a dominate media.

Suggestion for a book for this. Boulter's "Remediation".

J.R.R. Tolkien's The Silmarillion.

(a) if you can get through that, you can get through anything.
(b) you cannot hope to understand what is really going on in The Lord of the Rings if you haven't read it.
(c) pop culture requires a complete understanding of LotR.

I would have said The Satanic Verses but I am certain someone would shriek that I run afoul of the "non-religious" criterion, even though it really isn't.

I'm shocked that nobody has suggested To Kill a Mockingbird yet. Maybe others, like me, assume it's already required reading in many schools.

I'm all for the classics. A bit of Dickens, a smattering of Poe, selections from the Thomas Jefferson Papers.

I'm thinking...

Free to Choose by Friedman and Friedman