The 14 Best Books People Have Ever Read According to Buzzfeed

Choosing the best books ever written is never easy. Every reader has a different favorite that left a lasting impact on them. But when thousands of readers share their opinions online, interesting patterns begin to emerge.

Recently, BuzzFeed compiled a list of the best books people have ever read, based on responses from readers in a viral Reddit discussion. The result is a fascinating collection of 14 novels that readers say changed the way they think about books.

What makes this list especially interesting is the mix of titles. Some are obvious literary classics that have stood the test of time, while others are lesser-known gems that don’t always appear on traditional “best books” lists.

From timeless classics to unforgettable modern stories, these are the books readers say left the biggest impression on them. Keep reading to see the 14 books that people consider the best they have ever read.

The Best Books People Have Ever Read

• East of Eden by John Steinbeck
• She’s Come Undone by Wally Lamb
• Cat’s Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut
• The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas
• White Teeth by Zadie Smith
• The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett
• Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry
• All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque
• To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf
• A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving
• Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls
• The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams
• Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë
• The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls

East of Eden by John Steinbeck

A novel that will appear on many people’s list as one of the best novels has to be East of Eden John Steinbeck. He is considered one of the best American writers for a reason. Steinbeck’s novels are amazing works of literature and this reader agrees.

“Incredible symbolism, amazing writing, and beautiful storytelling. It explores human nature and what it means to be ‘good’, wrote Reddit user Sharp-mindD.

The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas

One of my favorite novels of all time made the list and if you have The Count of Monte Cristo, you will most likely agree. It is a timeless classic that tells a revenge story in a way that you can’t help but get invested in. Few novels age well a few decades later but this novel still is an amazing read a couple of centuries later.

The novel tells the story of Edmond Dantès who has just been named the captain of the ship Pharaon. He plans to propose to his girlfriend but never happens as Edmond is accused of treason and locked up in an island fortress.

After years of imprisonment, Edmond escapes the prison and searches for the hidden treasure that his cellmate hid before getting arrested. Now, with newfound wealth and fame, Dantès seeks to get revenge on the people who falsely accused him and ruined his life.

The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy

Any list that contains The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy is a good list in my opinion. The classic sci-fi novel is hilarious and well-written. It changed how I saw the sci-fi genre and made me a lifelong fan. If you had to read only one sci-fi novel, then this is the one I would recommend.

The title of the novel comes from a book that is carried by Ford Prefect, the protagonist. Ford is an alien researcher traveling around the galaxy to update the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy encyclopedia. It is a book that has information on every planet. Ford saves his friend Arthur Dent when Earth is destroyed to make way for a hyperspace expressway. 

The duo hitch a ride on a spaceship that is heading to Barnard’s Star but are found out by the Vogons who torture them by making them listen to their poetry and throw them out via airlock. They are saved by Ford’s “cousin” and board his spaceship The Heart of Gold. On the spaceship they meet a depressed robot who tells them the meaning of life.

Ford and Arthur journey across the galaxy with their new friends as they visit new planets. They get caught up in life-threatening adventures and learn new things about the galaxy that they never could have imagined. 

Conclusion

These are the 14 books that are the best ever people have read according to Buzzfeed. There’s classics such as East of Eden and To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf as well as more recent novels.

How many of these novels have you read? What do you think of these selections as the best books these readers have ever read? Let us know in the comments below!

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