1

The Great Gatsby , F. Scott Fitzgerald (1925)

Image: Girl with red hat

Written by F. Scott Fitzgerald, one of the most iconic authors of the so-called "Lost Generation", The Great Gatsby portrays the dark side of the American dream . The protagonist, the mysterious and apparently frivolous millionaire Jay Gatsby, is obsessed with winning back a woman he loved in his youth. Set in the Jazz Age, Fitzgerald’s book raises the contradictions between the power of money and the most intimate individual aspirations.

Published in 1925, The Great Gatsby is one of the greatest masterpieces of American fiction . Since then, it has sold millions of copies all over the world, has had numerous theatrical and film adaptations, and was chosen as the best American novel of the 20th century on several occasions.

2

The Sound and the Fury , William Faulkner (1929)

Image: Brandi Redd

Published in 1929, The Sound and the Fury is William Faulkner's fourth novel and is considered the greatest opus of this Nobel Laureate . It chronicles the decadence of the Compsons, an aristocratic family in the American South, their secrets, and the relationships of love and hate that sustain and destroy them.

The Sound and the Fury is a profound and heartbreaking exploration of decay, despair, and loss . Faulkner's innovative narrative technique, while challenging, allows for an intimate and visceral portrayal of the characters. The novel also addresses issues of race, gender, and class with admirable narrative prowess.

3

The Old Man and the Sea , Ernest Hemingway (1952)

Image: MonicaVolpin

The Old Man and the Sea was the last novel published by Ernest Hemingway during his lifetime. For it, he won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1953 and it undoubtedly contributed to the Nobel Prize for Literature he was awarded in 1954.

The novel tells the story of Santiago, an old and experienced fisherman who embarks on a grueling three-day battle when he finally manages to catch a huge marlin. The Old Man and the Sea is considered one of the masterpieces of universal literature that has captivated readers around the world for decades . Its message about perseverance, dignity, and the search for life’s meaning is still relevant today. The novel is a must-read for anyone interested in literature and human nature.

4

In Cold Blood , Truman Capote (1965)

Image: Brandi Redd

On November 15, 1959, in a small Kansas town called Holcomb, the four members of the Clutter family, a married couple and their two teenage children, were savagely murdered by Dick Hickcock and Perry Smith.

Based on these gruesome events, the American novelist Truman Capote managed to turn around his career as a storyteller by writing In Cold Blood , the novel that definitively established him as one of the great authors of twentieth-century American literature. This book catapulted him as the pioneer of the New Journalism literary movement , a non-fiction genre that became popular in the 1960s for narrating stories based on real events.

5

The Catcher in the Rye , J. D. Salinger (1951)

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The Catcher in the Rye , written by the great J. D. Salinger, is a contemporary novel that has become a classic of modern literature. At the time of its publication in 1951, it provoked numerous controversies for its provocative language and its unabashed portrayal of teenage struggles, such as sexuality, the loss of innocence, and the transition to adulthood.

The Catcher in the Rye could be framed within the Bildungsroman —a literary genre that focuses on the psychological and moral growth of the protagonist. It follows Holden Caulfield, a teenager who, after being expelled from school, gets lost in New York trying to find his way in the world. The novel is rich in symbolism and themes , and the literary style and narrative technique are unique and exceptional.

6

American Pastoral , Philip Roth (1997)

Image: Arno Senoner

Published in 1997, American Pastoral is the novel that earned Philip Roth the Pulitzer Prize and is the first in the well-known "American Trilogy", a series of novels narrated by Nathan Zuckerman, the author's alter ego. With the Vietnam War as a backdrop, this book is a lucid tale that questions American values during the end of the happy sixties.

In American Pastoral we find Roth at his best: deep, intense, incisive, magnificent . His ability to build a universe of complex characters and dig into their psychologies is astounding and overwhelming. Few writers have managed to capture the contradictions of American society as he has done.

7

Beloved , Toni Morrison (1987)

Image: Artis Kančs

Beloved , published in 1987 by Nobel Prize winner Toni Morrison, takes place in the aftermath of the American Civil War . The novel tells the story of an African-American slave, Margaret Garner, who escapes from Kentucky to Ohio, a free state.

Magic realism runs throughout the entire book and manifests through the ghostly presence of Beloved's character. Morrison uses this technique to explore collective memory and the persistence of the past . The novel is considered a masterpiece of contemporary literature and has been acclaimed for its innovative writing style and its exploration of sensitive subjects such as slavery, freedom, identity, and memory.

8

On the Road , Jack Kerouac (1957)

Image: Daria Kraplak

On the Road is a semi-autobiographical novel in which Jack Kerouac recounts a series of trips he made across the United States and Mexico with his friend Neal Cassady. Inspired by his passion for jazz, Kerouac developed the idea of a book that would be a great improvised prose solo . He wrote it on his typewriter on a long, single roll of paper in just three weeks.

A cornerstone of the so-called "Beat Generation," On the Road was published in September 1957, after 6 years of delay due to the publisher's reservations about the explicit contents. At the time, this emblematic book had a major impact, especially on the younger readers of the 60s. Today, On the Road is still considered one of the great American novels of the 20th century for capturing the rebellious spirit of an entire generation.

9

The Heart is a Lonely Hunter , Carson McCullers (1940)

Image: Faith Enck

The Heart is a Lonely Hunter is a literary masterpiece that continues to resonate in the hearts of readers, even though it was published more than 60 years ago. Set in a small southern town, it tells the story of a group of people who have in common the rejection of a society that ignores them.

This is Carson McCullers' first novel, written when she was only twenty-three years old. She masterfully captures the essence of loneliness and the search for human connection in a way that transcends time. With a moving narrative and unforgettable characters, the novel has received critical acclaim and has earned a prominent place in literary history.

10

The Grapes of Wrath , John Steinbeck (1939)

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We couldn't leave The Grapes of Wrath, 1940 Pulitzer Prize winner , out of this list. In this harrowing book, Nobel laureate John Steinbeck narrates the difficult journey of a family of farmers who, beset by hunger and misery, leave the fields of Oklahoma to reach the golden shores of California, the promised land.

First published in 1939, The Grapes of Wrath is a seminal work in American literature that explores the conflict between the rich and the poor and reflects the horrors of the Great Depression with sensitivity and sharp insight. Steinbeck's chronicle of the shameful mistreatment of 1930s families is perhaps the most "American" of all American classics.

1

Hopscotch

Image: MOHAMMADREZA Kr

When we were kids, before computer games and smartphones, we didn’t need much to keep us entertained in the afternoons. Playing hopscotch, for example, required only a piece of chalk and a large enough asphalt area to draw on and jump around.

There are numerous variations, but children have played hopscotch for centuries . The basic principle remains the same: a series of numbered rectangles is outlined on the ground, and the player tosses a pebble into each one in turn. The player then hops through the course without touching the lines, picking up the pebble along the way, and returns—still hopping—to the starting point.

2

Tag

Image: Aleksandar Andreev

Tag is undoubtedly the most famous chasing and catching game of all time. It also serves as the foundation for many other games. This is no coincidence—tag has existed since ancient times, with different versions in civilizations as dissimilar as Greece and India.

In the simplest form of tag, one player tries to tap another player; the tagged player then becomes "it —a.k.a. "the chaser"—and it all starts all over again. Which version was your favorite? Ours was freeze tag!

3

Jump-rope and Double Dutch

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Jumping rope was another childhood favorite, whether on street corners or in school playgrounds. Whether alone or in a group, it kept us entertained for hours. Among the countless variations, Double Dutch—a version in which one or more players jump between two long ropes turning in opposite directions—was probably the most fun and most challenging of all.

The origin of Double Dutch is not entirely clear. Some claim Dutch settlers brought it to America, while others argue it was invented in the early 1900s in the U.S. What is certain is that this game, which combines motor skill training and physical exercise , became so popular that it evolved into a competitive sport with worldwide tournaments.

4

Simon says

Image: Arthur Krijgsman

"Simon says… touch your nose!" Remember these commands? As kids, we could spend hours playing this game, where one player took on the role of "Simon" and gave instructions that the rest of us had to follow to the letter.

Records of this game’s existence in the United States date back to the mid-19th century ; however, its origins may be traced back to ancient Rome. Some historians suggest that the name Simon comes from Simon de Montfort, a 13th-century French-English nobleman who was known for his ability to command authority over his subjects.

5

Hide-and-seek

Image: Annie Spratt

Hide-and-seek is one of the simplest games but, at the same time, one of the most fun when we were children. In this game, one player would close their eyes and count to a certain number while the others searched for a place to hide. The challenge was to find as many hidden players as possible before they reached "home base."

Hide-and-seek, which has different variants worldwide, has been played since ancient times. In fact, historians have discovered a strikingly similar game in ancient Greece called apodidraskinda , which followed rules much like the ones we know today.

6

Hula Hoop contest

Image: Annie Spratt

The hula hoop became popular in the late 1950s when the American toy company Wham-O introduced a plastic version to the market. However, hula hoops have been used by children since ancient times. Over the centuries, they have been made from a variety of materials, including willow, grapevines, rattan, stiff grasses, wood, and metal.

Growing up, most schools had hula hoops available during PE classes. It was the ideal game for young children to have fun and get fit at the same time. Teachers often organized contests in which players twirled the hula hoop around their waist for as long as possible. The winner was the one who kept the hoop spinning the longest before it dropped to the floor.

7

Marco Polo

Image: Library of Congress

This game, which shares its name with the 13th-century Italian explorer, was a summer-exclusive tradition we eagerly anticipated all year long. Many of us still vividly remember our friends, siblings, and cousins shouting "Marco!" and responding "Polo!" as kids.

Played in a swimming pool, Marco Polo is a location-based game in which players must find each other using auditory clues. It became popular in America in the 1960s and is now played worldwide with various adaptations.

8

Musical statues

Image: Robert Collins

Musical Statues, also known as Freeze Dance, is a variation of Musical Chairs that can be played outdoors. It was a popular game at birthday parties and involved running around while music played. When the music stopped, players had to freeze in place. Anyone who moved was instantly out, and the last one remaining won the game.

Musical Statues originated in the United Kingdom, likely in the mid-1950s , when music players became more common in people's homes.

9

Tug of war

Image: RDNE Stock project

Did you know that before the 19th century, the game we now call tug of war was known as French and English ? Tug of war—or rope pulling—is an ancient game , with different versions found in Egypt, Greece, India, China, and Cambodia.

In tug of war, two teams compete in a test of strength and strategy, pulling a rope in opposite directions. Though this game is popular at school events for its mix of teamwork, exercise, and friendly competition, it was once an official sport . In fact, from 1900 to 1920, tug of war was part of the Olympic Games.

10

Dodgeball

Image: Wan San Yip

Dodgeball is another game we used to play in school that is now also considered a sport . In this game, the objective is to eliminate all members of the opposing team by hitting them with thrown balls.

Though it’s now a fun and friendly game, that wasn’t always the case. Dodgeball originated in Africa approximately two hundred years ago. Back then, it was much more dangerous and violent. Instead of using soft balls, participants threw rocks found in nature. Fortunately, in the mid-19th century, an English missionary saw the game and transformed it into a more enjoyable, non-life-threatening activity.

11

Duck, duck, goose!

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You probably haven’t played this game since preschool or kindergarten, and you might have even forgotten about it completely. However, it was one of the most popular games on the playground .

In this traditional children's game, participants sit in a circle, and one is chosen to touch the heads of the others. The player who is "it" goes around saying "duck" until they choose someone and say "goose." Then the chase begins!

12

Scavenger hunt

Image: Nellie Adamyan

This was a more complex game that required much more development and preparation time. But perhaps because of that, it was so appealing to us. Scavenger hunts were so much fun that we still play them as adults, and they remain a popular activity at some universities , for example.

This game, which involves finding specific items from a list, evolved from ancient folk games. The modern version we play today, however, was popularized by American gossip columnist and socialite Elsa Maxwell in New York City during the 1930s .

1

Ancient origins

Image: Ameer Basheer

The Grand Canyon isn’t just old—it’s millions of years older than previously thought. Some rock layers at the bottom date back 1.8 billion years, nearly half the age of Earth itself. While the canyon itself is around 5 to 6 million years old, recent studies suggest parts of it began forming 70 million years ago—during the dinosaur era.

2

Once an ocean floor

Image: Yannis Papanastasopoulos

Long before it was a canyon, this region sat beneath an ancient sea. The Kaibab Limestone, the canyon’s top layer, formed from marine fossils left behind as the waters receded 270 million years ago. The presence of coral, shellfish, and even shark fossils proves the area was once home to a thriving ocean ecosystem.

3

Carved by more than water

Image: Wolfgang Hasselmann

While the Colorado River played a huge role in shaping the canyon, other forces were at work. Volcanic activity, tectonic uplift, and even landslides helped carve out its immense depths. Lava flows from nearby volcanoes poured into the canyon, creating layers of rock that tell the story of violent geological change.

4

The earliest human inhabitants

Image: Russ McCabe

Humans have lived near the Grand Canyon for at least 12,000 years. The earliest known inhabitants were Paleo-Indians, who left behind stone tools and spear points. Later, the Ancestral Puebloans built cliff dwellings and left behind intricate pottery, proving that this seemingly inhospitable land was once home to thriving communities.

5

First European encounter

Image: Antoine Vidal de La Blache

Spanish explorer García López de Cárdenas was the first European to lay eyes on the canyon in 1540. Sent by Francisco Vázquez de Coronado in search of legendary cities of gold, he and his men were shocked by its vastness. They tried to climb down for water but failed, unable to comprehend its sheer scale.

6

Named a national monument

Image: Benjamin Cutting

President Theodore Roosevelt designated the Grand Canyon a national monument in 1908, calling it a place "every American should see." He was instrumental in protecting it from commercial exploitation, setting the stage for its eventual National Park status in 1919.

7

Hidden caves

Image: Russ McCabe

The Grand Canyon contains over 1,000 caves, but fewer than 400 have been explored. Some remain completely untouched, preserving prehistoric fossils and evidence of ancient human life. Today, only one cave is open to the public—Grand Canyon Caverns, located nearby in Arizona.

8

Phantom ranch

Image: Annie Spratt

Built in the 1920s, Phantom Ranch remains one of the most isolated lodges in America. Located at the bottom of the canyon, it’s only accessible by hiking, mule ride, or rafting. Due to high demand, reservations are awarded through a lottery system.

9

America’s first canyon explorer

Image: Alex Moliski

John Wesley Powell led the first recorded expedition through the Grand Canyon in 1869. With one arm lost in the Civil War, he braved the Colorado River’s treacherous rapids in wooden boats. His journey mapped the canyon’s uncharted territory, proving it wasn’t an impassable wasteland but a geological treasure trove.

10

Forgotten civilizations?

Image: Otacilio Maia

In the 1930s, explorer Emery Kolb uncovered a sealed cave in the canyon containing ancient artifacts and human remains. Some speculated it belonged to a lost civilization, but archaeologists determined it was a prehistoric Native American site. The canyon still holds thousands of undiscovered archaeological sites, adding to its mystery and historical significance.