The Ultimate Reading List: 11 Books Worth Having
Published by Verniel Cutar, April 30, 2009
The following books are worth adding to your bookshelf. It’s a mix of fiction and non fiction, but they’re all good.
- To Kill A Mockingbird (by Harper Lee) – This is the Pulitzer Prize winning novel in 1960, set as a courtroom drama in which the main character is Scout Finch, the daughter of a town defense attorney. It is a story about coming of age, justice, and social equality.
- The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (by Mark Twain) - Some of you may laugh that I included this. No matter what people may say, the character of Tom Sawyer embodies the American dream. He represents freedom, childlikeness, and a never ending quest for adventure and discovery. Every person growing up should have read this at some point in their lives.
- The Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn (by Mark Twain) – Of course, I wouldn’t stop until I include the sequel to Tom Sawyer. Many say that Tom Sawyer is the “Iliad” of American literature, and Hucklebery Finn is the “Odyssey”. Well, that’s certainly not a bad comparison.
- The Catcher In The Rye (JD Salinger) – This story earned the proud honor of being the last book that Kurt Cobain read before he committed suicide. I’m not sure if that’s truly an “honor”, but this book has a cult following among young people decades ago…and until today (of course, those young people decades ago are now old, so at present, the book has also become popular among older people. Makes sense?).
- The Communist Manifesto (by Karl Marx) – I can hear you saying, “What?”. Before you think I have become a communist, don’t worry. This book was included in this list because it deserves to be read. I don’t agree with the political views expounded in the book, but it pays to have a knowledge about the ideas and concepts which has so strongly impacted history and caused the loss of countless lives.
- The Prince (by Niccolo Machiavelli) – This book stands as the most widely read treatise about politics and how to govern a state. It shows that a leader must be ruthless, merciless, clever and strong in order to lead a state.
- The Little Prince (by Antoine de Saint Exupery) – Although the author died in World War II, his novel stood the test of time. When you read it, it’s similar to a nursery book. But make no mistake…its literary message was one of the strongest and most powerful ever published.
- Les Miserables (by Victor Hugo) – If you want a long, fulfilling and fascinating reading experience, read this novel. Many years ago, I read the unabridged English translation of this novel during a long period of house confinement. It was one of the most fulfilling reading experiences I’ve ever had. Hands down. Period.
- Pride and Prejudice (by Jane Austen) - This novel is filled with timeless truths about family, society, finding a partner in life, and marriage. The author implies that all people have selfish reasons in choosing a wife or husband, and love is not the ultimate, sole reason for marriage in the real world.
- Sophie’s World (by Joesten Gaarder) – If you slept through your philosophy class in college, then this book may just change that. The author produced a novel designed to showcase the history of phisolophy and the key people which have contributed great ideas to mankind. Beautifully interwoven with a mysterious and thought provoking story, this novel became published in different languages and has entertained many readers around the world.
- The Greatest Salesman In The World (by Og Mandino) – This novel shows Hafid’s quest to riches, from being a humble camel boy to becoming the owner of the ancient world’s largest trade empire. Inspiring and entertaining to the fullest extent, this novel will rekindle your fire for achievement and desire for success.
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Great article and I agree these are ten books worthy to add to your library or shelf. P.S. May want to make that 11 though,It’s coming soon. lol
great books, i might at least buy one if not all of these one day,i still have to finish reading the Bible
I think I have read everyone of these, you are right all are wonderful books. Great article.
I had grabbed all of these, only to finish ‘The Catcher in the Rye”. I will definitely get at back at them. I guess you can make it twenty, including the works of Dostoevsky, Tolstoy and Falkner.
These are all really good books, and worth reading as well. But To Kill a Mockingbird isn’t really about any of the things you stated it as being about. The book’s really centered around the story of how Jem (the main character’s older brother) broke his arm, and the events leading up to it. She (Scout) states that at the beginning of the book.
Excellent stuff.
i’ve read the great salesman in the world. really inspiring.tnx for this post.
Any high school English class has these books as required reading. Have YOU read all of them?
Wow .. Good info
Yippee!I have read everything except 10 and 11! Great idea for an an article and a very good collection:)
@mastergee –> of course, that’s what the story is about from Scout’s point of view (in which the novel is written in the first person). Scout remembers the details that led to Jem’s injury. Jem’s accident was only used as a vantage point to tell the ACTUAL story that the author wants to tell. Scout is limited to the things that she sees…Jem, Boo radley, the town trial..but remember, as a little child, her understanding is limited. Therefore, the author performs the DEEPER storytelling, not Scout. This is not just a story about Jem’s accident, because that would have been a very shallow excuse for a book. Harper Lee wanted to tell a story about a little girl’s coming of age, social justice and equality. To sum up, Atticus told Scout in the final chapter: “Most people are nice, Scout, when you finally see them”.
Sorry for the long explanation. This is one of my favorite books. I couldn’t stand it being perceived as merely a story of how a young boy broke his arm.
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Good day!
ive read half of those!
I have read four of the above-mentioned books. They are “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer,” “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn,” “The Little Prince” and “The Greatest Salesman in the World.” All great books.
nice collection of books…
Another set of books that I am going to have to dig into.
I have wanted to read most of these books, but only read a few. I should like to read them all. Very good list.
I can’t let you get by without mentioning “The Lord of the Flies,”
“Catcher in the Rye” is at the top of my list as the single worst book I have ever read in my whole life. I had to read it in high school over 30 years ago. It is a miserable little piece and has no redeeming qualities. Number two on my worst list is “The Bone People” by Keri Hume.
I’ve read a few books on your list. My only other comment is that “Sophie’s World” seemed, ultimately, a bit shallow. But I don’t know – it was read perhaps 12 years ago while I lived in the Himalayas, a period somewhat like Thoreau’s Walden experiment.
You could add Somerset Maugham’s “The Razor’s Edge” to your list!
Thanks for listening