Sorry, this is list is the worst mix tape ever. And the ones I'm going to dog are ones I have read cover to cover, so bear that in mind. On the whole, to the modern reader, some of these choices are going to be like recommending that you should read the King James version of the Bible. The title of this list should be "Books That If You Put on Your Shelves Will Make You Look Smart."

"Anee Frank"- nope...."Night" by Elie Wiesel is a much better choice.

"The Origin of Species"...really? There are a dozens of more inclusive biological/scientific works that explain evolution with stronger science. Only read this if you want to understand where the theory came from. This is like me assigning someone "The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling" to understand the modern novel when they really don't give a shit.

"Harry Potter" and "The Lord of the Rings"...maybe if you watched them with the movies. Potter is the only YA on this list. Is this a YA list, or a well-rounded person list? I would hope that if you're assigning something as hidebound as Shakespeare that this list is geared to an experienced leader. So what is YA doing on here? And "Lord of the Rings" is as dry as milquetoast.

"The Art of War." Okay, hmmm....what is this for, again? To make me more well-rounded? Yeah, I know it's one of the first and most quoted books and tactics out there, but how many of those people who are recommending actually read more than snippets in their daily quotes list? I guarantee the average reader will get about ten minutes into this and quit. This is the same reader you're recommending YA lit to, remember?

I could go on, but this already too long. You know what this list is? This is a list for you to buy books, flip through maybe one or two, and put the rest on your bookshelves so when people come over they think you are well-read.