11 Books I Assigned for High School That Aren't on the AmblesideOnline Lists

11 Books I Assigned for High School That Aren't on the AmblesideOnline Lists - Afterthoughts

source: https://afterthoughtsblog.net/2023/08/11-books-high-school.html/

I love, adore, and have always used AmblesideOnline as our homeschool curriculum. Also, I have always collected books. In the high school years, when AO takes a pick-and-choose salad bar approach, I can’t help but consider not just the books on the lists, but also the books on my shelves. They have been waiting their whole lives for this moment, and so have I! As much as I adored my littles, the teen years are my absolute favorite.

I’ve also come to believe in the power of the perfectly chosen book. I’m not saying students should have a completely customized-to-them curriculum — in fact, I would 100% caution against that — but there are moments when students are ripe for a particular nutrition book, or they’ve been asking about a certain theological concept and you have just the book for it. That is why some of these books appear below — because I’m assigning the book once to a particular child — because it’s too perfect to pass up.

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by Paul Maier

Subject: Theology and Church History

O-Age-15 is my fourth and final 9th grader to read Eusebius, the original church historian. I love this book so much.

by Nick Needham

Subject: Theology and Church History

This is a 5-volume series that I wish I could give more time to than I do. Q-Age-16 will be reading Volume 1 this year and Volume 2 next year, and that is the most I can do. Perhaps I will be able to work in one more than this with my youngest!

by Matthew Barrett

Subject: Theology and Church History

You may recognize this book as the 2019 Afterthoughts Book of the Year. This is one I require for everyone before they graduate. My 11th grader is reading it this year. If you haven’t read it, I highly recommend it!

by Russell Kirk

Subject: Government

This is, hands down, the Best Government Book Ever. I just love it. I love how it situates the American government — the United States Constitution — in its historical context by showing what we took from the Greeks and Romans, the Hebrews, the Christians, and the British. O-Age-15 is reading this for 9th grade.

by David Bahnsen and Douglas Wilson

Subject: Economics

I bought this little book because David Bahnsen hosts a podcast I listen to religiously (Radio Free California) and he always makes me laugh. Also, inflation is sort of a problem right now, is it not?

I assigned this to both of my students this year because Timely. Economics is one of my pet subjects and we read basically all of the books from the AO lists and then some — I even read economics books aloud for family fun. At least, I think it is fun. Ahem.

by Friedrich Engels and Karl Marx

Subject: Economics

Can you guess WHY I would assign this book to my 11th grader? Hmmmm.

by Peter Kreeft

Subject: History

Or is it philosophy? I dunno. Some books I categorize loosely and then move around later when I’m designing transcripts, depending on what make sense. It’s Kreeft, though. Need I say more??

by JD Ratcliff

Subject: Health

I wish this book (and others like it by Ratcliff) weren’t out of print. They are so good. With that said, please do no spend $61 (current price when I checked) on it. Just wait and check back. I’m sorry. I shared about it on Instagram and people snapped up the cheap copies within a couple hours. Maybe try Thrift Books?

O-Age-15 is reading this for 9th grade.

by Abram Hoffer, Andrew Saul, and Harold Foster

Subject: Health

This is an example of a “perfect match” book choice. Q-Age-16 reads books on personality typing, neuroscience, and psychology for fun, so this seemed like a logical choice. I think she will love it.

by Martin Blaser

Subject: Biology

This is a book I assign to balance out Microbe Hunters.

by Charles Darwin

Subject: Geography

This is another one that is hard to categorize. Is it geography? I categorized it as such because I’m using it like a geography book in the sense that they are tracing Darwin’s journey on a map. But could it also be biology? YES. History? ALSO YES.

Most people have never read Darwin and speak about him in ignorance. I decided I’d rather my children have a more informed opinion. This is a step in that direction.

The post 11 Books I Assigned for High School That Aren’t on the AmblesideOnline Lists appeared first on Afterthoughts.

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