[mountainfolk]

Some of these books I have listened to on audio as well as having read. > Witness by Whittaker Chambers for sure. I think his other, less well known book, Cold Friday, is also very good.
Answer As A Man by Taylor Caldwell is as timely as Atlas Shrugged in that history is repeating itself and Caldwell wrote it in 1980. She was a prolific writer and took great pride in the amount of research she did for each book. For fun there is the Miss Julia series by Ann B. Ross and the Amelia Peabody series by Elizabeth Peters.
One that lingers in my mind because it was well researched and gave insight into college students and their campus life is, I Am Charlotte Simmons, by Tom Wolfe. Children would relate to Black Beauty and Beautiful Joe very early on. Good stories and an important introduction to kind treatment of animals.

[mountainfolk]

How could I forget Seven Story Mountain by Thomas Merton? I read it every once in awhile and am now listening to it on tape while walking etc. A must read for college students.

[FreeKeys]

As A Man by Taylor Caldwell is as timely as Atlas Shrugged in that history is repeating itself and Caldwell wrote it in 1980. She was a prolific writer and took great pride in the amount of research she did for each book.

Oh, yes -- you reminded me -- Taylor Caldwell's "A Pillar of Iron" -- based on the life of statesman, orator, dictatorship opponent Marcus Tullius Cicero -- was incredible. Sends chills up my spine just remembering it.