If you could choose one book as a mandatory read for all high school students, which book would you choose?

Intro to GAAP

1984. You get to learn about evil government and big brother. Seems today's kids need to be reminded as we've all be one too ok with all that.

Anything but fucking Hamlet.

Dec 27, 2019 15:52:35 GMT nazzer said:

1984. You get to learn about evil government and big brother. Seems today's kids need to be reminded as we've all be one too ok with all that.

Cosign.

Both my daughter and I read at higher levels in school, so we were both allowed to choose certain books to read, we both chose 1984 (albeit 20 years apart).  It remains my #2 favorite novel and every year I feel it more relevant than the last. 

1984 and Animal Farm are good shouts. I'd be more inclined to recommend Animal Farm since it has very explicit metaphors and symbolism, which seems to be a good theme for English literary education. Also the story is very simple to grasp and has many powerful moments.

I was taught George Orwell before high school. Is that unusual?

The Giver

No More Mr Nice Guy.

And 84... feels like we're already there. Maybe not full on but I'd argue closer than away...

For me it's a toss up between:
How to win friends and influence people
And
Rich Dad Poor Dad

Both were life changing for me

Mark Manson’s ‘Subtle Art of not giving a Fuck.’

I don’t read, but when I was waiting for a train from the city, with a three hour commute, the title grabbed me, and knocked out the book by the trips end.

Since then, I don’t give a fuck. Or better yet, I give a fuck about the right things, not the wrong things.

Full disclaimer: I haven't read 1984.

I'll mention Predictably Irrational, a behavioral economics book. I don't want to call it hacking your brain but it's along those lines -- how you think people will act in a certain situation vs how they actually act, why the change, and how it can be manipulated.

Oh wait:

The Female Brain

And then:

The Male Brain

I really don't understand the obsession with oppressive government themes in books, anime and movies. It's a bit of a redundant trope.

Dec 28, 2019 6:04:41 GMT theend said:

I really don't understand the obsession with oppressive government themes in books, anime and movies. It's a bit of a redundant trope.

It’s an easy write. Copy/paste Nazi Germany and change the names.

Predictably Irrational is a great book. I would likely go Demon Haunted World. Many books cover the same topics, but this one does it best IMO.

Dec 28, 2019 6:33:14 GMT NATH45 said:

Dec 28, 2019 6:04:41 GMT theend said:

I really don't understand the obsession with oppressive government themes in books, anime and movies. It's a bit of a redundant trope.

It’s an easy write. Copy/paste Nazi Germany and change the names.

I guess the importance of 1984 goes down when every teen dystopian novel does the same thing.

A book on personal finance. Maybe Rich Dad. Maybe The Millionaire Next Door. Or even Dave Ramsey.

But something around managing a god damn budget.