<p>I do realize the rigor of the reading professors assign to students during the academic year; and I want to be sure that I understand such material. I love to read general novels like that of John Grisham, but, I am sure the reading level of John Grisham novels are not as difficult to the reading level associated with academic textbooks in college. So, to increase my reading comprehension, does anyone here believe that I should engage in reading books such as analytics for improvement? What are some of the reading materials do you guys read during your freetime? Thanks for your input.</p>
<p>most of your textbooks, i believe, will be manageable reading especially if you're in intro courses. I took a psych course at columbia last summer and the textbook was fairly easy to get through. i'm not familiar with the analytics you're referring to but i guess my advice to read any of the classic novels in preparation: anything from faulkner to woolf, ancient Greek plays, anything by Ayn Rand. Hope this helps!</p>
<p>I recommend reading:</p>
<p>The Beach
Les Miserables (pronounced Le Miserab)
Watership Down
The Good Earth</p>
<p>What are some good nonfiction books to read?</p>
<p>I usually only read fiction (anything from Harry Potter to DaVinci Code to classics). The Elegant Universe and The Fabric of the Cosmos are on my list because I'm considering a physics major and those seem interesting and readable enough. </p>
<p>Are there any "must-read" non-fiction books out there? (not necessarily science, govt/politics, historical books would be great too)</p>
<p>I would recommend Class Matters By bell hooks (but then again I am a bell hooks literary groupie) The Communist Manifesto, Nations and Nationalism, Lies and the Lying Liars who Tell them, The Feminine Mystique by Betty Friedan would all be great places to start. </p>
<p>Also, you should read the collective writing of Martin Luther King HR (it changed me) and Gandhi</p>
<p>But I dont know what kind of person you are. If you cant tell, I am a dirty leftist (that's why I chose Columbia ;-)....)</p>
<p>The feminine mystique?</p>
<p>Sounds interesting; as a guy; I'm sure reading that will be very exciting. I'll make sure to pick it up at the university library tomorrow.</p>
<p>anxious1 : I believe you seem to have forgetten to mention the authors for certain books that you mentioned in the last post. Can you please list them? </p>
<p>The titles I'm interested in are : The Communist Manifesto, Nations and Nationalism, Lies and the Lying Liars who Tell them. </p>
<p>These sound rather interesting.</p>
<p>Also, anxious; I'm interested as to how reading Martin Luther King has changed you. Has it made you more non-violent? Has it made you more open to diversity? Has it made you more brave and passionate about life?</p>
<p>The Communist Manifesto is by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels
Nations and nationalism is by Ernest Gellner
Lies and the Lying Liars that tell them is by Al Franken</p>
<p>On the Martin Luther King Jr question, the writings changed me becauseit gave depth to what had once been to me a very superficial philosophy (non-violence/love/social activism). It gave me the tools to understand the injustices in the world around me and to take steps to change them. So in short, a yes to all your questions.</p>