Top 30 Must-Read Books for Every Bibliophile

There are a lot of amazing books to read but reading all of them will require a lot of time. That is why you should start right now. You can get started with this list of 30 books to read before you die!    

This list includes only 30 books which means we had to make a lot of tough choices. Some must reads may just have missed out but may make a future list. With so many amazing books out there, some were going to get the short end of the stick.  

We know choosing your next read isn’t always easy. That is why many of us stick with our favorite authors because we know what to expect. Taking risks is how we discover our new favorite book and authors. You can see the full list below!  

30 Books to Read Before You Die!    

• 1984 by George Orwell
• Beloved by Toni Morrison
• The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
• Catch-22 by Joseph Heller
• The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
• To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
• The Color Purple by Alice Walker
• The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas
• Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoyevsky
• The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood
• A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith
• The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead
• All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
• The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
• The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
• I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
• Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
• Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
• Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte
• The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams
•  The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien  
• Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte  
• The Secret History by Donna Tartt  
• Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep by Philip K Dick  
• Watership Down by Richard Adams  
• Dune by Frank Herbert
• The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald  
• Frankenstein by Mary Shelley  
• Ender’s Game (Ender’s Saga, #1) by Orson Scott Card 
• Lord of the Flies by William Golding  

1984

A sci-fi novel that has risen to popularity in modern times is 1984 by George Orwell. The novel touches on issues such as mass surveillance, a controlling regime, and disinformation. When some ideas in this sci-fi and dystopian novel came true, people’s interest in the novel rose.

Whenever I think of 1984, I can’t help but compare to Edward Snowden. His decision to tell the world that the NSA was spying on its citizens made many people realize how true 1984 was. And there are man countries that take it a step further.

The Catcher in the Rye

A classic novel that readers see to either love or hate is The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger. After revisiting this novel, I do believe it deserves the recognition it has gotten over the decades. With so much change since this novel was released, you may think it may be outdated but that is not true.

There is a lot to take away from this novel and it tackles themes that many people can relate to. It captures childhood innocence brilliantly and what it means to grow up. If you haven’t read this novel, then you need to as soon as possible.

The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy

A novel that I loved on this list is The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams. It is going to make you laugh throughout the series and there is never a dull moment. Whatever ideas of sci-fi you have, you need to throw it out the window. Adams understands humor and has written a series that has influenced a bunch of author and people to look at this genre through a different lense.

The Handmaid’s Tale

Even if you aren’t an avid book reader, there is a good chance you read The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood. It is taught in most schools across the United States.

The brilliant dystopian novel tackles heavy themes which has made it one of the most censored books in the world. The TV adaptation has introduced it to new readers, helping make this novel relevant once again.

The Lord of the Rings

The Lord of the Rings series is a fantasy series that everyone should read at least once. Not only is it a classic series, but it has inspired hundreds of books. Once you read it, you will notice similarities in many novels and know the origins of it.

If you read the LOTR series, then the prequel The Hobbit is also a must.  The series and prequel are a fun adventure novel that will transport you to a beautiful fantasy world. Tolkien made hobbits famous and his novels helped shape the fantasy genre to what it is today.

Frankenstein

If you like horror novels, then you will love Frankenstein. It is worth reading the novel that many consider the first sci-fi novel and a novel that asks philosophical questions that readers are still thinking about to this day.

Even over two centuries after the novel was published, it is still a great read. The monster created by Dr. Frankenstein lives to this day in many people’s mind. And it is also a great philosophical novel as well.

Ender’s Game

A classic sci-fi novel that is beloved by millions of reader’s is Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card. The novel is about a Andrew “Ender” Wiggin, a six-year-old boy who is sent to training camp to play simulated war games where he faces off against aliens. The plot, writing and questions about morality make this a novel unlike any other.

Conclusion

That is all for this list of the top 30 must-read books for every bibliophile. The list includes classics and novels that critics and avid readers love. There is a good chance that you have read many of then. But if you haven’t, then this list will surely help.

Ultimately, I wanted to share some of the best books written in my opinion. Novels like these are why I love reading. I wish I could read these novels for the first time again.

How many of these books have you read? What books should we include in our next list? Let us know in the comments below. Until next time, happy reading!

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