70 Books Everyone Should Read At Least Once, As Shared By People In This Online Thread
#11 A Short History Of Nearly Everything By Bill Bryson
sewmuchmarish said:
“A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson.”
thebohomama replied:
“Bill Bryson is such an engaging writer. I can’t get enough of his travel books.”
#12 Flowers For Algernon By Daniel Keyes
1ShadowStar1 said:
“Flowers for Algernon is truly a great book. I borrowed it from the library and enjoyed it so much I bought it and I’m not one to reread books. So many great life lessons in it.”
heresybob replied:
“Ugh, makes me cry horribly.”
#13 The Picture Of Dorian Gray By Oscar Wilde
raptor_mkii said:
“The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde! His plays are great too if you’re looking for less serious and lighter reads.”
Foreigner4ever replied:
“I had to read this in high school and had the same experience with it as with pretty much every other ‘classic’ they made us read. Hated it when reading it, but after it’s over I appreciated it and still think of it years later.”
#14 Lord Of The Flies By William Golding
tropiqz said:
“Lord of the Flies – William Golding.”
entroyfan2 replied:
“When I came to the USA I started 9th grade. My English was not good, had a thick accent, and culture shock. My peers used to make fun of me a lot so I threw my self into books. My first English through read was the Lord of the flies. It was a mind f*ck.”
Tim_Buk2 replied:
“I hated this book – it was part of the school study list when I was 13 and still part of the school study list in the UK 30 years later when my kids did it.
It probably kick-started my misanthropy.”
#15 American Gods By Neil Gaiman
Grogslog said:
“American Gods by Neil Gaiman.”
knighttim replied:
“Not bad, but personally I enjoyed Neverwhere more.”
#16 Man’s Search For Meaning By Viktor E. Frankl
ionhazmat said:
“Man’s search for meaning – Viktor Frankl.”
Commenter replied:
“When I was 17, I was hospitalized in a psychiatric ward for the first time. My boss, from a fast food joint called Harvey’s (it’s Canadian, great food, 20 years later I still run into her outside of the restaurant!) got my call saying I’d need a couple weeks off, and I trusted her enough to tell her where I was.
Half hour later she shows up with 2 books, that being 1 of them. I read it that night. I still have it. It is a great book, it really helped. I read it a few times over my 3 week stay, and I had brought a lot of books and we had a library. It was just good, and inspiring.
She also gave everyone gift cards to the restaurant. She was great. She visited a few times. Thank you, Anne.”
#17 The Giver By Lois Lowry
hisamsmith said:
“The Giver- that book made my 9-10 year old mind really think about what was important in society. It was the first time the idea of ‘good’ things having a negative consequence was presented to me. I think what makes it work is that we are learning how this whole society really works along side a character who has lived in it his whole life. As the facade of the utopian society begins to fall away to show devastating consequences of the ‘perfect life and society’ the reader not only feels their shock but the main character’s shock. This was a book I read in school 4 times- once in 5th grade and once in 10th for English and then in both high school and college sociology classes. This book written for 9-13 year olds made for great discussions.”
tommyleepasta replied:
“Fun fact, The Giver was written by a woman who was from a military family going to department of defense schools, but she was on these bases during the Cold War. The theme of the book itself is very anti-communist because of her early life environment.”
#18 Of Mice And Men By John Steinbeck
TheBrassDancer said:
“Going to suggest Of Mice And Men by John Steinbeck. A real eye-opener about how grim the Great Depression was.”
Mackteague replied:
“I would have loved this book if I didn’t have to analyse it to hell in school.”
#19 Catch-22 By Joseph Heller
NostalgiaRocks said:
“Catch 22 is one of those books that’s been recommended to me for easily 7+ years and that I have been meaning to read, but the idea of not actively reading it with somebody so we can discuss it as we experience it together frustrates me. I should find a little book club or something to read that with, because I want it to be fresh in people’s minds when we talk about it.”
RutCry replied:
“Do it. Read this book. Drop what you are doing and go get it now. The fact that you are reading this list at all is enough evidence that you will be hooked within the first few paragraphs. You will regret turning the last page because the journey through it will have come to an end. Read. This. Book!”
#20 Cosmos By Carl Sagan
MasterbeaterPi said:
“Cosmos by Carl Sagan. I know it’s an adaption of a television show but it is the history of science.”
kadyrovs_cat replied:
“Read this about two years ago and still remember the lessons it taught me to this day. Absolutely fantastic read and incredibly educational. Highly recommend to everyone.”