7 Must Read Books Before You Die

There are things you can do, things you should do, and things you have to do in life. These same criteria apply to your decision on which book to read next. For reasons ranging from guilty pleasure to the fact that your books club meets in two days, you could read any number of books.

You should surely read a few classic novels to broaden your literary horizons and learn something new. Then there are the novels you simply must read, perhaps the best literature of all time, regardless of who you are. There are a variety of reasons why books become “must reads,” and it isn’t always due to their literary merit.

1. To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee

Source: LATimes

Harper Lee’s classic is one of those rare perfect novels, which makes it a must-read in and of itself. The storey of a little southern town’s struggle with racism and injustice remains alarmingly present over six decades after publication, owing to the evergreen nature of its fundamental conflicts and plot. It’s also become a must-read because it’s largely regarded as the definitive American novel of the twentieth century.

2. Things Fall Apart, by Chinua Achebe

Source: FARAWAY WORLDS

Before the publication of Things Fall Apart in 1958, there were few novels in English that showed African life from an African perspective. Chinua Achebe’s illuminating work remains a classic of modern African literature, paving the path for innumerable authors subsequently. Drawing on the history and customs passed down to him, Achebe tells the tale Okonkwo, a strong-willed member of a late-19th-century Nigerian village.

As we follow Okonkwo’s story, we get a glimpse of the intricacies of village life and the complex social structures that come into play. We then see the devastating effects of European colonization on the region and on Okonkwo himself, whose rise and fall become intertwined with the changing power dynamics. Things Fall Apart is essential reading for anyone who wants a more nuanced understanding of other ways of life, of culture clashes, of what being civilized really entails.

3. The Great Gatsby, by F Scott Fitzgerald

Source: PopSugar

The Great Gatsby is widely regarded as one of the greatest novels ever written for a reason. Fitzgerald’s portrayal of excess and greed casts doubt on the American Dream, reveals the wealthy’s insincerity, and demonstrates how social class influenced your “success” in the 1920s. Throughout the novel, there are countless symbols and hidden meanings. It’s worth reading a second time (or third, or fourth).

4. The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, by Douglas Adams

Source: PopSugar

Adams’ Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy has become a classic in its own right, parodying nearly every well-worn sci-fi plot technique in existence. A misfortune-stricken hero who strikes it rich? Alien savages hell-bent on destroying the planet? Simple advise (for example, “DON’T PANIC”)? Check, check, check – and a whole lot more. Even non–sci-fi geeks will be charmed by this hilarious and endlessly entertaining read, with (of course) sequels following. – Jen C.

5. Atlas Shrugged, by Ayn Rand

Source: PriceRunner

It is sometimes necessary to read books in order to benefit from the valuable ideas contained therein. It is sometimes necessary to study literature in order to recognise and avoid bad ideas. Atlas Shrugged begs to be read for both of these reasons, depending on the reader, which makes it all the more important. It’s a magnificent jumble of a philosophy wrapped up in a glorious mess of a science fiction tale.

6. Desert Solitaire, by Edward Abbey

Source: GoodReads

Edward Abbey, the iconoclast and raconteur, embodied and adored the American Southwest like no other novelist. Desert Solitaire: A Season in the Wilderness, published over 50 years ago, is an environmental classic. In this autobiographical work, Abbey chronicles his time as a park ranger and reflects on landscape, culture, politics, tourism, environmental disregard, and degradation — doing so with a unique blend of ornery charm and breathtaking description. Though set in his beloved Southwest, Desert Solitaire beautifully and brashly captures the essence of the American outdoors, replete with disdain for those who’d seek to spoil its natural wonder.

7. Invisible Man, by Ralph Ellison

Source: PopSugar

Ellison combines a fluid, compelling writing style with a robust exploration of life as a black man in mid-century America. The unnamed narrator tells his story from his youth in a small Southern town, where he wins a scholarship to college that he can secure only after taking part in a brutal fight for the amusement of rich white sponsors, to his engagement with rising black nationalism and his realization that his color renders him, for all practical purposes, invisible to society at large.

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