Are historical books relevant in classrooms?

Why do we read books like The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald which was written almost a century ago in a completely different societal environment? What relevance do these stories have to our modern lives? I think that the book is just as relevant today as it was when it was published. The Great Gatsby explores themes such as “the American dream" and the structure of society. These topics still affect us today. As we see throughout the book, Gatsby's "American dream" is to be wed to Daisy. While Gatsby may have fulfilled one of his dreams to become rich, it means little to him if he cannot have the love of his life: Daisy. “He wanted nothing less of Daisy than that she should go to Tom and say: ‘I never loved you.’” (109) Looking at the societal structure in the book and comparing it to the current state of America, we can see how society has degraded over time. While Gatsby did throw extravagant parties and was quite a step up above the common man at the time, the divide today between the richest Americans and average Americans has grown exponentially. According to CNBC, the top 1% in the US make up over 30% of the nation's total wealth. I think we should continue to be reading books like these not just to get a better grasp of the changing times or to understand more timeless ideals but to educate ourselves on morals as well. Looking at the past, it is so easy to point fingers and say "this is wrong" but wouldn't generations in the future do the same to us? Reading historical books gives us a sense of perspective that cannot be achieved by looking at newer works.