The benefits of reading are limitless: they can reduce stress, promote happiness, and improve IQ. You should be familiar with the books to read before you die, whether you’ve crossed off some excellent books to read or you’re just starting out to widen your literary horizons.
The best books are considered classics for a reason. These books contain a global theme, engaging characters, experiences, perspectives, and emotions that are still relevant today, thanks to the best literary brains. In many respects, some of the best and most interesting books to read have influenced modern literature.
If you enjoy reading, here is a reading list that includes novels that everyone should read. Here are ten reasons to like reading, even if you aren’t a huge reader.
These 30 novels to read before you die should be read at least once by everyone — some are well-known classics, while others are recent giants. All of these are well worth reading at least once!
1. Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone
Turning the envelope over, his hand trembling, Harry saw a purple wax seal bearing a coat of arms; a lion, an eagle, a badger and a snake surrounding a large letter ‘H’.
Harry Potter has never even heard of Hogwarts when the letters start dropping on the doormat at number four, Privet Drive. Addressed in green ink on yellowish parchment with a purple seal, they are swiftly confiscated by his grisly aunt and uncle. Then, on Harry’s eleventh birthday, a great beetle-eyed giant of a man called Rubeus Hagrid bursts in with some astonishing news: Harry Potter is a wizard, and he has a place at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. An incredible adventure is about to begin!
2. The Lord of the Rings, by J.R.R. Tolkien
Since it was first published in 1954, The Lord of the Rings has been a book people have treasured. Steeped in unrivalled magic and otherworldliness, its sweeping fantasy and epic adventure has touched the hearts of young and old alike. Over 100 million copies of its many editions have been sold around the world, and occasional collectors’ editions become prized and valuable items of publishing.
3. To Kill a Mockingbird
‘Shoot all the bluejays you want, if you can hit ’em, but remember it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird.’
A lawyer’s advice to his children as he defends the real mockingbird of Harper Lee’s classic novel – a black man falsely charged with the rape of a white girl. Through the young eyes of Scout and Jem Finch, Harper Lee explores with exuberant humour the irrationality of adult attitudes to race and class in the Deep South of the 1930s. The conscience of a town steeped in prejudice, violence and hypocrisy is pricked by the stamina of one man’s struggle for justice. But the weight of history will only tolerate so much.
To Kill a Mockingbird is a coming-of-age story, an anti-racist novel, a historical drama of the Great Depression and a sublime example of the Southern writing tradition.
4. The Kite Runner
The #1 New York Times bestselling debut novel that introduced Khaled Hosseini to millions of readers the world over.
The unforgettable, heartbreaking story of the unlikely friendship between a wealthy boy and the son of his father’s servant, caught in the tragic sweep of history, The Kite Runner transports readers to Afghanistan at a tense and crucial moment of change and destruction. A powerful story of friendship, it is also about the power of reading, the price of betrayal, and the possibility of redemption; and an exploration of the power of fathers over sons—their love, their sacrifices, their lies.
Since its publication in 2003 Kite Runner has become a beloved, one-of-a-kind classic of contemporary literature, touching millions of readers, and launching the career of one of America’s most treasured writers.
5. Fahrenheit 451
The plot of this novel is improbable. Books are forbidden here, and Guy Montag’s mission is to burn any that he comes across. This book is frequently likened to George Orwell’s 1984. Here, author Ray Bradbury’s dystopian future might be interpreted as a criticism on Western society’s media addiction and dependence.
6. The Hobbit
You might be wondering, “What should I read next?” Although you may have heard of or seen the film, every Lord of the Rings fan should read The Hobbit. It follows the brave Bilbo Baggins on his quest to defeat a dragon in the harsh Middle Earth.
7. Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott
This book follows four sisters as they grow up in 19th century New England, each with their own distinct personality. As they grow into strong women, you will be able to witness their individual hardships and understand their shortcomings.
8. The Book Thief, by Markus Zusak
This story takes place in Germany in 1939. It follows Liesel as she attempts to save books from the Nazis. At the same time, her family had a Jewish fighter secreted in the basement of their home. When you read this book, you will witness fortitude that is rare in today’s world, as well as friendship that is developed even in the most difficult of circumstances.
9. The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald
The Great Gatsby is one of the most thrilling and heartbreaking novels you will ever read. The novel, which was released in 1925, vividly captures the decadence of the Jazz Age. It will teach you an important lesson: not everyone is lucky in love.
10. The Diary Of A Young Girl, by Anne Frank
The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank is one of the most impactful novels ever published, telling the firsthand narrative of her life as she hides from Nazi forces. Despite the challenges she faces, she remains optimistic that people have decent hearts and that the world is still beautiful. It’s a book that will truly change your life.