<p>I get good grades and all, but I'm not <em>quite</em> as intellectual as the Chicago website has me thinking the students there are. What are some great books to get my mind going and ready me for the Chicago way of thought?</p>
<p>Try some philosophy. Or if you go to college board they have a list of 100 books everyone should read before they go to college. Though I don't reccomend that.</p>
<p>Any specific titles...I've got the following lined up right now:</p>
<p>Brief History of Time
Wealth of Nations
Freakanomics</p>
<p>and some other college admission books...</p>
<p>You'll read "Wealth of Nations" when you get here, anyway. It's not the kind of light reading that I'd do for fun, or expect any pre-college student to read in order to feel "intellectual".</p>
<p>lol ok then I'll wait on that one.</p>
<p>try time's list of 100 greatest novels of all time...there are some boring books on there (i admit i have bad taste, so shoot me! :D) but there are some awesome ones as well
google it</p>
<p>In my S's Hum class his first quarter the professor asked how many students had read the Iliad before coming to Chicago, every student raised his or her hand (or as Diocletion, I believe, prefers, their hand). </p>
<p>Many of the syllabi are available online. One may want to take a look at likely courses one would be interested in taking and seeing if there are books one should read to prepare, or the background one should have. This does not mean run out and read the texts for the course, but consider what experiences one might want in oder to be prepared. One should also be prepared to clearly present and defend one's position, in conversation and in writing. This is probably more important than having read this or that book.</p>
<p>Thanks idad that is very helpful.</p>
<p>idad's Son had an abnormally well-read Hum class. It's not uncommon for people to have read things such as the Iliad, but it's also not uncommon for people to have NOT read this or that book. I'd recommend that you read things you'd like to read. Freakanomics is fun to read and interestomg. Wealth of Nations is probably something that would be best saved for when you have to read in in a class.</p>
<p>Hmm...I've never read the Iliad</p>
<p>I'm already breezing through this school......wonderful.</p>
<p>me neither esquared.
i bet i've never read any of the "good intellectual classics" that everyone else has read.</p>
<p>I'd pick up Brian Greene's Elegant Universe and Fabric of the Cosmos. They are fascinating books and are about as philisophical as science comes. Most of the work in the field on the cutting edge is actully done in Fermilab's Tevatron, which the campus is affiliated with.</p>
<p>I have read the Iliad, and many first years I know have. Of course, I do have an affinity for Greek literature, so I have read much of what is read in Greek Thought and Literature.</p>
<p>Good classic literature like the Greek tragedies are fun to read and short, so I think they are ideal if you want some good stuff, such as killing (never shown on stage, of course) and incest. hehe</p>
<p>and of course, who doesn't? I'll set my sights on the Oedipus Complex... :D</p>
<p>I am thinking of exposing a girl I am tutoring in grammar and writing to classical literature by suggesting she read Oedipus the King. Now that is good lit that is not boring! :D</p>
<p>Have you ever wondered why it many times is called Oedipus Rex istead of Oedipus the King? Greek and Latin in the same title is strange - especially considering it was written in Greek.</p>
<p>you shouldn't expose women against their will...especially not in public.</p>
<p>:P (ten characters)</p>
<p>:D </p>
<p>Katharos <-------- at a loss for words</p>
<p>heh Yes, I am! That was a good comeback.</p>
<p>that was Esquared-esque...</p>