About this time every summer, Freshmen college students receive a pre-college reading list. Slate took a look at a few of the lists.
Dartmouth has sent Charles Mann’s 1491: New Revelations of the Americas Before Columbus. Stanford decided to take the overachievers route by sending three titles, Tracy Kidder’s Strength in What Remains, Anne Fadiman’s The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down, and Joyce Carol Oates’ short story The Undesirable Table.
What do you think? Here’s more from the article: “While we have no doubt that these are worthy picks, they also seem rather dutiful: Injustice and undesirable furniture aren’t so great for the beach. So we thought we’d offer incoming freshmen an alternative list, one better suited to helping 18-year-olds navigate university life. Herewith, a bit of homework–but pleasurable homework, we promise–courtesy of Slate.”
Slate’s suggestions included: How to Brew: Everything You Need To Know To Brew Beer Right the First Time by John J. Palmer, The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie by Muriel Spark, The Magicians by Lev Grossman, Out of Sheer Rage by Geoff Dyer, and The Golem by Gustav Meyrink.