The editors of HUMAN EVENTS asked a panel of 28 distinguished scholars and university professors to serve as judges in developing a list of Ten Books Every Student Should Read in College.

To derive the list, each scholar first nominated titles.Ê When all the nominations were collected—they amounted to more than 100 titles—HUMAN EVENTS then sent a ballot to the scholars asking each to list his or her Top Ten selections.Ê A book was awarded ten points for receiving a No. 1 rating, 9 points for receiving a No. 2 rating, and so on. The ten books with the highest aggregate ratings made the list. We have also compiled an Honorable Mention list.

Interestingly enough, the No. 1 book our judges decided every college student should read is a volume that has been virtually banned in public schools by the United States Supreme Court.

1. The Bible
Score: 116
Written:Ê c. 1446 B.C. to c. A.D. 95

2. The Federalist Papers
Score: 106
Authors: Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison
Written: October 1787 to May 1788

3. Democracy in America
Score: 80
Author: Alexis de Tocqueville
Written: 1835

4. The Divine Comedy
Score: 57
Author: Dante Alighieri
Written: A.D. 1306-1321

5. The Republic
Score: 55
Author: Plato
Written: c. 360 B.C.

6. The Politics
Score: 54
Author: Aristotle
Written:Ê Fourth Century, B.C.

7. Nicomachaean Ethics
Score: 52
Author: Aristotle
Written: Fourth Century, B.C.

7. City of God
Score: 52
Author: St. Augustine of Hippo
Written: A.D. 413-426

9. Confessions
Score: 47
Author: St. Augustine of Hippo
Written: c. A.D. 400

Read the excellent commentary on these books at the following link:
http://www.humaneventsonline.com/articles/06-02-03/tenbooks.htm
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© Human Events, 2003

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