This week we are featuring our picks for the top nine books of 100 years ago that both describes the 19900-1920 transition the best, but also sheds light on the current 2000 - 2020 Nine Shift occuring.
3. THE GREAT GATSBY, by F. Scott Fitzgerald.
The first novel that takes place totally in the Industrial Age of the 20th century, with women smoking, working and driving cars, with suburbs, and 'modern life' as we knew it.
2. MAIN STREET, by Sinclair Lewis.
Written just a year before Great Gatsby, the "last" novel of the agrarian age, showing how people had no idea they were going through this great transition and all of life was changing.
1. LADY CHATTERLY'S LOVER, by D. H. Lawrence.
Gut wrenching in the agony of those who did not want cars, suburbs, factories and all the materialism that went with it. The loss of values, the angst, denial, surrender. Beatuifully written.
Numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, and 9 are referenced in Nine Shift.
Numbers 5, 6, 7, and 8 were read after Nine Shift appeared.
OK, have you got any other books to add to the list? Please share.
Terry, YES to The Jungle by Upton Sinclair. Very timely for today, very NineShiftish. Good addition.
Posted by: William A. Draves | August 21, 2007 at 12:39 PM
How about The Jungle by Upton Sinclair? Its about food safety and the manner in which workers were treated. A bit of a parallel with what's happening now with the tainted food from China. The Jungle is a great read followed by Fast Food Nation, which is the current book on the same situation.
Posted by: Terry Newman | August 16, 2007 at 12:26 PM
Thanks for the list. I've read a few and have a few more on my book shelves. I read The Great Gatsby again recently but not from the Nine Shift point of view. Great food for thought...
Posted by: Terry Newman | August 16, 2007 at 12:23 PM