University life is filled with tons of studying, writing reports, and reading assignments from different professors. Some of the Ivy League professors were asked to recommend that one book students should not miss reading at least once in their life. Here are some of their recommendations:
James Berger, senior Lecturer in English and American Studies, Yale University
Berger recommends reading "Orfeo," a contemporary novel by Richard Powers. It's a retelling of the story of Orpheus with a modern twist, where the uncanny mix of music and genetics is at the center.
It tells the story of Peter Els, a retired composer who also dabbles with genetics as a hobby. However, he was mistaken as a bioterrorist by the government. As he escapes, the reader is given a chance to take a peek into his past.
Powers is a superb storyteller who is able to combine science, politics, and the art without boring his readers.
David B. Carter, politics professor, Princeton University
Carter's choice is "The Strategy of Conflict" a non-fiction written by Thomas Schelling. According to Carter, the book provides useful insight about "strategic interaction" between countries and individuals. It also teaches readers helpful strategies in handling conflicts.
Jill Abrahamson, English lecturer, Harvard University
Abrahamson, who was also a former executive editor of The New York Times suggests reading "The Paranoid Style of American Politics" by Richard Hofstadter explaining that this old book will give you clues about how fake news came to be.
Kenneth Warren, English professor, University of Chicago
Warren said that if there's one book he wants his students to read, it would be "Racecraft: The Soul of Inequality in American Life," a 2014 novel by Karen E. Fields and Barbara J. Fields which explores the concept of racism in American history.
