There are so, SO many great books to choose from. Even if you have a specific genre you prefer, picking a book to read next can be overwhelming. The worst bit? So many good books to read but so little time to relish them all. As with many fun activities you want to do in life, so with books, you must prioritize which ones to read first.
If you are an avid reader, you should have a list of books to read before you die. And hopefully, that list is long enough because, buddy, you probably haven’t yet lived the best of it! And if you are just starting your list or willing to add a few more reads, we advise you to look at the most frequent suggestions of books everyone should read at least once. There’s a reason why these written works are granted the title of best books of all time. Some of the best books ever have the capacity to change how one sees the world, and if a book written before you were even born can do that—we deem it a worthy pick on the list. Some time ago, a member of the AskReddit community asked fellow bookworms, “What’s a book everyone should read at least once in their lives?” And Redditors left dozens of suggestions for great books to read that will stick with you for a long time after turning the last page.
We’ve selected some of the most upvoted picks from the thread and compiled them into a list of books that everyone should read at least once. Do you agree with the most popular selections? If so, upvote the ones you have read and would recommend reading to others. Also, are there any other books everyone should read at least once in a lifetime missing from this list? Let us know in the comments!
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#41 The Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald

SasquatchButterpants said:
"I'd add The Great Gatsby. F. Scott Fitzgerald is a literary genius."
"I'd add The Great Gatsby. F. Scott Fitzgerald is a literary genius."
Commenter replied:
"I read that in high school, kind of enjoyed it. Now I'm blown away by the genius of the writing."
"I read that in high school, kind of enjoyed it. Now I'm blown away by the genius of the writing."
9points
#42 The Demon-Haunted World: Science As A Candle In The Dark By Carl Sagan And Ann Druyan

gambit_- said:
"The Demon Haunted World by Carl Sagan."
"The Demon Haunted World by Carl Sagan."
laflavor replied:
"This is criminally underrated in this thread. A book about evidence and how to think and why science works is essential."
"This is criminally underrated in this thread. A book about evidence and how to think and why science works is essential."
9points
#43 Dracula By Bram Stoker

"Dracula. One of the first horror novels to successfully use the readers own imagination and to really build suspense. Told through diaries and accounts from characters within the story rather than an omniscient narrator. I read it in one night."
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9points
#44 Cat's Cradle By Kurt Vonnegut

blbrd30 said:
"I'm putting a vote in for Cat's Cradle. It's my fav."
"I'm putting a vote in for Cat's Cradle. It's my fav."
screeching_janitor replied:
"This book make me hate Vonnegut. I try really hard to like him, but I can't."
"This book make me hate Vonnegut. I try really hard to like him, but I can't."
zcen replied:
"I read and wrote a report on Cat's Cradle at the end of high school. I don't know if it would have pleased Vonnegut but my teacher handed the report back to me and the only thing she wrote on it was 'Did you even read this book?'"
"I read and wrote a report on Cat's Cradle at the end of high school. I don't know if it would have pleased Vonnegut but my teacher handed the report back to me and the only thing she wrote on it was 'Did you even read this book?'"
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8points
#45 The Name Of The Wind By Patrick Rothfuss

Colorado-Pineapples said:
"Name of the Wind - Patrick Rothfuss."
"Name of the Wind - Patrick Rothfuss."
EclecticDreck replied:
"It was the book that somehow planted a seed in my head that suggested I could write stuff. It wasn't that it made me think I could do better - far from it - just that maybe I could.
"It was the book that somehow planted a seed in my head that suggested I could write stuff. It wasn't that it made me think I could do better - far from it - just that maybe I could.
Then, I did write a book and am on a second.
I love the book and the man inspired me to write. That's enough to buy him another year for the third book, I think."
The_Guber replied:
"This book got me back into reading so +1 on this."
"This book got me back into reading so +1 on this."
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8points
#46 Johnny Got His Gun By Dalton Trumbo

_AskMyMom_ said:
"Johnny’s Got His Gun. It’s so intense, but it’s so good.
"Johnny’s Got His Gun. It’s so intense, but it’s so good.
Metallica’s song One is based off this book. Guy has his arms and legs blown off, goes blind and deaf, and is left to live like that. I only read it once, but it’s forever engrained into my memory. It hits you like a freight train."
WeightyToastmaster replied:
"Yes! I was gonna comment with this book but wanted to see if anyone had already put it. It’s a great read and I have had to stop myself reading it several times because of how intense it gets. It really makes you think about life, war, and so many other things. It really messes with your mind. I believe all public officials should read the book as well."
"Yes! I was gonna comment with this book but wanted to see if anyone had already put it. It’s a great read and I have had to stop myself reading it several times because of how intense it gets. It really makes you think about life, war, and so many other things. It really messes with your mind. I believe all public officials should read the book as well."
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8points
#47 The Westing Game By Ellen Raskin

schroedingersnewcat said:
"The Westing Game."
"The Westing Game."
Commenter replied:
"Love love love this book! No one has ever heard of it when I mention it!"
"Love love love this book! No one has ever heard of it when I mention it!"
DFRacing98 replied:
"Read this book in 5th grade, loved it. Constantly kept guessing."
"Read this book in 5th grade, loved it. Constantly kept guessing."
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8points
#48 House Of Leaves By Mark Z. Danielewski

roflspammer said:
"House of Leaves by Danielewski. Amazing, intricate, arousing at times and generally deep."
"House of Leaves by Danielewski. Amazing, intricate, arousing at times and generally deep."
timeiscoming replied:
"This is a great answer, unfortunately, I'd imagine its greatest strengths (complexity and allegorical merits) are also the reasons why it's super inaccessible to casual fiction readers."
"This is a great answer, unfortunately, I'd imagine its greatest strengths (complexity and allegorical merits) are also the reasons why it's super inaccessible to casual fiction readers."
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7points
#49 The Things They Carried By Tim O'Brien

"The Things They Carried... The first time I ever cried while reading a book. What an emotional experience that book was."
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7points
#50 The Last Unicorn By Peter S. Beagle

SeaLemons2300 said:
"May sound weird but I really enjoyed 'The Last Unicorn' by Peter S Beagle."
"May sound weird but I really enjoyed 'The Last Unicorn' by Peter S Beagle."
Eternaltuesday replied:
"I just commented this book as well. It is absolutely magical, and really stands apart from other fantasy literature."
"I just commented this book as well. It is absolutely magical, and really stands apart from other fantasy literature."
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7points
#51 How To Tell If Your Cat Is Plotting To Kill You Bymatthew Inman

Ray_Catty said:
"'How to Tell If Your Cat Is Plotting to Kill You.'
"'How to Tell If Your Cat Is Plotting to Kill You.'
Yes it's a real book."
dr4gonr1der replied:
"That reminds me of another book: how to live with the neurotic cat.
"That reminds me of another book: how to live with the neurotic cat.
Again, that’s it’s real name, and if you like how to tell if your cart is plotting to kill you, you’ll probably like that one also."
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7points
#52 Siddhartha By Hermann Hesse

Ok-Bullfrog-3010 said:
"Siddhartha, Hermann Hesse."
"Siddhartha, Hermann Hesse."
Paddle14 replied:
"I feel it takes you on a very relatable journey from young to old. We are all the heroes of our own stories but really just in the search of what is the point of all this."
"I feel it takes you on a very relatable journey from young to old. We are all the heroes of our own stories but really just in the search of what is the point of all this."
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7points
#53 The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress By Robert A. Heinlein

"I learned English at the age of 22. I love reading books that most English speaking people have read during their school days. It helps me understand the western culture, people's thinking and most importantly all the references in art. The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress would be my suggestion."
6points
#54 Faust By Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

BBPP20 said:
"Faust by Goethe."
"Faust by Goethe."
morosophi replied:
"Goethe's Faust is ok, but it's too positive for my taste. For a more classic dark tale, I recommended Thomas Mann's Doctor Faustus."
"Goethe's Faust is ok, but it's too positive for my taste. For a more classic dark tale, I recommended Thomas Mann's Doctor Faustus."
docvs replied:
"Yes, this is an absolute MUST for everyone at some point in their lives!"
"Yes, this is an absolute MUST for everyone at some point in their lives!"
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6points
#55 Germinal By Émile Zola

charmingtaintman51 said:
"Germinal by Emile Zola."
"Germinal by Emile Zola."
TofuBurgerGoodFood replied:
"Absolutely beautiful book, really changed my mind on the power of literature to tell a powerful, human message."
"Absolutely beautiful book, really changed my mind on the power of literature to tell a powerful, human message."
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6points
#56 A Clockwork Orange By Anthony Burgess

Lurtle7 said:
"A Clockwork Orange."
"A Clockwork Orange."
Commenter replied:
"I am reading A Clockwork Orange right now for a book report. Literally need urban dictionary open all the time to decipher all the British slang.
"I am reading A Clockwork Orange right now for a book report. Literally need urban dictionary open all the time to decipher all the British slang.
But don't get me wrong its a f*cken great book so far."
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6points
#57 We Need To Talk About Kevin By Lionel Shriver

Waffle2121 said:
"We Need To Talk About Kevin. An amazing (and disturbing) look at one mother's relationship (negative and positive) with her son."
"We Need To Talk About Kevin. An amazing (and disturbing) look at one mother's relationship (negative and positive) with her son."
cats4lyfbanana replied:
"I got like 4 chapters in and then felt so sad and useless about life I gave up.. I did watch the film a while later, but I’m very impressed with anyone who makes it through the whole book! Did you feel okay about life afterwards? If anything it really made me worry about having children in the future!"
"I got like 4 chapters in and then felt so sad and useless about life I gave up.. I did watch the film a while later, but I’m very impressed with anyone who makes it through the whole book! Did you feel okay about life afterwards? If anything it really made me worry about having children in the future!"
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6points
#58 Tropic Of Cancer By Henry Miller

bunchedupwalrus said:
"Tropic of Cancer by Henry Miller.
"Tropic of Cancer by Henry Miller.
Has to be on that list, there's nothing else like it."
mumfywest replied:
"I can remember so much about my life at the point that I read Cancer. Like the book cemented every insanity happening irl in the same way the book slaps it all out there, open. I'd love to have that sort of convergence with a book and a point in my life again."
"I can remember so much about my life at the point that I read Cancer. Like the book cemented every insanity happening irl in the same way the book slaps it all out there, open. I'd love to have that sort of convergence with a book and a point in my life again."
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5points
#59 Infinite Jest By David Foster Wallace

Tehgnarr said: "Missing "Infinite Jest". I was born in Russia, I read Tolstoi, Dostojewski and such in school, I love literature... and I am pretty sure that "Infinite Jest" is the modern masterpiece." Commenter replied: "I think Infinite Jest suffers from having a sort of literary hipster culture surrounding it. It may be a wonderful book, but sometimes the ways in which people go on about it make them seem like the worst kind of book snobs, and it can turn people of reading it before they've even given it a chance. People I talk to about it seem split 50/50. They either herald it as a monument of 20th century literature and stress how you have to read it omg, or they go the complete opposite direction and say it's a piece of long-winded trash that isn't worth the effort."
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5points
#60 The Brothers Karamazov By Fyodor Dostoevsky

ghostofcrilly said:
"The Brothers Karamazov by Dostoyevsky. In Slaughterhouse 5 Vonnegut said it could teach everything that we needed to know about life, except that wasn't enough anymore..."
"The Brothers Karamazov by Dostoyevsky. In Slaughterhouse 5 Vonnegut said it could teach everything that we needed to know about life, except that wasn't enough anymore..."
Reneeisme replied:
"If the only thing that book did was make you marvel at how people centuries and oceans removed from you in time and place, could experience the exact same emotions about life as you did, it would be worth the read. There's so much more to it, but Dostoyevsky had such a knack for digging deep into universal human experience. And it's just a hell of a good story too."
"If the only thing that book did was make you marvel at how people centuries and oceans removed from you in time and place, could experience the exact same emotions about life as you did, it would be worth the read. There's so much more to it, but Dostoyevsky had such a knack for digging deep into universal human experience. And it's just a hell of a good story too."
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5points


