Top Ten Books Everyone Should Read

What makes a book a must read? For a book or novel to reach the status of a must read it must appeal to a broad audience and stand the test of time. These ten classics have done just that and are books that everyone should have on his or her bookshelf.

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
I first read Twain's classic and controversial coming of age novel as a college student. I remember being disappointed that this was the novel we were assigned to tackle in my literature class. Little did I know that Twain's classic masterpiece about a troubled boy and an escaped slave would become my all time favorite novel. If you have never read The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, I strongly urge you to sit down and read Twain's most important work.

A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens
I must admit that I found most of Dickens novels uninteresting, but his tale of a love triangle set against the backdrop of the French Revolution is a classic I have read many times and remains one of my favorites.

Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov
Nabokov is a master at using language in a way that is truly poetic. In his classic tale Lolita, he manages to turn the child molester, Humbert Humbert into an almost sympathetic figure. Lolita is a book to read if not for the story (which is interesting to say the least) but for the language. I can only imagine what a wonderful read it must be when read in Nabokov's native Russian.

Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy
Oprah Winfrey renewed interest in this tragic Russian novel when she made it an Oprah Book Club selection several years ago. We can learn alot about the root of happiness from Tolstoy's romantic tragedy.

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
I once had the opportunity to hear the incomparable Maya Angelou speak at a charity event. It was one of the most thrilling events of my life. I know Why the Caged Bird Sings was Maya Angelou's first published autobiographical novels. In her debut novel, Maya Angelou captures what it is was like to be young, gifted black girl in the early 1930's in America.

The Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling
While the Twilight series may be all the rage today, I doubt very much that the vampire series will stand the test of time in the same way that this series about the struggles of a child wizard has. J.K. Rowling created a masterpiece with Harry Potter and it is my prediction that one hundred years from now children around the world will still be reading about Harry and his wizard friends.

Sophie's World by Jostein Gaarder
Sophie's World by Norwegian author Jostein Gaarder was an international bestseller and remains one of the most popular and most read books in Norway. This incredibly clever story combines lessons about philosophy and famous philosophers with a unique mystery about young Norwegian girl. Gaarder's novel is often used as a text in introductory philosophy classes.

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
Louisa May Alcott's story of the four May sisters is one of the first classics I have ever read. It is an easy read that gives an accurate portrayal of what life must have been like for many Americans during the late 1800's.

Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell
Margaret Mitchell wrote just one novel during her lifetime and what a novel it turned out to be. If you have only seen the movie (which is truly wonderful) read the novel that inspired it. I learned more about the Civil War from Margaret Mitchell's romantic novel, than from my high school American history class.

The Bible
A list of books that must be read could not be complete without the most popular book of all time. Whether you believe that the bible contains the actual words of God or not, there is no question that it is the most important book ever written.

I am sure to have left many great reads off my list of the top ten books. Why not add your picks below in the comment section. Reading is much more than an enjoyable past time it is a way to learn about our wonderful world.