100 books to read before you die

Is it impossible to read 100 books before you die? Reading is a great way to gain knowledge and broaden your views from home. Here’s a list of books you should read before you die to get you started.

A Comprehensive Guide

Here is a curated list of 100 books that are considered classics, influential, or simply a must-read. Delve into these literary masterpieces, and enrich your reading journey before you bid farewell to this mortal coil.

Best Books in different categories

The list includes various genres. These include fiction, non-fiction, and science fiction & fantasy. They also cover mystery & thriller, classic literature, and poetry. The list includes biography & memoir, philosophy, and historical accounts.

Best 100 Books of all time

Some notable books on the list include “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee. “1984” by George Orwell is another significant book. “Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind” by Yuval Noah Harari is included as well. “The Lord of the Rings” by J.R.R. Tolkien also features on the list. “The Diary of a Young Girl” by Anne Frank is among many others.

What are your Best Books

Compiling a definitive list of the “best” 100 books to read before you die is impossible. Still, there are several highly regarded titles that have stood the test of time. These literary works span various genres and offer unique perspectives on the human experience.

Fiction

Fiction enthusiasts will find classics like “Pride and Prejudice” by Jane Austen. They will also enjoy “Moby Dick” by Herman Melville and “The Great Gatsby” by F. Scott Fitzgerald. These novels transport readers to different eras and explore themes of love, ambition, and societal dynamics.

1. “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee
2. “1984” by George Orwell
3. “Pride and Prejudice” by Jane Austen
4. “The Great Gatsby” by F. Scott Fitzgerald
5. “Brave New World” by Aldous Huxley
6. “Moby-Dick” by Herman Melville
7. “The Catcher in the Rye” by J.D. Salinger
8. “One Hundred Years of Solitude” by Gabriel García Márquez
9. “War and Peace” by Leo Tolstoy
10. “The Lord of the Rings” by J.R.R. Tolkien

Non-Fiction

“The Diary of a Young Girl” by Anne Frank provides a personal look into a Jewish teenager’s life. This is for those who prefer non-fiction. This takes place during World War II. “Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind” by Yuval Noah Harari offers an insightful analysis of human history. The book explores our place in the world.

11. “Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind” by Yuval Noah Harari
12. “The Diary of a Young Girl” by Anne Frank
13. “The Power of Now” by Eckhart Tolle
14. “Man’s Search for Meaning” by Viktor E. Frankl
15. “The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks” by Rebecca Skloot
16. “Thinking, Fast and Slow” by Daniel Kahneman
17. “Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies” by Jared Diamond
18. “The Feminine Mystique” by Betty Friedan
19. “The Art of War” by Sun Tzu
20. “In Cold Blood” by Truman Capote

Science Fiction & Fantasy

Science fiction and fantasy enthusiasts can delve into J.R.R. Tolkien’s iconic fantasy epic, “The Lord of the Rings,” or explore the dystopian world of “1984” by George Orwell. These imaginative tales captivate readers with their rich world-building and thought-provoking concepts.

21. “Dune” by Frank Herbert
22. “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy” by Douglas Adams
23. “Ender’s Game” by Orson Scott Card
24. “Neuromancer” by William Gibson
25. “The Foundation Trilogy” by Isaac Asimov
26. “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone” by J.K. Rowling
27. “A Wrinkle in Time” by Madeleine L’Engle
28. “The Left Hand of Darkness” by Ursula K. Le Guin
29. “The Martian Chronicles” by Ray Bradbury
30. “Snow Crash” by Neal Stephenson

Mystery & Thriller

Fans of mystery and thriller genres can immerse themselves in suspenseful narratives. Novels like “Gone Girl” by Gillian Flynn offer thrilling tales. “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” by Stieg Larsson offers complex mysteries. These gripping stories keep readers on the edge of their seats as they unravel complex mysteries.

31. “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” by Stieg Larsson
32. “Gone Girl” by Gillian Flynn
33. “The Da Vinci Code” by Dan Brown
34. “The Silence of the Lambs” by Thomas Harris
35. “The Bourne Identity” by Robert Ludlum
36. “And Then There Were None” by Agatha Christie
37. “Rebecca” by Daphne du Maurier
38. “The Big Sleep” by Raymond Chandler
39. “Psycho” by Robert Bloch
40. “The Spy Who Came in from the Cold” by John le Carré

Classic Literature

Classic literature enthusiasts will appreciate timeless works. Some examples are “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee and “Crime and Punishment” by Fyodor Dostoevsky. These novels tackle profound themes of justice, morality, and the human condition.

41. “Jane Eyre” by Charlotte Brontë
42. “Moby-Dick” by Herman Melville
43. “Ulysses” by James Joyce
44. “Don Quixote” by Miguel de Cervantes
45. “Wuthering Heights” by Emily Brontë
46. “Anna Karenina” by Leo Tolstoy
47. “The Divine Comedy” by Dante Alighieri
48. “Les Misérables” by Victor Hugo
49. “Mansfield Park” by Jane Austen
50. “Crime and Punishment” by Fyodor Dostoevsky

Poetry

Poetry evokes deep emotions and thought, featuring notable works like T.S. Eliot’s “The Waste Land,” Walt Whitman’s “Leaves of Grass,” John Milton’s “Paradise Lost,” Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Raven,” J.R.R. Tolkien’s “Beowulf,” and Geoffrey Chaucer’s “The Canterbury Tales,” each showcasing its unique power to inspire across generations.

51. “The Waste Land” by T.S. Eliot
52. “Leaves of Grass” by Walt Whitman
53. “Paradise Lost” by John Milton
54. “The Raven” by Edgar Allan Poe
55. “Beowulf” translated by J.R.R. Tolkien
56. “The Canterbury Tales” by Geoffrey Chaucer
57. “Selected Poems” by Emily Dickinson
58. “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock” by T.S. Eliot
59. “Song of Myself” by Walt Whitman
60. “And Still I Rise” by Maya Angelou

Biography & Memoir

The Biography and Memoir genre lets readers dive into the incredible lives of awesome people. These include Anne Frank, Malcolm X, Nelson Mandela, and Trevor Noah. It showcases their struggles and accomplishments. The genre also serves up some really valuable lessons and insights about being human.

61. “The Diary of a Young Girl” by Anne Frank
62. “The Autobiography of Malcolm X” by Malcolm X
63. “The Diary of Samuel Pepys” by Samuel Pepys
64. “The Wright Brothers” by David McCullough
65. “Long Walk to Freedom” by Nelson Mandela
66. “The Glass Castle” by Jeannette Walls
67. “The Hiding Place” by Corrie ten Boom
68. “Angela’s Ashes” by Frank McCourt
69. “Born a Crime” by Trevor Noah
70. “Night” by Elie Wiesel

Historical Fiction

Historical fiction vividly brings the past to life. It achieves this through well-crafted characters and settings. Notable works include Wolf Hall, The Book Thief, and All the Light We Cannot See. Other examples are The Kite Runner and The Pillars of the Earth. These novels offer unique insights into significant historical contexts and explore themes of human emotion and societal change.

71. “Wolf Hall” by Hilary Mantel
72. “The Book Thief” by Markus Zusak
73. “All the Light We Cannot See” by Anthony Doerr
74. “The Kite Runner” by Khaled Hosseini
75. “The Pillars of the Earth” by Ken Follett
76. “Gone with the Wind” by Margaret Mitchell
77. “Cold Mountain” by Charles Frazier
78. “The Help” by Kathryn Stockett
79. “The Secret History” by Donna Tartt
80. “The Color Purple” by Alice Walker

Philosophy

Philosophy explores existence and ethics through key texts like “Meditations” by Marcus Aurelius for Stoic insights, and Friedrich Nietzsche’s works on morality. Plato’s “The Republic” addresses justice, while Immanuel Kant’s “Critique of Pure Reason” and John Stuart Mill’s “On Liberty” focus on epistemology and personal freedom, fostering intellectual growth.

81. “Meditations” by Marcus Aurelius
82. “Thus Spoke Zarathustra” by Friedrich Nietzsche
83. “Beyond Good and Evil” by Friedrich Nietzsche
84. “The Republic” by Plato
85. “Critique of Pure Reason” by Immanuel Kant
86. “Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals” by Immanuel Kant
87. “On Liberty” by John Stuart Mill
88. “The Prince” by Niccolo Machiavelli
89. “The Communist Manifesto” by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels
90. “Being and Nothingness” by Jean-Paul Sartre

Historical

Historical books provide insights into the past through narratives about significant events and the lives of those involved. Notable titles include “A History of the World in 10 1/2 Chapters” for storytelling, “The Guns of August” for its account of World War I, “Band of Brothers” for the valor of WWII soldiers, and “The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich” for exploring Nazi Germany. These works enhance our understanding of human nature and resilience.

91. “A History of the World in 10 1/2 Chapters” by Julian Barnes
92. “The Guns of August” by Barbara W. Tuchman
93. “Band of Brothers: E Company, 506th Regiment, 101st Airborne from Normandy to Hitler’s Eagle’s Nest” by Stephen E. Ambrose
94. “The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich” by William L. Shirer
95. “Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind” by Yuval Noah Harari
96. “The Making of the Atomic Bomb” by Richard Rhodes
97. “1491: New Revelations of the Americas Before Columbus” by Charles C. Mann
98. “Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln” by Doris Kearns Goodwin
99. “The Silk Roads: A New History of the World” by Peter Frankopan
100. “The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks” by Rebecca Skloot

In Conclusion

Reading is a great way to learn and see things differently. With so many unique books available, whether fiction or non-fiction, there’s always something awesome to explore. Grab a book, dive into the adventure, and let it change your perspective. Enjoy reading!

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