Books That Everyone Should Read At Least Once

Looking for a no-fluff starter canon? This list gathers 30 books everyone should read that shape how we think, feel, and talk to each other—spanning classics, modern must-reads, YA, and children’s favorites. Each pick is spoiler-light with a one-line why-read, plus quick notes where a series reading order matters (and links to our full guides). Skim the TL;DR, pick a lane, and add a few you’ve missed—these are the stories worth reading at least once, and discussing for years.

Quick Answer (TL;DR)

1. To Kill a Mockingbird — Harper Lee
2. Pride and Prejudice — Jane Austen
3. The Diary of a Young Girl — Anne Frank
4. 1984 — George Orwell
5. Animal Farm — George Orwell
6. Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s/Sorcerer’s Stone — J.K. Rowling
7. The Little Prince — Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
8. The Great Gatsby — F. Scott Fitzgerald
9. The Catcher in the Rye — J.D. Salinger
10. The Lord of the Rings — J.R.R. Tolkien
11. The Book Thief — Markus Zusak
12. Jane Eyre — Charlotte Brontë
13. Things Fall Apart — Chinua Achebe
14. The Chronicles of Narnia (1–7) — C.S. Lewis
15. Lord of the Flies — William Golding
16. Romeo and Juliet — William Shakespeare
17. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows — J.K. Rowling
18. The Kite Runner — Khaled Hosseini
19. The Giver — Lois Lowry
20. The Giving Tree — Shel Silverstein
21. Little Women — Louisa May Alcott
22. The Hunger Games — Suzanne Collins
23. Charlotte’s Web — E.B. White
24. The Hobbit — J.R.R. Tolkien
25. Fahrenheit 451 — Ray Bradbury
26. Of Mice and Men — John Steinbeck
27. Green Eggs and Ham — Dr. Seuss
28. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban — J.K. Rowling
29. Wuthering Heights — Emily Brontë
30. The Picture of Dorian Gray — Oscar Wilde

How we chose (and how to use this list)

We prioritized books that (1) shape how we see the world, (2) reward re-reading at different ages, and (3) invite discussion. Use it three ways: as a personal canon, a classroom companion, or a family reading roadmap. When a title is part of a series, we include a short Reading Order Note and (where relevant) point to our detailed guides.

30 Books Everyone Should Read

1) To Kill a Mockingbird — Harper Lee

Big idea: moral courage and empathy in the face of prejudice.
Why read it: Scout’s voice makes heavy themes accessible; Atticus remains a touchstone for integrity.
Pairs with: The Hate U Give for a modern dialogue.

2) Pride and Prejudice — Jane Austen

Big idea: wit, class, and the perils of first impressions.
Why read it: it’s sparkling social commentary disguised as a romance; still laugh-out-loud sharp.
Tip: annotate for irony—you’ll catch more on a reread.

3) The Diary of a Young Girl — Anne Frank

Big idea: hope and humanity during horror.
Why read it: a teenager’s unfiltered insight; it personalizes history more than any textbook can.

4) 1984 — George Orwell

Big idea: language as control; privacy vs. power.
Why read it: chillingly current; teaches skepticism toward slogans and doublespeak.

5) Animal Farm — George Orwell

Big idea: how revolutions corrupt.
Why read it: a slim fable with wide reach; perfect gateway to political allegory.

6) Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s/Sorcerer’s Stone — J.K. Rowling

Big idea: found family, courage, wonder.
Reading Order Note: start here; see our Harry Potter reading order for the whole series.

7) The Little Prince — Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

Big idea: seeing with the heart, not the eyes.
Why read it: equally wise for kids and adults; deceptively simple, quietly profound.

8) The Great Gatsby — F. Scott Fitzgerald

Big idea: dreams, illusions, and the cost of reinvention.
Why read it: lyrical prose; a perfect novel to discuss symbolism and unreliable narration.

9) The Catcher in the Rye — J.D. Salinger

Big idea: alienation and authenticity.
Why read it: holds a mirror to adolescent angst; sparks strong reactions (that’s the point).

10) The Lord of the Rings — J.R.R. Tolkien

Big idea: friendship, sacrifice, the long defeat.
Reading Order Note: many start with The Hobbit (#24), then the trilogy in publication order (see our LOTR order guide).

11) The Book Thief — Markus Zusak

Big idea: the power of words—good and ill.
Why read it: Death as narrator shouldn’t work; it does, beautifully.

12) Jane Eyre — Charlotte Brontë

Big idea: autonomy and moral resilience.
Why read it: a Gothic page-turner + proto-feminist spine.

13) Things Fall Apart — Chinua Achebe

Big idea: tradition, masculinity, and the shock of colonialism.
Why read it: a foundational African novel that centers Igbo life before and during British rule—empathetic, concise, and endlessly discussable.

14) The Chronicles of Narnia (1–7) — C.S. Lewis

Big idea: wonder, courage, and moral choice.
Reading Order Note: most readers prefer publication order for first reads (see our Narnia order guide).

15) Lord of the Flies — William Golding

Big idea: civilization’s thin veneer.
Why read it: unsettling, memorable, and discussion-ready.

16) Romeo and Juliet — William Shakespeare

Big idea: speed, passion, and the fallout of feuds.
Why read it: the language! Read aloud; it sings.

17) Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows — J.K. Rowling

Big idea: grief, loyalty, and choosing what’s right.
Reading Order Note: book 7—finish here after the full series.

18) The Kite Runner — Khaled Hosseini

Big idea: guilt, redemption, and the ties that bind.
Why read it: humanizes headlines; powerful on empathy.

19) The Giver — Lois Lowry

Big idea: memory, choice, and what makes a life full.
Reading Order Note: first in a quartet—Gathering Blue, Messenger, Son expand the world.

20) The Giving Tree — Shel Silverstein

Big idea: selflessness and boundaries.
Why read it: read with kids, then debate as adults; interpretations evolve with you.

21) Little Women — Louisa May Alcott

Big idea: family, vocation, and becoming.
Why read it: warm and wise; Jo’s ambition still inspires.

22) The Hunger Games — Suzanne Collins

Big idea: spectacle, resistance, and media manipulation.
Reading Order Note: trilogy order: The Hunger Games → Catching Fire → Mockingjay (+ prequel The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes).

23) Charlotte’s Web — E.B. White

Big idea: friendship and the cycle of life.
Why read it: tender and truthful; a family favorite.

24) The Hobbit — J.R.R. Tolkien

Big idea: reluctant bravery.
Reading Order Note: excellent on its own; also a friendly on-ramp to LOTR (#10).

25) Fahrenheit 451 — Ray Bradbury

Big idea: distraction vs. attention; why stories matter.
Why read it: eerily prescient about screens and speed.

26) Of Mice and Men — John Steinbeck

Big idea: dreams, dignity, and mercy.
Why read it: short, devastating, classroom-tested.

27) Green Eggs and Ham — Dr. Seuss

Big idea: try before “no.”
Why read it: playful rhythm + growth mindset for the littles.

28) Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban — J.K. Rowling

Big idea: fear, identity, and chosen family.
Reading Order Note: book 3; often cited as the series’ tonal pivot.

29) Wuthering Heights — Emily Brontë

Big idea: passion, revenge, and the moors as mood.
Why read it: messy, haunting, and unlike any other classic.

30) The Picture of Dorian Gray — Oscar Wilde

Big idea: beauty, corruption, and the self we hide.
Why read it: aphorisms for days; morality tale with bite.

Starter paths (choose your adventure)

• The “Core Classics” lane (10 books): To Kill a Mockingbird, Pride and Prejudice, 1984, Animal Farm, The Great Gatsby, Jane Eyre, Wuthering Heights, Of Mice and Men, Fahrenheit 451, Romeo and Juliet.
• Family-Friendly lane (read aloud): Charlotte’s Web, The Little Prince, The Giving Tree, Green Eggs and Ham, The Hobbit.
• Dystopia & Debate lane: 1984, Fahrenheit 451, The Giver, The Hunger Games, Lord of the Flies.

Reading order notes for series on this list

• The Lord of the Rings / The Hobbit: most readers go The Hobbit → LOTR in publication order.
• The Chronicles of Narnia: we recommend publication order for first-timers.
• Harry Potter: read books 1–7 in order; Prisoner of Azkaban is #3, Deathly Hallows is #7.
• The Giver Quartet and The Hunger Games Trilogy: follow publication order.

(For detailed, spoiler-safe step-by-steps, see our series guides on the site.)

FAQs About The Books Everyone Should Read

Wrapping Up: Over to You

Whether you came for a single classic or a full TBR refresh, the point is the same: pick a book that challenges you now—and one that will meet you differently on a reread. For series on this list, start with our spoiler-safe guides (Harry Potter, The Lord of the Rings, Narnia, The Hunger Games, The Giver) to read each one in perfect order.

What did we miss—or what changed your mind on a reread? Drop your picks in the comments and pass this list to a friend who needs their next great book.