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Re: nice post AgentOrange Send a noteboard - 06/02/2010 01:29:34 AM
Germany is now grappling with a proposed move to print and sell a new critical edition of Mein Kampf when Hitler's automatic 70-year postmortem copyright expires in 2015. It's not clear just yet that we'll be able to preorder so that amazon.de can make sure we get delivery on the day of its release (presumably May 1, 2015 would be the first available day), however. The Bavarian government has played the politically correct card to try to keep it from being published or sold in Germany, despite the fact that it is available everywhere else (and apparently very popular in Gaza).

On the one hand, the book is little more than an extended rant by a sociopath that tragically led to the implementation of most of what it advocated and the deaths of tens of millions of people. On the other hand, it bashes the French...I mean, on the other hand, precisely because of its consequences it is one of the "great books" of history ("infamous" is just as fitting an epithet as "great").

The article got me thinking about censorship of books and the dissemination of ideas, which led me to think about books that are affirmatively chosen for mandatory reading in schools as well. This train of thought was broken by a desire to have breakfast, but when I returned to it I decided to post a survey here.

1. Are there any books that should ever be censored? If so, why? If so, which ones? Who should decide what books are censored and for whom?


I don't think so.

2. Should any books be withheld from libraries in high schools? If so, why? If so, which ones? Who should decide what books are withheld?


Things that might be misunderstood, yes. I don't think that 'limiting' children actually limits them. The opposite is true, too much exposure, too early, can desensitize a child.

3. Name five books (aside from religious works) that you think have had a massive impact on the world, and at least one that is frequently overlooked on lists of that sort.


Well from my POV

Altnoiland by Herzel for obvious reasons. Same for J'accuse by Emile Zola, though that's not a book, just an open letter.

To lose the Jewish slant, I think Carl von Clauswits's On War. This was a major work influenced by the author's life in the Prussian regiments and a milestone on the way to WWI.

You can add any number of scientific books such as the Origin of Species.

4. Do you think any of the books you listed in point 3 should be read in schools as mandatory reading? Why or why not?

5. Name five books (aside from religious works) that you think SHOULD be mandatory reading in schools (or at least "on the curriculum" if you don't like the word "mandatory"), and why.

6. Do you think schools are too careful in choosing books due to pressure from those who would censor the curriculum? If so, which sorts of books do you feel are unjustly censored?


Not very much. True reading is done by the individual anyway.

7. Do you think schools place too much emphasis on particular themes or ideas when choosing their curriculum? If so, which ones?

8. Are there any authors you would remove from school curricula who are presently well-represented? Why?

9. Are there any authors not represented that you would like to see added generally? Why?

10. Is there ONE book (aside from religious works) that you think EVERYONE should read? If so, what book and why?

Nope.
This message last edited by AgentOrange on 06/02/2010 at 01:29:57 AM
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Censorship, promotion of books and dissemination of ideas. Tom - 05/02/2010 05:15:17 PM 1566 Views
Interesting post nossy - 05/02/2010 06:19:06 PM 1075 Views
I agree. One Shakespeare is sufficient. *NM* Ghavrel - 06/02/2010 06:42:51 AM 406 Views
Oh, fun! You mentioned the 语录 by Chairman Mao... Tom - 06/02/2010 06:35:21 PM 955 Views
Tough Subject, censorship LadyLorraine - 05/02/2010 07:24:39 PM 1075 Views
I think I would be worried if a school had more than one copy of Mein Kampf Tom - 06/02/2010 06:30:08 PM 967 Views
I was mostly just using it as an example, since it was what the article talked about LadyLorraine - 06/02/2010 10:20:08 PM 1014 Views
tough questions random thoughts - 05/02/2010 08:26:30 PM 1029 Views
I never saw the humour in Dilbert... Tom - 06/02/2010 06:28:57 PM 1058 Views
I actually ran into this in high school. Apsalar Shadowdancer - 05/02/2010 08:33:10 PM 1216 Views
I found that we covered a lot about American Indian issues in US History. Tom - 06/02/2010 06:23:16 PM 995 Views
we coverd most of those things as well Apsalar Shadowdancer - 06/02/2010 08:08:22 PM 1203 Views
Anyone interested in German history in particular and European history in general should read it. The Shrike - 05/02/2010 08:47:14 PM 1168 Views
I think jane austen and the brontes would be good to leave in LadyLorraine - 06/02/2010 03:44:10 AM 895 Views
They could read Pride & Prejudice & Zombies instead. *NM* The Shrike - 06/02/2010 04:03:34 PM 395 Views
They could. It'd be very educational. LadyLorraine - 06/02/2010 04:37:23 PM 812 Views
I read a great number of books I don't necesarily agree with, so I'm on your side. Tom - 06/02/2010 06:19:21 PM 989 Views
What about... Macharius - 18/02/2010 06:57:56 PM 1250 Views
Hmm. jh - 05/02/2010 09:11:13 PM 1036 Views
It's interesting that many of the most influential books are hardly ever read. Tom - 06/02/2010 06:15:19 PM 973 Views
Love the survey. Legolas - 05/02/2010 09:42:29 PM 1182 Views
Interesting. Do you really think that Nineteen Eighty-Four is plausible? Ghavrel - 06/02/2010 10:13:56 AM 996 Views
It doesn't have to be plausible as a whole to be relevant. Legolas - 06/02/2010 08:28:20 PM 988 Views
I agree entirely Camilla - 06/02/2010 10:32:07 PM 1088 Views
You raise an interesting point. Tom - 06/02/2010 06:06:20 PM 989 Views
Re: Censorship, promotion of books and dissemination of ideas. Camilla - 05/02/2010 11:09:41 PM 1138 Views
Nietzsche as mandatory reading - that's a fun idea. Tom - 06/02/2010 06:00:29 PM 1033 Views
Re: Nietzsche as mandatory reading - that's a fun idea. Camilla - 06/02/2010 06:03:59 PM 1041 Views
Re: Censorship, promotion of books and dissemination of ideas. aria - 05/02/2010 11:47:08 PM 1123 Views
Re: Censorship, promotion of books and dissemination of ideas. Camilla - 06/02/2010 12:11:06 AM 1000 Views
I agree with most of that. But to quote our eminent Camilla... Ghavrel - 06/02/2010 10:30:15 AM 1100 Views
Re: I agree with most of that. But to quote our eminent Camilla... aria - 06/02/2010 12:25:37 PM 1017 Views
I agree on the Shakespeare (and mentioned that below). Tom - 06/02/2010 05:54:50 PM 987 Views
Re: I agree on the Shakespeare (and mentioned that below). Camilla - 06/02/2010 06:05:48 PM 1102 Views
I don't think high school students need to discuss possibilities for staging. Tom - 07/02/2010 01:36:03 AM 929 Views
I think there is value to discussing staging LadyLorraine - 07/02/2010 01:52:47 AM 934 Views
nice post AgentOrange - 06/02/2010 01:27:23 AM 985 Views
Re: nice post AgentOrange - 06/02/2010 01:29:34 AM 976 Views
A lot of people think von Clausewitz is important. Tom - 06/02/2010 05:51:44 PM 906 Views
More than Sun Tzu? *NM* Legolas - 06/02/2010 08:31:44 PM 376 Views
Sun Zi was relatively unknown in the West until recently. Tom - 07/02/2010 01:30:06 AM 950 Views
Sure, but he could still have influenced world history by influencing Asia... *NM* Legolas - 07/02/2010 01:35:17 AM 402 Views
Doubtful. Tom - 07/02/2010 01:41:01 AM 984 Views
Tom, you did not just write that AgentOrange - 07/02/2010 10:12:40 AM 1007 Views
The Mongols are not East Asian. They are Central Asian. Tom - 07/02/2010 03:06:19 PM 1001 Views
Neat. Ghavrel - 06/02/2010 06:41:37 AM 1229 Views
Brave New World is an excellent choice. Tom - 06/02/2010 05:15:15 PM 916 Views
In many ways, books are like automobiles or power tools... Larry - 06/02/2010 11:08:01 AM 1152 Views
The interesting thing, to my mind, is that the BBC article talks about "Lebensraum". Tom - 06/02/2010 04:46:34 PM 952 Views
And nary a thing about Alois Hitler, no? Larry - 06/02/2010 05:52:50 PM 1163 Views
I have yet to see a literature teacher in schools teach history through literature. Tom - 07/02/2010 01:33:57 AM 999 Views
But yet I know several history teachers who have done this Larry - 07/02/2010 10:38:49 AM 1103 Views
Viewing history through a literary prism is usually an injustice to the study of history. Tom - 07/02/2010 03:16:30 PM 1058 Views
No, the opposite: viewing literature through historical lens is what I'm interested in Larry - 07/02/2010 03:31:04 PM 1039 Views
Re: Censorship, promotion of books and dissemination of ideas. Novo - 06/02/2010 01:44:07 PM 1100 Views
I agree that Shakespeare is over-emphasised. Tom - 06/02/2010 04:29:16 PM 851 Views
Before responding to others, I'll post my own responses Tom - 06/02/2010 04:26:53 PM 1118 Views
Re: Before responding to others, I'll post my own responses Camilla - 06/02/2010 10:34:10 PM 949 Views
Hmm. Rebekah - 06/02/2010 11:33:02 PM 1013 Views
New Zealand has culture? Tom - 07/02/2010 03:25:28 PM 1135 Views
Which book of his would you recommend ? AgentOrange - 09/02/2010 04:20:15 PM 941 Views
The Whale Rider is lovely. Rebekah - 10/02/2010 02:36:01 PM 862 Views
I will answer yiour survey but may I ask a question first? What did you think of Steinbeck? Tashmere - 07/02/2010 06:20:52 AM 941 Views
I hated Steinbeck, with the exception of Travels with Charley. Tom - 07/02/2010 03:22:11 PM 945 Views
The Grapes of Wrath was required in Sophomore English in HS. And I loved it. The Shrike - 07/02/2010 03:25:55 PM 1026 Views
Re: Censorship, promotion of books and dissemination of ideas. Tashmere - 07/02/2010 11:52:02 PM 1049 Views
Re: Censorship, promotion of books and dissemination of ideas. Mossman - 08/02/2010 03:14:24 AM 1218 Views
Re: Censorship, promotion of books and dissemination of ideas. rebelaessedai - 11/02/2010 10:58:23 PM 1072 Views
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