<p>I don't read much on my own, and I have to come to realize that this will put me at a disadvantage when applying to programs/colleges. Often they want to know what literary works have influenced you and what you like to read. I hope to apply to TASP eventually, and I know that they want to know what you have read. So anyone who thinks that they have good suggestions, I'd like to hear them. Especially from those that have applied to TASP, or other humanities programs where a personal extensive reading list is somewhat common. Mine really doesn't go beyond standard English class fare such as The Great Gatsby and To Kill a Mocking Bird. </p>
<p>I would especially prefer books under 250 pages. I know this is elimating some of the best works of all time... but I'm all for efficiency.</p>
<p>The book list for TASP does not need to be super long or amazing, mine had about twelve outside of school books with a good number of them being completely non-academic (ex: I am America and So Can You!). Idk what to tell you, just read what you like to read. Oh and make sure you have some female authors in the mix (interviewer asked about this). One book I liked that was under 250 pgs was Man’s Search for Meaning by Victor Frankl, but you shouldn’t limit yourself in terms of page number lol.</p>
<p>Oh and one last thing (and I’m not making any accusations): TASP as a program has a lot of reading involved with it. If you don’t read a lot because you are busy/lazy/tired from school thats ok, but if you don’t read because you don’t enjoy reading you may want to consider another program.</p>
<p>Thanks wombat. I don’t dislike reading, it’s more of a time issue. You’re absolutely correct though, TASP is not for those that can’t stand reading. Post if you get in, I’m curious about those accepted!</p>
<p>Read what you love. Put whatever you want to put on there. I put three Elliott Smith books, a few magazines I read, and a few other books, such as “A Hope In The Unseen”. They weren’t even mentioned in the interview.</p>
<p>Did you put that on your TASP list? Because I did… Oh, and my contribution to this is “Cyrano De Bergerac”, preferably the translation by Anthony Burgess. And if you can stomach something longer…“The Fountainhead” by Ayn Rand.</p>
<p>Screw “under 250 pages”…read Godel, Escher, Bach: An Eternal Golden Braid by Douglas Hofstadter, which is about 750 pages, but is one of the most amazing books written in the English language. It’s all about self-reference and “strange loops” and how they relate to human consciousness and artificial intelligence.</p>
<p>In case I get in to the U of M seminar, my first choice, I picked up a book from a book sale called “Philosophical Consequences of Quantum Theory”. It looks interesting, but very dense.</p>
<p>I would also suggest “Simulacra and Simulation” by Jean Baudrillard.</p>
<p>Well, if we’re breaking the 250-page rule, I have to suggest David Foster Wallace’s Infinite Jest. One of the best months of life was spent reading that book. It’s long but it’s very readable and funny, and the main character is 17. </p>
<p>The greatest writer of his generation, Wallace killed himself this past October while working on his third novel.</p>
<p>And while you’re at it, read “White Noise”, by one of Wallace’s greatest influences and friends, Don DeLillo. Brilliant book; you’ll like it even if you’re not into postmodernism (which I’m not). I was obsessed with that book for a little while…</p>
<p>Really, just approach it as a postmodern book. Way too simplistic and two-dimensional to ecompass its nuances.</p>
<p>I agree with the suggestion of reading what you like. After college I interviewed for a reporting job at the St. Pete Times (back in the 80’s, long long ago), and the editor wanted to know what book had influenced me the most. I told him it was a Nancy Drew book, The Mystery of the Hidden Staircase, which I read back in grammer school. It is the first book I remember checking out of the library and reading on my own, and it started me on a lifelong love affair with books. And yes, I got the job. </p>
<p>If you want a good book to read this summer, try something that shows you are interested in fiction outside of the academic area. I just finished “Q&A” by Vikas Swarup. It is the author’s first novel, and the basis for the movie “Slumdog Millionaire.”</p>
<p>proletariat - If you’re interested in Quantum Theory, definitely keep an eye out for Chad Orzel’s HOW TO TEACH PHYSICS TO YOUR DOG. It’s about quantum physics and is awesomely funny. I was a beta reader for an early manuscript draft and I learned a ton despite being physics-phobic; it hasn’t been published yet, but should be soon.</p>
<p>OP - Not sure about length, but I always recommend Nabokov’s classic LOLITA. IMHO he is by far the most readable of the Russian authors. Really, though, you should read books that you can expound upon in depth (and enjoy talking about). As a bonus, LOLITA is really good fodder for timed-essay examples (cough SAT :D).</p>
<p>TASP, at least, doesn’t care what you read. My list was full of contemporary novels-- mostly genre fiction-- and popular biographies; all the “classics” were stuff I had to read for school. They just use your books as interview fodder sometimes, so read whatever you’re interested in and would feel comfortable discussing.</p>
I know some superhumans and they aren’t me.</p>