by J.K. Chaoboye

Created on: February 08, 2007   Last Updated: October 16, 2011

This list concentrates on books that are suitable for high school students. There are not exactly five books on this list; selected works by a certain author that are related will be combined into one focus of study.

These books I believe should be part of the high school curriculum:

1."The Fountain Head" and "Atlas Shrugged" by Ayn Rand:
These two masterpieces should be read in grades 11 and 12 respectively.

They demonstrate the power of will, define the mind and give intellectual value to currency (weather it be monetary, emotional, physical or psychological).
Morality and Integrity are essential lessons for today's youth, especially in our
global consumer culture. Though there are some fundemental flaws with Rand's
philosophy, they are easy to pick out and are great topics for essays. Above anything else, they motivate the reader to be productive and become creators within society, to make their own lives how they see fit. 1,700 pages of raw, violent empowerment.

2."Science and Sanity - an introduction to non-aristotelean systems and general semantics", by Alfred Korzybski:
This I recommend to be read purely out of interest, this work shows how language can be misleading and how our maps of the world can be used to limit us. Essential to understanding the world around us.

3."The Illuminatus Trilogy" and "The Schrodinger's Cat Trilogy" by Robert Anton Wilson;
Illuminatus is a must read in order to fully understand Schrodinger's Cat; It's a pre-req if you wish. It's a wild ride that never stops and totally impossible pry out of your finders. A witty combination of mystery, science fiction, pop-culture and 60's mysticism. Schrodinger's Cat is the novelization of quantum physics.
This work takes modern quantum theory and gracefully turns it into a cult master piece, gripping and more subtle puns then swiss cheese has holes. Both works reveal Wilson's genius, enlightening with laughter. (I would recommend that before embarking on Schrodinger's Cat, read "Hyperspace" by Michio Kaku or "A Brief History of Time" by Stephen Hawking).

4."Brave New World" and "Island" by Aldous Huxley;
His prose is more involving then Orwell's and less depressing (As far as classical futurists go.). [Has anyone heard of a bright outlook for the future?]

5. "The Little Prince" or "Le Petit Prince" by Antoine de Saint-Exupery;
An exposition on life and love, as seen through the eyes of a child. This book emphasizes the "inner child" in all of us and can be interpreted in many ways, extremely philosophical, subtly intelligent juxtaposed by its innocence. It immortalized and re-enforces the old saying "All work and no play make jack a dull boy" (and a little psycho).

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