To discover which books to stash in your repertoire before college, niNe. asked some of our college friend’s opinions:
Animal Farm, George Orwell
Darcy, 22: “Even though I read this book in eighth grade, it is a must-read for political science classes, since it discusses the rise of communism in the former Soviet Union.”
Crime and Punishment, Fyodor Dostoevsky
Jess, 19: “As a philosophy major, I love this haunting novel that explores significant issues like the morality of the law.”
The Odyssey, Homer
Abby, 21: “The impact of this Greek epic poem can be seen throughout our society, and it’s incredible to think it was written in the 8th century B.C.!”
The Giver, Lois Lowry
Kim, 18: “This is one of my favorite books of all-time, and it’s definitely not a kid’s book, even though people think it is.”
Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl, Anne Frank
Lauren, 20: “I have discussed this book in so many of my history, philosophy and even international affairs classes. It’s a powerful story and an important reminder of the horrors of the Holocaust and the influence of forgiveness.”
The Stranger, Albert Camus
Nicole, 22: “This book gives a deep look inside the mind of an amoral protagonist; it challenged everything I thought I knew about reality and perception, which is what much of college does.
NOT Romeo and Juliet, Macbeth or Hamlet, William Shakespeare
Natasha, 18: “Shakespeare references are made constantly in life, but in college most of the references come out of lesser known plays.”
1776, David McCullough
Pamela, 21: “I gained an unparalleled respect and admiration for the brave (and sometimes foolish) ‘Citizen Soldiers’ who fought for our nation’s independence. I felt a twinge of patriotism from this well-written (but slow at the beginning) account of the events in a pivotal year in our nation’s history — a far cry from the dry history textbooks we slogged through in school.”
Strength in What Remains, Tracy Kidder
Sarah, 20: “This harrowing tale of a young medical student who survives the slaughter in Burundi and miraculously ends up in New York City, desperately trying to sustain himself, is inspirational and addresses a needed respect toward cultural differences.”
Must Ask These Questions
Many of the above mentioned books are referenced in classes, are classics that people assume you have some knowledge about, expand your view of the world, or have an incredible life lesson for the college years. Therefore, we came up with 9 simple questions to ask yourself after reading any of the books in this list. With your membership to niNe. magazine, you can download this for free so you have it available after you finish one of these books.
