I recommend reading Ayn Rand and George Orwell as a start. I know Rand gets a lot of vehement criticism but that should tell you something. Even if you don't take the time to read all of her books, as they are quite long, at least familiarize yourself with her ideas.

http://aynrand.org

I was having a conversation over dinner a few weeks ago with an intelligent women in her late 30's. She went to Wesleyan which is a highly regarded university. As our conversation progressed, I realized that she did understand the references that I was making. I queried her about Rand and Orwell only to discover that she has not read a single word of either author. I was truly shocked. No 1984 or Animal Farm! My god!

How do you graduate from AP high school and a top university without having read Orwell?