Book Lists : The world’s required reading list: The books that students read in 28 countries

[Alias Reader]

The world’s required reading list: The books that students read in 28 countries

This compilation of reading assigned to students everywhere will expand your horizons — and your bookshelves.

In the US, most students are required to read To Kill a Mockingbird during their school years. This classic novel combines a moving coming-of-age story with big issues like racism and criminal injustice. Reading Mockingbird is such an integral part of the American educational experience that we wondered: What classic books are assigned to students elsewhere?

We posed this question to our TED-Ed Innovative Educators and members of the TED-Ed Community. People all over the globe responded, and we curated our list to focus on local authors. Many respondents made it clear in their countries, as in the US, few books are absolutely mandatory. Below, take a look at what students in countries from Ireland to Iran, Ghana to Germany, are asked to read and why. [Note: To find free, downloadable versions of many of the books listed below, search Project Gutenberg.

http://blog.ed.ted.com/2016/12/08/the...

[Francesca M]

Really interesting list Alias, thanks for sharing it! As an Italian student I read The Betrothed, obviusly, but also La Divina Commedia is a pillar of our education, much more difficult to read thou. I always wondered which were the 'must reads' of the other students world wide but I didn't know how to find out about it, great to have many of them in a single list!!!!

[Petra]

That is an interesting list. I haven't gone through it all yet (but will).

The Canadian book, The Wars, wasn't taught in schools when I went. It must be a more recent addition to the curriculum. I just read the book this year for the first time. It really is one that showed what it had been like in the trenches and on the front line. It certainly had a real and true feel in the story.

[Alias Reader]

So glad you are enjoying the list !

[madrano]

Good list for those who want to see what other countries value in literature. Thanks for sharing, Alias. I was only familiar with a few, although i own The Betrothed, i haven't read it. I found it listed on some other list a decade or more ago. It listed that book at the Italian "must read" while Don Quixote was the Spanish one &, i think, Madame Bovary was the French. I read those last two but couldn't find the Italian for many years. Finally did but didn't manage to read it...yet.

[Alias Reader]

madrano wrote: "Good list for those who want to see what other countries value in literature. Thanks for sharing, Alias. I was only familiar with a few, although i own The Betrothed, i haven't read it. I found it ..."

I also have the The Betrothed on my Kindle unread.