10 Books that Changed America

There are books that are revered because of their effect on art, and there are books that are remarkable because they literally change the very society from which they came. Here is a list of ten books that radically changed or shaped American society. I’ve excluded all religious texts because those are just too obvious. So without further delay, here’s the list!
 
10
Leaves of Grass
Walt Whitman, 1855
 
This 1855 book of poetry ushered in the American equivalent of the Romantic Era of literature. Whitman’s brilliant work changed art, and changed what could be discussed in art with his bold and bawdy epic poem. This work was both subversive and celebratory, that opened the door for discussion of many issues, and also was the work that opened the beat movement that followed nearly a century later.
 
9
The Clansman
Thomas Dixon Jr, 1905
 
Unfortunately, not every book has a good influence on society. This 1905 book made the KKK out to be heroes, and lead to a disgraceful anti-black film (the Birth of a Nation) that was quoted by then President Woodrow Wilson as being, “Sad because it’s true.” This was the racist answer to “Uncle Tom’s Cabin,” and this book was a best seller that eventually led to support for the Jim Crow laws. Sad and sick, but influential all the same.
 
8
The Grapes of Wrath
John Steinbeck, 1939
 
This novel, which won the 1939 Pulitzer Prize for fiction, was a stunning and powerful novel. This fictional book was based on the real life plight of the poor Midwestern farmers who went into California looking for work, and ended up in slave conditions and tragedy. This book was extremely controversial, and hated in California, but invoked such an outrage that Congress actually passed legislation to help the migrants and their families. This never would have happened without this book, which remains a classic to this day.
 
7
The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass
Frederick Douglass, 1845
 
The full title of this book is “The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave”. This autobiography of Frederick Douglass was printed in 1845 and really opened people’s eyes not only because of the intriguing title, but because Douglass’s exceptional prose, poetic fables, and great writing skill showed what a former slave could aspire to. With this beautiful writing, others realized that the point of view Douglass has was valid, and the fable referring to slavery was too hard to miss.
 
6
Silent Spring
Rachel Carson, 1962
 
This simple yet powerful book caught the attention of millions and was the cry against the loss of our environmental treasures that finally forced Congress to listen and spawned the modern environmental movement. This book caused DDT to be made illegal, and helped save the Bald Eagle, among hundreds and hundreds of other animals.
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有些书因其对艺术的影响而受人推崇，有些书因其确实改变社会而备受瞩目。这里有张书单，上面的10本书彻底改变、塑造了美国社会。因宗教文章过于直白，我已将其排除在外。还等什么，赶快来看看这张书单！
    10

    《草叶集》

    瓦尔特•惠特曼，1855

 这本1855年出版的诗集代表了 美国浪漫主义文学的高峰。惠特曼的这部显赫的史诗著作以其大胆的写作方式改变了艺术和艺术中可被讨论的话题。它为许多问题的讨论打开大门，也为之后一个世纪的避世运动开了先河，其颠覆性值得纪念。

    9

    《同族人》

    小托马斯•狄克逊，1905

可惜的是，不是每本书都会对社会产生好的影响。这本1905年出版的书让3K党成了英雄，还被拍成一部反黑人电影《一个国家的诞生》，美国总统伍德鲁． 威尔逊说：“虽悲惨凄凉却反映真实。”这本书以种族主义者的角度回应了《汤姆叔叔的小屋》，它畅销一时，最终得以使人们支持种族歧视法。此书虽令人悲伤、丧失信心，但影响力却丝毫不减。

   8

   《愤怒的葡萄》

   约翰•斯坦贝克，1939

这部小说精彩而充满力量，于1939年赢得普利策奖。这部小说讲的是一个中西部农民的真实生活中的困境，他到加利福尼亚找工作，却沦落至做苦工的悲剧之中。这本书极具争论性， 在加利福尼亚引起反感，却引起了国会通过立法来帮助移民和他们的家庭的创举。没有这本书，这一切从未发生，直至今天，仍堪称佳作。

    7

    《弗雷德里克道格拉斯的生活》

    弗得瑞克•道格拉斯，1845

这本书的全名为《一个美国黑奴的自传——弗雷德里克道格拉斯的生活》，于1845年印刷出版，是作者本人的自传。它打开了人们的视野，不仅因其有趣的题目，更因为作者用非凡的散文、诗一般的寓言和卓越的写作技巧展示了一个农奴的企盼。优美的文字，让读者意识到作者的观点确有根据。与农奴制相关的故事，不能错过。

    6

    《寂静的春天》

     R.卡逊，1962

这本简单却充满力量的书吸引了百万人的眼光，它高调反对生态环境的破坏，最终迫使国会听取书中观点还引发了现代环境运动；它使DDT非法化，在数百万的各类动物中，挽救了白头鹰——美国国徽的标志。