1. "On the Road" by Jack Kerouac
Published in 1957, this masterpiece by Kerouac gave voice to the American "Beat Generation." The ideas of this group of writers ran counter to traditional beliefs and rose rapidly in post-WWII America, reflecting a protest against the mainstream values of the post-war homeland, namely materialism, capital accumulation, and the passive acceptance of religious and moral codes. "On the Road" depicts the American journey of Sal Paradise and Dean Moriarty. Kerouac's prose is natural and authentic, and because of the values inherent in the story—exploration, experimentation, and the constant (though ultimately unsuccessful) search for the true meaning of life—it has always resonated with young readers.
2. "The Grapes of Wrath" by John Steinbeck
"The Grapes of Wrath" can be considered the finest novel by Nobel Prize-winning American author John Steinbeck, describing the rise and fall of the Joad family. During the Great Depression of the 1930s, this Oklahoma farming family was forced to flee their home because their farm was located in the "Dust Bowl" of the American Midwest (where massive dust storms occurred frequently due to climate conditions). On the road to California, they encountered hunger, poverty, abandonment, and exploitation, while also witnessing the generosity, sacrifice, maturity, and ultimate rebirth of their fellow citizens. When the novel was first published, Steinbeck's simple and empathetic writing style resonated with the American working class, but it also sparked the anger of some of his contemporaries. This novel celebrates the power of the human spirit and remains a required reading material in American English classrooms to this day.
3. "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance" by Robert M. Pirsig
This is a fascinating piece of travel literature that can also be viewed as a philosophical treatise. Pirsig's 1974 novel "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance" depicts a motorcycle trip the author took from Minnesota to California. In addition to vivid descriptions of the vast North American prairies, Pirsig explores a series of philosophical topics in each chapter. Through the author's discussions, the protagonist—a father recovering from electroconvulsive therapy—constantly attempts to reconcile his own worldview with that of those around him, while trying to escape the sense of emptiness brought on by material culture. Drawing on Eastern and Western philosophical arguments, Pirsig expounds on his "Metaphysics of Quality." While it is quite challenging to comprehend, it is absolutely rewarding once finished.
4. "The Color Purple" by Alice Walker
The Pulitzer Prize-winning epistolary novel "The Color Purple" by Alice Walker is highly acclaimed for its sensitive exploration of the lives of African American women living in the Deep South of the United States during the 1930s. Set in rural Georgia, the story follows the black female protagonist, Celie, who suffers significant abuse and persecution while growing up under the Jim Crow segregation system. Later, she meets a dazzling singer and performer named Shug Avery, which leads her to resist this oppressive society and take control of her own destiny.
5. "The Man in the High Castle" by Philip K. Dick
The inspiration for this novel draws from many sources, and the author's imagination is truly remarkable. "The Man in the High Castle" challenges the fundamental principles of "American Exceptionalism." In the book, Dick posits an alternative ending to WWII where the Allied powers were defeated, and all of North America was conquered by the Japanese Empire and Nazi Germany, leading to a "Cold War" between these two Axis powers. The entire book is filled with East Asian philosophical principles and includes a stunning "Japanese-English" hybrid language invented by Dick. By creating this parallel world, the author explores the authenticity of the real world, the ways in which people express their individuality in the face of persecution, and how much true "value" can actually be derived from national pride.
