The Library of Congress has put out a list of books as part of their “Books That Shaped America” exhibit. There are eighty-eight books in all; everything from The Catcher in the Rye to The Joy of Cooking is on there.
From the LOC’s website:
“This list is a starting point,” said Librarian of Congress James H. Billington. “It is not a register of the ‘best’ American books – although many of them fit that description. Rather, the list is intended to spark a national conversation on books written by Americans that have influenced our lives, whether they appear on this initial list or not.”
Even if you don’t agree with some of the included books, it’s still an interesting and diverse list. Hell, we’re just glad Carl Sagan made the cut.