I was scrolling through some articles and found one referencing a list compiled by the Council of Higher Education on the most frequently assigned books in colleges. I tried searching for it but couldn't find it – does anyone out there have any idea?
Yes, there indeed exists such a list! The Council of Higher Education has data on the most frequently assigned books in colleges across the US, and the results might surprise you.
According to the most recent data, "The Elements of Style" by William Strunk Jr. and E.B. White tops the list. This concise guide to writing in English is a staple in many humanities and writing-intensive courses.
Following that, Plato's "Republic" and "The Communist Manifesto" by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels are also popular picks. These seminal texts are commonly assigned in a variety of humanities and social studies classes, from philosophy to political science.
Keep in mind that the most-read books can vary depending on the university, the department, and even the professor teaching a specific course. The list is most representative of books assigned in core courses that students across different majors might take, such as English or History. If you're curious about the reading requirements for a specific major, you might want to check out the syllabi for corresponding courses or talk to someone in the department of interest.
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