The New York Public Library compiled a list of the 25 books that its librarians claim have had the biggest effect on the course of history. From fiction and history, to science and religion, the following works have left their mark on the world and stood the test of time. The books on this list are widely accepted by historians as works that helped to shape society, alter social practices, and capture or explain pivotal moments in human history. What is your opinion? Which books have had the biggest effect on human history?
Seherzada - an intersting question that should spark a lot of discussion and debate.
It does, however, depend on many factors - such as:
- Early through to recent history - Plato, Galileo, Hawking etc.
- Personal (literary) - Dickens, Bronte's through to academic - Einstein, Hoggart etc
- Religious texts - Bible etc.
- Children's texts - as young minds develop - Dahl etc
- Fiction verson non-fiction
You have highlighted the New York Public Library list. There are many similar lists out there - and the 'usual suspects' tend to be in there - Shakespear, Darwin etc - but it does very much depend on the context i.e. modern history etc. It also depends on what you mean by 'biggest effect' - that can be at the individual level through to societal and global.
Personally, I would like to think that anything written by me has had the biggest impact on human history - but my mother tells me otherwise!!
This is my list (top 10):
1. The Qur’an
2. The Torah
3. The Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu
4. 1984by George Orwell;
5. Republic by Plato
6. The Rights of Man: For the Benefit of All Mankindby Thomas Paine
7. Aesop’s Fables by Aesop;
8. The Communist Manifesto by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels;
9. Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass by Frederick Douglass
10. On the Origin of Species: By Means of Natural Selection of the Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life, by Charles Darwin
1) The Holy Quran.
2) The Tamra.
3) The Zabur.
4) The Injil (The Gospel).
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