<p>I'm just curious as to what most people think of as well-read. What types of books do you guys read? Mostly novels, or books about politics, history, sciences, etc? Also, which book do you think is the most insightful about human nature?</p>
<p>I read mostly novels, and have delved into some books about philosophy. I think I’m pretty well-read in some things, but ask me about the sciences and I’ll know basically nothing. So I’m not well-read in everything, and partially well-read in somethings. (Well-read for my age, anyway.)</p>
<p>I think so far the book I read most insightful to human nature was…I have to say there are two I can think of right now: “The Zen and Art of Motorcycle Maintenance” by Robert M. Pirsig (a philosophy-type book) and “Frankenstein” by Mary Shelley…“Lord of the Flies” also comes close, but I don’t agree with it’s views on human nature. But if you do, it also makes the list.</p>
<p>Notorious Sparknoter.</p>
<p>I read “great works”, and some politics stuff. The most philosophical thing I’ve read is Sophie’s World (so, not a lot). I don’t usually intentionally reflect on the stuff I read, although smidgens of insights tend to come to me at times.</p>
<p>I much prefer novels, and as much as I’ve tried to get myself to enjoy non-fiction and more classic stuff, including plays, I just can’t, really. I’d consider myself decently read for my age, but I have friends who are much, much more well-read than I am.</p>
<p>I’ve realized from personal experience that it is difficult and probably unwise to read heavy philosophical works (such as Kant’s Critique of Pure Reason) without having a firm grounding in the so called “great works,” or literature in general. It is hard to digest such dense prose and intricate thought unless one has had the time to reflect on these ideas for quite a while or just has amazing reading abilities.</p>
<p>i mostly enjoy reading novels, and have just started getting into the “classics” (a clockwork orange, slaughterhouse five, etc.)…i think i’m fairly well read</p>
<p>I wish…</p>
<p>this summer I’m going to try…</p>
<p>I’m trying to get well-read. Most revealing of human nature… Lord of the Flies is a good answer, A Confederacy of Dunces is also good.</p>
<p>I read a lot of nonfiction.</p>
<p>I think being well-read is reading a LOT of material from a wide range of subjects and time periods… particularly those that have the most influence in contemporary work. I admit that I’m really well read as far as the classic novels, short stories, epics, poems and plays go, but I have read hardly anything about science or philosophy. I should definitely get on that.</p>
<p>Right now I’m actually enjoying Shakespeare… never thought I’d say that but I never realized how timeless it was until I was able to get past the language. But my favorite classics so far are definitely Pride and Prejudice, Their Eyes Were Watching God, and 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. Am about to start Heart of Darkness, which looks very interesting!</p>
<p>Do you guys do most of your reading on your own or through school? I used to read a lot on my own but recently I’ve been too busy. :(</p>
<p>I used to read a lot on my own too, but I haven’t had the time. I remember the good old days of reading a book with leisure and then the complete feeling(or want to read the sequel) when finished. Now its just about finishing the book to study for a test or move on to some other homework.</p>
<p>Yeah, I haven’t had time to read.. I try to get in a little Clockwork Orange before bed though.</p>
<p>I read Clockwork Orange last year for an independent reading project. I think I was the only 8th grader ever to pick it. To other people who’ve read it, have you seen Kubrick’s film adaption? I haven’t, but I’d really like to.</p>
<p>Anyway, I try to read as much heavy-duty philosophy as I can, but it’s hard to find time to do much of anything other than schoolwork. Anyway, I’m doing a paper in Parimenides right now, which has given me a good excuse to read some of the metaphysicians. </p>
<p>Oh, and I’m sorry if that came off as pretentious. I can’t help it at 12:30 AM! :p</p>
<p>^^^i saw the film-it was really good, although a “tad” pornographic (and by a tad, i mean it was rated X)</p>
<p>I found the most insightful book into the way people behave to be How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie. Say what you want about whatever philosophers and symbolic novels; he takes real people with actual stories about the things they’ve done right and wrong and lets the reader realize for themselves what they’ve been doing in their own lives which could be handled better.</p>
<p>RacinReaver, I have that book lying on the bed next to me right now, and I absolutely agree with you. Some of the things he says seem so simple, yet I would have never given them much thought myself.</p>
<p>The most insightful books that I have ever read were The Brothers Karamazov and The Great Gatsby. I don’t consider myself well-read by any means, however. I am very narrow in my reading selections, and I would have never picked up Faulkner or Joyce if my school did not require it. And no offense to anyone here, but it’s highly unlikely that any of you are well-read if you are under 20.</p>
<p>Well-read compared to my classmates 
I fell in love with Sophie’s world (although I don’t agree with Gaarder sometimes and the story is repetitive) and started reading a lot of originals - Descartes, Kant, Nietzsche (sooo amusing..), Marx (sooo much to read). Then I read Russell (History of Western Philosophy), who is very biased, but inspired me to read more..</p>
<p>I’ve read a lot of classics, almost all books that were ever mentioned when we discussed literature , and own the whole works of Hermann Hesse (my favourite)…</p>
<p>And I have a collection of English books (which is difficult considering I am German..), which is quite extensive.</p>
<p>The most insightful book (if you ignore philosophy, mathematics and theology) was probably All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque…</p>
<p>A close second is ‘The Glass Bead Game’ by Hesse, which isn’t as easy to read, but in which I found myself quite often.. </p>
<ul>
<li>I agree with olgita. You can’t be well-read at our age, only in comparison to your age-group.. But Joyce isn’t that bad, I read him and Homer at the same time and it was quite interesting. Wouldn’t have come far without wikipedia, though.</li>
</ul>
<p>olgita, if you ever meet someone in real life, it’s a blast to talk about your favorite stories in Dale Carnegie’s books. I also liked his book titled something like How to Stop Worrying and Start Living, though it didn’t feel quite as insightful as How to Win Friends. I really ought to reread them since I haven’t touched them in about two or three years.</p>
<p>His book on public speaking is pretty good, as well. Most people consider me a good public speaker, so I picked up that one to see what pointers I could find to improve even more, but I found the things I felt made me a good speaker were what he pointed out make a speaker great! Definitely an enjoyable read, though, and it reinforced my ideas of what I’m doing right so I was sure to double check my speeches prior to giving them. I’ve been trying to get my girlfriend that’s terrified of public speaking to read that one for over a year now, but the thought of talking in front of an audience terrifies her so much that reading the book makes her experience that feeling. :(</p>