lisabees Posted January 11, 2010 Share Posted January 11, 2010 for your high schoolers to read, what would they be? I am not even sure what books I would put on the list. I want ds16 to read some books about a variety of issues that will make him start thinking about his role in the world. Maybe books about the impact of technology, poverty, economics, his generation, psychology, global society, world religions, anything really, even books about being the best he can be. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michelle in AL Posted January 11, 2010 Share Posted January 11, 2010 I liked Nickel and Dimed and it gets a thumbs up from the AP Language listserv. One of my favorite books is The Things They Carried, about the Vietnam War from a soldier's perspective. It focuses on the emotional side of war rather than the battles. WARNING: it has several cuss words and a fantasy about his girlfriend that may offend some parents. There is also a NY Times photo journal of The Things They Carried related to the Gulf War that ties in well. My favorite non fiction on Christianity is The Irresistible Revolution, Living as an Ordinary Radical by Shane Claiborne. It is a very different way of thinking about church, and therefore you may want to preread it. My favorite non-fiction writing is the essay. The Bedford Reader has some really good essays that helps the reader to know what its like to be a minority, life in the 60's, homeless etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcconnellboys Posted January 11, 2010 Share Posted January 11, 2010 How contemporary, LOL? Rachael Carson's book, Silent Spring, and/or others by her the recent book written about Greg Mortensen: Three Cups of Tea maybe Michael Behe's second book (NOT Darwin's Black Box, which is nigh on impossible to read): The Edge of Evolution Pilgrim at Tinker Creek? not sure.... practically anything by C. S. Lewis: The Four Loves, Screwtape Letters (and follow-up), there are tons of good ones by him..... Into the Woods there are tons, I'm not sure where to start or end..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jld Posted January 11, 2010 Share Posted January 11, 2010 The two that come to mind are A People's History of the U.S., by Howard Zinn (a really different telling of our history than what most of us heard in school), and 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, by Stephen Covey. I am also hoping dd will read Punished by Rewards, by Alfie Kohn. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kareni Posted January 11, 2010 Share Posted January 11, 2010 Here's a thread I started some time ago -- Looking for intriguing non-fiction to add variety to my teen's reading ... Regards, Kareni Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elegantlion Posted January 11, 2010 Share Posted January 11, 2010 for your high schoolers to read, what would they be? I am not even sure what books I would put on the list. I want ds16 to read some books about a variety of issues that will make him start thinking about his role in the world. Maybe books about the impact of technology, poverty, economics, his generation, psychology, global society, world religions, anything really, even books about being the best he can be. I have several books on queue for when ds is that age. We have many business/motivational books that dh and I have enjoyed over the years. How to win friends and influence people - Carnegie How to have power and confidence in dealing with people - Giblin (this book really helped me as a introverted, non-confrontational type person) Do Hard Things - Harris The Millionaire Next Door We have several biographies for him to read, all the way from Dave Thomas, the late founder of Wendy's to Chuck Yeager. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jane in NC Posted January 11, 2010 Share Posted January 11, 2010 Consider Persepolis by the Iranian born, French author/illustrator Marjane Satrapi. Persepolis I & II are autobiographic graphic novels (sounds better than comic books) which describe the unrest in Iran and her subsequent departure to attend boarding school in Europe. Omnivore's Dilemma by Michael Pollen There are a number of good books mentioned in the thread Kareni posted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JFSinIL Posted January 11, 2010 Share Posted January 11, 2010 Barbara Kingsolver: Animal ,Vegetable, Miracle: A Year in Food ( Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EKS Posted January 11, 2010 Share Posted January 11, 2010 Guns, Germs, and Steel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nan in Mass Posted January 11, 2010 Share Posted January 11, 2010 (Some of these have a pacifist emphasis because my son was peacewalking. I haven't read all of them myself.) Hope's Edge Anatomy of Peace Post-American World Getting a Grip Material World + Women in the Material World Don't Shoot the Dog Diet for a Small Planet In the Shadow of a Rainbow Red Scarf Girl Stoke's Animal Tracking Zlata's Diary Endless Steppe In the Footsteps of Gandhi Beating Celestial Drums Whatever Happened to Penny Candy Whatever Happened to Justice Are You Liberal, Conservative, or Confused The Wall The Handbook of Civil Disobedience Zinn’s People’s History of the U. S. TWTM logic stage 4th year history list TC's anthropology lectures Out of that, my youngest is definately reading (in no particular order): Getting a Grip Don't Shoot the Dog Material World The Handbook of Civil Disobedience Zinn anthro lectures Diet for a Small Planet (whatever the latest version is) Whatever Happened to Penny Candy Stoke's Animal Tracking Beating Celestial Drums I'll find other things for him to read that are more science/tech oriented, but these have become family musts. I would include that horrific book about meat processing and something about global warming, but I know my son couldn't bear it. I didn't separate these out on the transcript as a particular course; I just included them in geography, US history, world history, peace studies, natural history, and US government. -Nan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LibraryLover Posted January 11, 2010 Share Posted January 11, 2010 (edited) Interesting thread! Brothers in Arms (war) The Know-it-All: One Mans Quest to Become the Smartest Person in the World. (Very contemporary, hip & humorous, lots of fun information). Omnivore's Dilemma Material World (visual presentation of peoples' stuff. The contrasts are insightful and thought-provoking). The Things They Carried (war) Black Boy (autobiography about growing up black in pre- civil rights south) In My Hands (a teenager in Poland risks life to save Jews) Annapurna by Blum (about a group of women climbers. The subtitle is A Woman's Place, but it's not a 'feminist' book, per se. It is full of danger and adventure, even death. Well written with fab photos). There are lots of fantastic books about Denali. Out of Africa I need to think more, Haven't finished my coffee. (That's not a book title. lol) PS I don't think 10 will do . ;) There is nothing about religion or politics etc yet. I am trying to think about my fav book on relgion...there are quite a few)) Edited January 11, 2010 by LibraryLover Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lisabees Posted January 11, 2010 Author Share Posted January 11, 2010 Thank you everyone! I love the variety. Off to research your suggestions!;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcconnellboys Posted January 11, 2010 Share Posted January 11, 2010 I second Omnivore's Dilemma! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jlovebaker Posted January 11, 2010 Share Posted January 11, 2010 Into Thin Air (Krackauer) Kon-Tiki (1940s book on Norwegian who contructs ancient raft to take from Peru to Polynesia) Into the Wild (Krackauer) (also a movie - brilliant Virginia kid who takes off to Alaska and doesn't make it back) Between A Rock and a Hard Place (Ralston - young guy who's arm became trapped in a rock in a slot canyon - had to cut it off himself) Maybe these aren't traditional books ... but they are exciting and insightful. Explorers still live on! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
homeschoolally Posted January 12, 2010 Share Posted January 12, 2010 The 5000 Year Leap Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kpupg Posted January 13, 2010 Share Posted January 13, 2010 The Last Place on Earth by Roland Huntford How the Irish Saved Civilization by Thomas Cahill Why the Greeks Matter, same author Guns, Germs, Steel by Jared Diamond Thomas Sowell's economics books Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kareni Posted January 14, 2010 Share Posted January 14, 2010 This thread from College Confidential has a lot of great non-fiction titles. Regards, Kareni Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lisabees Posted January 15, 2010 Author Share Posted January 15, 2010 This thread from College Confidential has a lot of great non-fiction titles. Regards, Kareni Perfect! Thank you! ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tamarind Posted January 15, 2010 Share Posted January 15, 2010 Into The Wild Pilgrim at Tinker Creek Desert Solitaire Red Scarf Girl Don't Let's Go to the Dogs Tonight The Flames Trees at Thika No Picnic on Mount Kenya Girls Meets God Among the Savages Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rosie_0801 Posted January 15, 2010 Share Posted January 15, 2010 Have a look in the 010 section of the library for books by foreign correspondents. I really enjoyed digging through there, getting some context for the war in Afghanistan, for example. Rosie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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