Oprah’s sponsoring an essay contest:
On January 16, 2006, The Oprah Winfrey Show is doing something we’ve never done before. In addition to announcing my new book club selection—which I promise is mandatory reading for every human being on the planet—I will also announce Oprah’s National High School Essay Contest to accompany it.
The essay contest will be based on the book I reveal and will be open to high school students across America. Then, based on their essays, a panel of learned judges will select 50 high school students. Each finalist, along with one designated parent or guardian, will receive a trip to a special Oprah Show taping in late February.
To support this nationwide initiative, my website—Oprah.com—will offer comprehensive study materials for students, teachers and parents. This is an important book that I hope will be discussed in homes and schools across the country.
Now, I wonder, what book or books, other than the Bible (which I’m fairly sure will NOT be Oprah’s selection), would you consider “mandatory reading for every human being on the planet?” Think about that: peasants in China should read this book, Muslims and Christians should read it, young people and old people, men and women, techies, cowboys, race car drivers, mommies, everybody.
So, I have two questions.
What book would you suggest for mandatory reading for the entire planet?
In the prognostication category, what book title do you think Oprah will announce on January 16th?
HT: Camille at Book Moot, who always finds interesting stuff about books and libraries.
Mandatory reading for the whole planet? Honestly, aside from the Bible, I can come up with no candidates. As far as Oprah’s choice, I’m sure it will be something along the lines of “Invisible Man”.
Obviously the book to be chosen will be The Autobiography of Oprah Winfrey. I think it should be Through the Looking-Glass and What Alice Found There.
I’m guessing To Kill a Mockingbird or something by Maya Angelou would be my guess. The closest thing to religious that she might get is Toni Morrison’s Song of Solomon.
My mandatory reading would be The Bible, War and Peace, Aristotle’s Metaphysics, Chaucer’s Cantebury Tales, Saint Augustine’s Confessions, Federalist Papers….I have a lot of mandatory reading suggestions.
January 16 is Martin Luther King Day, and the book will be the subject of an essay contest for high school students. Oprah’s penchant for hyperbole aside (“mandatory reading for every human being on the planet”), I’m thinking Native Son or Invisible Man.
Other ideas: Go Tell It on the Mountain. Things Fall Apart. Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass.
A far-far-out idea: All Quiet on the Western Front.
I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s something by Deepak Chopra or the Dalai Lama.
Oh, I never told you *my* idea of a book everyone should read.
You already know what I’m going to say.
Ayup.
Ol’ Will’s complete works.
Oh, and Charlotte’s Web.
Yeah, those two about cover it for me.
Heh, heh, heh.
Enjoy a great weekend, Sherry.
Well, what I consider mandatory reading would be Mere Christianity and The Screwtape Letters by Lewis, Heretics and Orthodoxy by Chesterton, and Wodehouse so everyone remembers to laugh.
Oprah? Maybe some Ayn Rand? The Fountainhead or Anthem perhaps? I personally thought The Fountainhead was a really good read – very interesting. I think Rand gets the problem right – she just doesn’t have the solution…
With all the criteria, I would say To Kill a Mockingbird but that is hardly mandatory status for Chinese mothers or Muslim fathers.
I can hardly think of a book that is “mandatory” for all besides the Bible, maybe a translation of the Odyssey. The Illiad drags on a bit much to be mandatory.
Well, at least if she picks To Kill A Mockingbird we don’t have to get too nauseous. That book is awesome! I read it for the first time when I was around five. (what was my mom thinking?!)
I’ve arrived late to the party but…
I think I’d recommend “God is the Gospel” by John Piper – reading it right now and it is a great explanation of God’s grace, Jesus death and resurrection, and one I would like every person on the planet to read I think (if the Bible is not on the list).
I heard today that it was going to be “A Million Little Pieces”. I think that is the correct title. It is written by a man who spent much of his like as an addict. But I also heard that some of the book had been embellished. I have not read it so I do not know.