Would anyone recommend On The Beach by Nevil Shute

[Phauszzie]

Would anybody Recommend this book to a class of high school students? explain why please.

I have read the book, and I myself think it is a good book explaining the dangers of a global nuclear conflict and all, but I'm not sure a high school class would like it.

[pagebypage]

I've read it a couple of times over the years. It is a bit of a dated cold war dystopia but it has its merits because it goes beyond the typical dangers of nuclear war but posits certain annihilation. The issues brought forth from that premise can be explored quite profitably at the high school level: what would you do in your last days?; who would you spend them with (if anyone)?; should you let nature take its course or do you die on your own terms?; does faith matter when there can be no hope? All good stuff. I say read it.

[Richier]

This is one of the most intruiging books I have ever read.
How a community behaves when expecting annihalation of the human race.
For example, tending their gardens one last time while waiting for the deadly dustcloud to reach them.

This could represent the death of an individual, divorce, redundancy etc.

[dfloyd]

It takes much less time and will depress you just as much.

[Dinkleberry2010]

Although On The Beach was written in 1957 at the height of the cold war and is dated in certain aspects, the book transcends its time, and I think it would make an excellent book for a high school class and I think the students would like the book and find it interesting.

A sidenote on this: Both Khrushchev and President Eisenhower had read On The Beach before they had one of their meetings, and the book was discussed by them.

[dfloyd]

For those who keep track of such things, it was Fred Astaire's first non-dancing dramatic role.