The National Association of Scholars book list

[SameOldStory]

iBooks love: free e-books worth reading

"The National Association of Scholars just published a list of brain-challenging books that they recommend for college reading programs, but which should be of interest to any passionate adult-level reader. These books were selected for presenting important, well-argued ideas with a level of complexity that stretches the mind ...."

This is mainly for the general public and promoting some good books. I'm sure that MR has most, if not all, of these books.

[Fbone]

Here is the complete list of their 37 recommendations.

http://www.nas.org/polArticles.cfm?Doc_Id=1545

Heavily tilted to political and religious themes.

[SameOldStory]

Originally Posted by Fbone

Here is the complete list of their 37 recommendations.

http://www.nas.org/polArticles.cfm?Doc_Id=1545

Heavily tilted to political and religious themes.

Thanks for the link to the complete list.

I'd suggest that everyone look at the list themselves. They might have different take on it.

To some any book that references religion, or a differing political view, will seem offensive and objectionable. But most of history is made up of politics and religion. Should someone be ignored because they have a belief other than ours? Our world would be very small if we did so.

I find some of the listed books uninteresting. But that's a personal view. Others look interesting.


I think that the following may be a better indicator of the books on the list;
We sought diversity—the intellectual kind.
We sought texts that are just a bit over students’ heads, but not so far that they are beyond reach.
We sought works that are not contemptuous of humanity or dyed in profound cynicism.
In fiction, we sought works that exemplify elegance of language and a degree of complexity, along with moral seriousness.
In non-fiction we looked for works that exemplify important ideas, lucidly argued, and writers who take their rhetorical task seriously.

[Fbone]

I thought their criteria was very good. But if an 18yo isnt interested in the subject matter, they wont read it and if forced, wont enjoy it. Enduring years of uninterested reading material in college may put off a person the rest of their lives.

Personally I believe there is a difference between ignoring someone and studying them.

Fortunately, I didnt have to take any literature classes in college.

[HarryT]

A very interesting selection of books indeed. Anyone would be the better for reading them. Many of them are rather "American", but I suppose that's to be expected, given the source.

[SameOldStory]

If we only read what interested us I would still be reading comic books.

I certainly read more than enough boring books in school. And out of school for that matter. I think that it took me about a year to read the Iliad when I was 16 - 17. Perhaps I would understand it better and enjoy it more now.

No. Thank you very much, once was enough. For me, at least.

"We sought diversity—the intellectual kind.
We sought texts that are just a bit over students’ heads, but not so far that they are beyond reach."

Those are the reasons to read things other than what you like.

This is certainly not about you. But we all think that we are very smart and knowledgeable. After all, We know everything that is of interest to us. What an epitaph for all of humanity.

[Fbone]

Of the 37 books listed I read 3. OK maybe 2. Cliff Notes of Julius Caesar probably doesnt count.

Job and Ecclesiastes only then.

Edit- Considering how popular Manga is among adults you wouldnt be alone.

[HarryT]

I've read 14 of the 37; there were a number that I hadn't heard of. I'll have to try and read some more - there were several of the ones I'd not come across that sound interesting.

[MV64]

I was expecting a really snobby list, but a lot of those are actually really good books. A lot on there I've been meaning to check out, too, and what's best is that a lot of them are free!

[crich70]

My mom had that sort of experience in school when they read Shakespeare, and then some months later she saw a performance of Julius Caesar on TV and it came more alive for her. Sometimes a person isn't ready for a particular book (Steve Allen wrote a short article about that) and sometimes a different media is all that's needed.

Originally Posted by SameOldStory

If we only read what interested us I would still be reading comic books.

I certainly read more than enough boring books in school. And out of school for that matter. I think that it took me about a year to read the Iliad when I was 16 - 17. Perhaps I would understand it better and enjoy it more now.

No. Thank you very much, once was enough. For me, at least.

"We sought diversity—the intellectual kind.
We sought texts that are just a bit over students’ heads, but not so far that they are beyond reach."

Those are the reasons to read things other than what you like.

This is certainly not about you. But we all think that we are very smart and knowledgeable. After all, We know everything that is of interest to us. What an epitaph for all of humanity.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by crich70

My mom had that sort of experience in school when they read Shakespeare, and then some months later she saw a performance of Julius Caesar on TV and it came more alive for her. Sometimes a person isn't ready for a particular book (Steve Allen wrote a short article about that) and sometimes a different media is all that's needed.

I only live about an hour's drive away from Stratford-on-Avon, so I always go and see the plays that the Royal Shakespeare Company put on each summer reason; they normally do four different plays each year, and show them in rotation. Seeing Shakespeare live - and performed well - is a completely different experience from reading it!