The Last of the Just by Andre Schwarz-Bart (Overlook, $16). This epic history of a family dedicated to doing good ends tragically with the Holocaust, and powerfully portrays the great crime of genocide. When I was a young man, this book reinforced my commitment not to ignore injustices against the innocent, regardless of race, creed, or country of origin.
Buy The Last of the Just at Amazon
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
American Pastoral by Philip Roth (Vintage, $15). Roth is one of the greatest living American writers, and this chilling tale of a 1960s family in upheaval is set against a tumultuous time in our country’s history. It brings into sharp focus how difficult it is to raise children and keep them in equilibrium. This is the kind of book that both frightens and informs a parent.
He, She, and It by Marge Piercy (Fawcett, $8). Written as science fiction, this narrative is prescient, portraying a time when the Earth has become toxic and life itself may be extinguished. Under such conditions, human beings are forced to make difficult ethical choices, many of which could eventually be at hand, given the pace of scientific technology.
The Confessions of Nat Turner by William Styron (Vintage, $15). Styron is a master at capturing the sounds and sentiments of the South. Like Faulkner before him, Styron focuses on the tragedy of racism, a shameful legacy that haunts us to this day.
A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving (Ballantine, $8). Irving has both a playful and bizarre worldview, pushing his characters into absurd situations that, despite their absurdity, teach us important lessons about ourselves. At its core, this book is about faith, how we pursue it, perceive it, and adopt or abandon it.
-
Beatriz Williams' 6 timeless books about history and human relationshipsFeature The best-selling author recommends works by Jane Austen, Zora Neale Hurston, and more
-
Aysegul Savas' 6 favorite books for readers who love immersive settingsFeature The Paris-based Turkish author recommends works by Hiromi Kawakami, Virginia Woolf, and more
-
Geoff Dyer's 6 favorite books about the realities of warFeature The award-winning author recommends works by Ernie Pyle, Michael Herr, and more
-
Laura Lippman's 6 favorite books for those who crave a high-stakes adventureFeature The Grand Master recommends works by E.L. Konigsburg, Charles Portis, and more
-
Thomas Mallon's 6 favorite books from the 80's and early 90'sFeature The author recommends works by James Merrill, Calvin Trillin, and more
-
Anne Hillerman's 6 favorite books with Native charactersFeature The author recommends works by Ramona Emerson, Craig Johnson, and more
-
John Kenney's 6 favorite books that will break your heart softlyFeature The novelist recommends works by John le Carré, John Kennedy Toole, and more
-
Andrea Long Chu's 6 favorite books for people who crave new ideasFeature The book critic recommends works by Rachel Cusk, Sigmund Freud, and more
