Books that Everyone Should Read
October 22nd, 2011There are thousands of good books out there, and hundreds of great ones, but there are some books that everyone should read. The question is which ones? Everyone has their own list of ‘must read’ books. For me, these are the books that everyone should read.
The Holy Bible. Whatever you may think of religion in general and Christianity in particular, there is no single work of literature which has had a bigger impact on Western civilization than the Bible. For 2000 years, it has influenced art, philosophy, politics, social dynamics, science, sexuality, and legality. People have used it to start wars, encourage reform, promote philanthropy, and justify the evils of slavery. They are still doing so.
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The Quran is to Islam what the Bible is to Christianity. It has had at least as large an impact on the Arabic world as the Bible has had on Western civilization.
The Illiad and The Odyssey, both by Homer, were among the greatest works of Greek literature, and have continued to influence Western civilization. For literally centuries, a person was not considered properly educated without at least a passing familiarity with these two works. Even now, it is a common feature on high school reading lists throughout the United States and much of Europe.
Any of Mark Twain’s work must be included on the list of books that everyone should read
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain. While Twain’s Tom Sawyer introduced the character of Huckleberry Finn, in his own book, Huck shines brighter than Tom has a chance to. And the depth of social commentary is far greater than in Tom Sawyer. In turns cynical, funny, sarcastic and touching, Huckleberry Finn is Twain’s masterpiece.
Hamlet by William Shakespeare is one of the great tragedies of the English language, but also worthy of consideration are Romeo and Juliet, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and Macbeth. Shakespeare has the distinction of being one of the most quoted authors in the history of the English language, almost as quoted (and misquoted) as the Bible itself.
To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee is very much a product of its time and place. An intense exploration of racial inequality and a loss of innocence leavened by humor, it is perhaps the best representation of the American South during the 1930s in literature. At the same time, it has universal themes of courage, compassion and class differences that lend it appeal and relevancy far from the Mason-Dixon Line.
Books that everyone should read: The world of Frodo, Gandalf, Aragorn, Legolas …
The Lord of the Rings Trilogy by J. R. R. Tolkien. Considered the Father of Modern Fantasy, Tolkien created a world of fantastical creatures and high heroism reminiscent of the ancient Nordic epics that he was familiar with as a professor of literature. His work has influenced virtually every fantasy writer (and many non-fantasy writers) since the publication of The Lord of the Rings in 1954.
Gone With The Wind by Margaret Mitchell is perhaps the prime example of Southern Romanticism, full of the graces of the Antebellum South and blissfully oblivious to the racial issues of that time. It was populated with many vividly-drawn characters, full of historical details and a protagonist who’s one of the classic characters in literary history.
The Old Man and The Sea by Ernest Hemingway is an epic tale of man against nature. By far the most spiritual of his novels, its depiction of the epic struggle between the old fisherman Santiago and the marlin which hauled him out to sea for days has been criticized as unrealistic. The bond that Santiago feels with his fish, and the realistic depiction of his suffering as Santiago strives to bring his fish in is one of the primary reasons for the book’s enduring appeal.
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley is not what the movies would have you believe. Far from being a shambling, stupid monster, the creation of Victor von Frankenstein is intelligent, compassionate, and innocent until Frankenstein’s mistreatment embitters him. It leaves you questioning who the true monster is in the novel – Dr. Frankenstein, or his creation?
Charlotte’s Web by E. B. White may be a children’s novel, but it is far from childish. There are little references scattered throughout the story that children are likely to miss but adults can enjoy, while the plotline is enough to make a person consider vegetarianism, with the likeable Wilbur under constant threat of being killed for meat until Charlotte comes up with the scheme to save him by writing his praises in her web.
The Color Purple by Alice Walker was one of the first books that depicts the life of a poor rural African-American woman in a realistic way, and it made Walker’s reputation as a writer and feminist. She pulled no punches, and wasn’t afraid to confront such topics as sexuality, race relationships, incest and gender relations.
Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll is surrealist, fantastical and full of symbolism and logic games. There is a delight in playing with words and in wild flights of fancy that fit in perfectly with the protagonist being a young and imaginative girl.
The Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum begins when young Dorothy Gale is lifted from her humdrum, colorless life on a Kansas farm into a colorful world of magic and danger. From her first appearance in Oz as she emerges from her house, which has landed on the Wicked Witch of the East, killing her, Dorothy is under threat from the Wicked Witch of the East’s sister, the Wicked Witch of the West. Dorothy, meanwhile, wants nothing more than to return to the same dull existence that she had hated so, never realizing that the means of her return is as close as her own feet.
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Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck is set in the Great Depression, and follows the travels of farm laborers George Milton and Lennie Smalls on their quest to buy their own property. Despite the fact that Lennie is far larger and stronger than George, it is George who acts as the mentally disabled Lennie’s protector and the guide along their path towards their dream of having their own farm.
There are, of course, many other books that are worthy of being included on this list. These are my choices of books that everyone should read, what are yours?
