From my early beginnings as a young introvert, the public library has always been a bit of a refuge. Years later, not much has changed, albeit with an additional affinity for endless hours spent scouring second-hand bookstores to add to my ever-growing “to-read” pile.
From one bookworm to another, this column will be underscoring and outlining various literary genres, authors, and recent reads and can serve as an introduction for those unfamiliar with these works, as a refresher for long-time aficionados, and maybe as an inspiration for readers to share their own suggested topics. Do you have a topic that you would like covered in this column? Feel free to contact me for an interview and a feature in an upcoming column.
Who
This week’s column focuses on several topics, namely power, control and corruption throughout the centuries.
What
Some well-known works related to power, control, and corruption include The Prince by Niccolo Machiavelli, Animal Farm by George Orwell, and Macbeth by William Shakespeare.
Where
These works are set throughout the United Kingdom and Italy.
When
These works take place during the 16th, 17th, and 20th centuries.
Why
These topics may be of interest to POLI SCI students, who are studying various forms of government, as well as forms of political power throughout history. In particular, these works may be of interest to students focusing on Political Philosophy. These texts may also be of interest to ENGL students who would like to learn more about the extreme toll that power can take on the individual psyche.
How
AU’s wide range of diverse courses make it easy to study this topic in depth. Courses related to Power, Control, and Corruption are available in a variety of disciplines, including one’s that may fit into your Degree Works. (Always check with an AU counsellor to see if these particular courses fulfill your personal graduation requirements!)
AU students interested in this topic may consider POLI 355: Political Philosophy: Plato to Machiavelli, a senior-level, three-credit course, which “provides an overview of classical political thinking about the best life for humankind and the best ways to live together as a community in which members share similar aspirations.” (Please note that no prerequisites are required for this course).
Students may also be interested in POLI 400: Governance and Leadership, a senior-level, three-credit course, which “provides an overview and theoretical understanding of the common elements and differences that shape leadership in the public, voluntary, and private sectors and the implications of these similarities and differences for the interaction among the three sectors on public policy issues.” (No prerequisites are required for this course). Happy reading!
