What Book Is So Good That You Read It At Least Once A Year Or Have Rea

Bonisiwe Shabane

-Nov 2, 2025, 12:29 PM

what book is so good that you read it at least once a year or have rea

A book’s total score is based on multiple factors, including the number of people who have voted for it and how highly those voters ranked the book. To vote on existing books from the list, beside each book there is a link vote for this book clicking it will add that book to your votes. To vote on books not in the list or books you couldn't find in the list, you can click on the tab add books to this list and then choose from your books, or... Welcome back. Just a moment while we sign you in to your Goodreads account. Receive giveaways, book announcements and curated reading lists directly in your inbox.

Harper Lee's Pulitzer Prize-winning masterwork of honor and injustice in the deep South—and the heroism of one man in the face of blind and violent hatred. One of the most cherished stories of all time, To Kill a Mockingbird has been translated into more than forty languages, sold more than forty million copies worldwide, served as the basis for an... A gripping, heart-wrenching, and wholly remarkable tale of coming-of-age in a South poisoned by virulent prejudice, it views a world of great beauty and savage inequities through the eyes of a young girl, as... Written more than 70 years ago, 1984 was George Orwell’s chilling prophecy about the future. And while 1984 has come and gone, his dystopian vision of a government that will do anything to control the narrative is timelier than ever... “The Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears.

It was their final, most essential command.” The wonders of books are endless – they can eliminate your stress, increase your happiness, and boost your intelligence. Whether you’ve crossed out some best books to read or you’re just starting out to broaden your literary horizons, you should be familiar with the books to read before you die. The greatest books are not called classics for nothing. Written by the best literary minds, these books have a universal theme, interesting characters, experiences, perspective, and emotions that are still relevant until today. Some of the ultimate and best interesting books to read have inspired modern fiction in many ways.

If you love reading, here’s a perfect reading list for you that contains books that everyone should read. Even if you are not the biggest fan of reading, here’re 10 reasons to love reading. Everyone should read at least once for these 30 books to read before you die — some are well known classics, others are modern giants. All are well worth reading at least once in your life! We’ve rounded up some of the books that everyone should read below. Some stories stay relevant, no matter how long ago they were written.

They’ve shaped public thought, changed how people understand identity, and challenged long-held beliefs. These titles carry historical, political, and personal weight. Each book on this list has sparked discussion long after its release and continues to be referenced in classrooms, essays, and conversations about meaning, power, and memory. Published in 1960, To Kill a Mockingbird examines racial injustice through a Southern courtroom case set in the 1930s. Atticus Finch defends a Black man accused of assault, while his daughter Scout observes the town’s reaction. To Kill a Mockingbird remains a reference point in conversations about law, race, and character education across generations.

Reading The Divine Comedy means following a guided journey through Hell, Purgatory, and Heaven, structured around moral order and spiritual progression. The poem uses vernacular Italian instead of Latin, which means it’s more accessible to readers outside the elite. Dante combines historical and imagined figures to reflect on justice, power, and personal failings. Calling Don Quixote influential doesn’t quite cover it. Cervantes’ novel laid the groundwork for what a modern story could be. Its impact stretches centuries by shaping fiction, theater, film, and how writers think about character.

You’ll find echoes of it in everything from literary metafiction to satirical comedy, without realizing where the roots begin. Looking for a no-fluff starter canon? This list gathers 30 books everyone should read that shape how we think, feel, and talk to each other—spanning classics, modern must-reads, YA, and children’s favorites. Each pick is spoiler-light with a one-line why-read, plus quick notes where a series reading order matters (and links to our full guides). Skim the TL;DR, pick a lane, and add a few you’ve missed—these are the stories worth reading at least once, and discussing for years. We prioritized books that (1) shape how we see the world, (2) reward re-reading at different ages, and (3) invite discussion.

Use it three ways: as a personal canon, a classroom companion, or a family reading roadmap. When a title is part of a series, we include a short Reading Order Note and (where relevant) point to our detailed guides. Big idea: moral courage and empathy in the face of prejudice.Why read it: Scout’s voice makes heavy themes accessible; Atticus remains a touchstone for integrity.Pairs with: The Hate U Give for a modern dialogue. Big idea: wit, class, and the perils of first impressions.Why read it: it’s sparkling social commentary disguised as a romance; still laugh-out-loud sharp.Tip: annotate for irony—you’ll catch more on a reread. Big idea: hope and humanity during horror.Why read it: a teenager’s unfiltered insight; it personalizes history more than any textbook can. With thousands of incredible titles out there, choosing the best books to read before you die can feel like an impossible task—especially when your reading time is limited.

Whether you’re into mystery novels, romantic stories, motivational books, or classic literature, the struggle is real: so many life-changing books, so little time. If you’re an avid bookworm or just beginning your literary adventure, crafting a personal list of must-read books is an absolute game changer. And honestly? If you haven’t read some of these top rated books, you’re missing out on stories that could completely transform the way you see the world. Recently on AskReddit, someone posed a powerful question: “What’s a book everyone should read at least once in their lives?” The thread blew up with recommendations, and we’ve pulled together the most upvoted answers... From best-selling books that everyone’s talking about to classic novels that have stood the test of time, this curated list is packed with influential books that leave a mark on your heart and mind.

These aren’t just stories—they’re unforgettable experiences. Whether you’re looking for educational reads, inspirational self-help books, or just a good fiction novel to get lost in, this list has something for every type of reader. In honor of Literary Hub’s tenth birthday, we asked over 200 authors, editors, booksellers, publishing professionals, and other literary luminaries to weigh in on a few questions about the past, present, and future of... We will be sharing their opinions on various subjects with you over the next weeks, but to start, we’ve collated some of the best answers on one of our favorite questions: what’s the best... NB that “recently,” in this case, meant the last 25 years (we’re long-term thinkers), and that rather than ask respondents to choose the best book published in the last 25 years, we asked them... Here are some of their responses, which reflect very little consensus—suggesting that books might not be dying in a monotonous, homogeneous heap after all:

James Baldwin’s Giovanni’s Room. It’s a perfect novel, and reads like it could have been published this year. –Kelsey McKinney, author and co-owner at Defector Giovanni’s Room. “I stand at the window of this great house in the south of France as night falls, the night which is leading me to the most terrible morning of my life. I have a drink in my hand, there is a bottle at my elbow.

I watch my reflection in the darkening gleam of the window pane. My reflection is tall, perhaps rather like an arrow, my blond hair gleams. My face is like a face you have seen many times. My ancestors conquered a continent, pushing across death-laden plains, until they came to an ocean which faced away from Europe into a darker past.”

What Book Is So Good That You Read It At Least Once A Year Or Have Rea

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