30 Must-Read Books Throughout Life

Man Reading A Book
Man Reading A Book / Thierry Monasse/GettyImages

If you love reading, here is the ultimate reading list of books that you don’t want to miss out on. From adventure, fantasy to everything in between, no matter what genre you gravitate to most you are sure to find something you’ll enjoy. 

Charlotte’s Web

A beautiful reminder to love all creatures and marvel at the magic of nature. There is unlimited beauty in the simple things life can offer.

To Kill a Mockingbird

A timeless classic focused on the collective consciousness and human behavior.

Slaughterhouse-Five

Billy Pilgrim is abducted from Tralfamadore and experiences the realities of World War Two.

1984

A dystopian and totalitarian world controlled through fear and lies.

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

Dubbed the Great American Novel, this is an inspiring story of friendship and the challenging of social norms.

Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone

A captivating journey into the wizarding world which challenges the forces of good versus evil through the desires, life lessons, and struggles we all face. 

Frankenstein

A combination of Gothic thriller, romance, and a cautionary tale, Frankenstein is a story that explores what it means to be human

The Lord of the Rings

Embark on a gripping quest to the middle of the earth with many twists and turns along the way.

Alice in Wonderland

The ultimate fantasy proves that the potential of the imagination is endless. Alice embarks on an adventure you wouldn’t soon forget that tests her reality.

The Great Gatsby

This book is as exciting as it is sorrowful, with an inside look into the great era of Jazz.

The Color Purple

An honest look into the lives of women of color during the 1930s in the USA.

Pride and Prejudice

Pride and Prejudice tells the story of the courtship between different social classes.

Wuthering Heights

Wuthering Heights is a book about passion, rivalry, and revenge.

The Diary Of A Young Girl

Anne Franks gives a raw account of her life while hiding from Nazi soldiers.

The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy

Arther Dent embarks on a great adventure across the galaxy.

The Book Thief

The Book Thief shows us how courage and unlikely friendships are born in the face of adversity.

Romeo and Juliet

William Shakespeare's most famous, yet tragic love story.

The Hobbit

Journey to the harsh Middle Earth to fight a dragon.

A Tale of Two Cities

A story of love and sacrifice.

Little Women

The story of four sisters growing up in 19th-century New England.

Of Mice and Men

The complex story of two Californian migrant workers working towards their dreams.

Fahrenheit 451

Bradbury's dystopian world, as reflected by his commentary on drugs and the Western world.

The Kite Runner

While Afghanistan is divided by ethnicity and religion, Kabul loses his only friend and goes to search for him.

Jane Eyre

A hero who emerges unbroken from a repressed Victorian society.

Lord of the Flies

This classic story of a group of boys — marooned on an island — who regress to savages.

Animal Farm

This satire examines the realistic risks of revolution.

The Grapes of Wrath

Set during the great depression, it follows the journey of a family from Oklahoma forced to travel to California.

Gone with the Wind

Set during the American Civil war, the main character navigates how to love during war.

The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe

This fantasy novel is full of interesting creatures and obstacles that challenges what you know to be true.

The Catcher in the Rye

A charming, cynical novel highlighting the challenges of adolescence as the main character explores the depths of New York.