To Kill a Mockingbird
To Kill a Mockingbird is a novel by Harper Lee published in 1960. It was immediately successful, winning the Pulitzer Prize, and has become a classic of modern American literature. The plot and characters are loosely based on the author's observations of her family and neighbors, as well as on an event that occurred near her hometown in 1936, when she was 10 years old. The novel is renowned for its warmth and humor, despite dealing with the serious issues of rape and racial inequality. The narrator's father, Atticus Finch, has served as a moral hero for many readers and as a model of integrity for lawyers. One critic explains the novel's impact by writing, "In the twentieth century, To Kill a Mockingbird is probably the most widely read book dealing with race in America, and its protagonist, Atticus Finch, the most enduring fictional image of racial heroism Biographical background and publication Ultimately, Lee spent two and a half years writing To Kill a Mockingbird. Plot summary Style
A People's History of the United States
A People's History of the United States is a 1980 non-fiction book by American historian and political scientist Howard Zinn. In the book, Zinn seeks to present American history through the eyes of the common people rather than political and economic elites. A People's History has been assigned as reading in many high schools and colleges across the United States.[1] It has also resulted in a change in the focus of historical work, which now includes stories that previously were ignored.[2] The book was a runner-up in 1980 for the National Book Award. It has been frequently revised, with the most recent edition covering events through 2005. In 2003, Zinn was awarded the Prix des Amis du Monde Diplomatique for the French version of this book, Une histoire populaire des États-Unis.[3] More than two million copies have been sold. Reviews have been mixed. In a 1998 interview, Zinn said he had set "quiet revolution" as his goal for writing A People's History. Overview[edit]
World War Z
World War Z is a follow-up to his 2003 satirical survival manual, The Zombie Survival Guide, but its tone is much more serious. It was inspired by The Good War: An Oral History of World War Two (1984), by Studs Terkel, and by the zombie films of George A. Romero. Brooks used World War Z to comment on government ineptitude and American isolationism, while also examining survivalism and uncertainty. Plot[edit] Through a series of oral interviews compiled by the narrator (an agent of the United Nations Postwar Commission), the story of the global war against zombies, "World War Z", is told. In South Africa, the government adopts a contingency plan drafted by apartheid-era intelligence consultant Paul Redeker. Ten years after the official end of the zombie war, millions of zombies are still active, mainly on the ocean floor or on snow line islands. The situation in the British Isles is not entirely clear in the novel. Development[edit] Themes[edit] [edit] Survivalism[edit] Reception[edit]
30 Books I’m Glad I Read Before 30
In various ways, these 30 books convey some of the philosophy of how Angel and I live our lives. I honestly credit a fraction of who I am today to each title. Thus, they have indirectly influenced much of what I write about on this site. A medley of both fiction and nonfiction, these great reads challenged my internal status quo, opening my mind to new ideas and opportunities, and together they gave me a basic framework for living, loving, learning and working successfully. If you haven’t read these books yet, I highly recommend doing so. Stumbling on Happiness by Daniel Gilbert – Gilbert, a Harvard professor of psychology has studied happiness for decades, and he shares scientific findings that just might change the way you look at the world. What are your favorite books? Photo by: Katie Harris
Crude World: The Violent Twilight of Oil (9781400041695): Peter Maass
Why Good Things Happen to Good People: The Exciting New Research that Proves the Link Between Doing Good and Living a Longer, Healthier, Happier Life (9780767920179): Stephen Post, Jill Neimark, Reverend Otis Moss Jr.
