Jocilyn Estes Opinion Editor

Max Havelaar: Or the Coffee Auctions of the Dutch Trading Company, by Multatuli.

Referred to by some as “the book that killed colonialism” this novel by Multatuli, published in 1860, concerns the struggle of Max Havelaar, a Dutch colonial administrator­ pitted against corruption in the Dutch colony of Java. Multatuli’s novel is credited with bringing about the Dutch Ethical Policy, which in turn brought about colonial education reforms that precipitated nationalist movements in Indonesia and calls for decolonization in Africa. The narration of the book is split between two characters — a coffee merchant and a German apprentice — and the novel culminates with Multatuli himself denouncing colonial policies and pleading to the king of the Netherlands.

Liza Tait-Bailey Social Media Editor

The Harry Potter Series, by J.K. Rowling

While perhaps not the most classic choice, it's hard to deny how much Harry Potter has influenced us all. It was a Harry Potter reference that inspired the first conversation that I had with my best friend at NYU Abu Dhabi, and I see students here bonding over the books on an almost weekly basis. It has helped generations of people learn about standing up for what they believe in, and has even been shown to reduce prejudice. Apart from being a series of children's books, I believe Harry Potter has truly been a game changer.

Pranav Mehta Research Editor

The Meaning of Relativity, by Albert Einstein

The Meaning of Relativity is a collection of four lectures that Albert Einstein gave on the subject of his theory of general relativity at Princeton in 1921. The book summarizes what is arguably the most profound theory in physics — the union of space and time into one entity and its consequential effect on the world at large. The book takes the reader through the gritty mathematics and physics that, at its core, reveals the simplicity of Einstein’s ideas.

Karolina Wilczynska Research Editor

Nineteen Eighty-Four, by George Orwell

A classic. If your academic curricula have not forced you to read Orwell’s masterpiece yet, it is really worth doing so yourself. This political dystopian novel takes readers to a world of perpetual war, intrusive propaganda and illusory relationships — a daunting yet inescapable reality. Yet, more than anything, it is a creative exploration of the human psyche and resilience in times when sacrifice is unavoidable. Decades later, generations of intellectuals living in communist societies have marveled at Orwell’s understanding of a system whose power structures had not even unfolded completely at the time of writing. Parallels between the political fiction of Orwell and the political realities of philosophers like Havel or Milosz — who were confronted with choices similar to that of Orwell’s protagonist — are numerous, but, instead of offering a concrete conclusion, the novel finishes with open ended questions about its own relevance.