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30 Books Everyone Should Read At Least Once In Their Lives

Anna is the Editor-in-Chief & Content Strategist of Lifehack.

The wonders of books are endless – they can eliminate your stress, increase your happiness, and boost your intelligence. Whether you’ve crossed out some best books to read or you’re just starting out to broaden your literary horizons, you should be familiar with the books to read before you die.

The greatest books are not called classics for nothing. Written by the best literary minds, these books have a universal theme, interesting characters, experiences, perspective, and emotions that are still relevant until today. Some of the ultimate and best interesting books to read have inspired modern fiction in many ways.

If you love reading, here’s a perfect reading list for you that contains books that everyone should read. Even if you are not the biggest fan of reading, here’re 10 reasons to love reading.

Everyone should read at least once for these 30 books to read before you die — some are well known classics, others are modern giants.  All are well worth reading at least once in your life!

Your Must-Reads: 30 Best Books to Read

We’ve rounded up some of the books that everyone should read below.

1. To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee

To Kill A Mockingbird
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                                                                This book is a timeless classic that discusses human behavior and the collective conscience of The Deep South during the 20th century. This book discusses hypocrisy, prejudice, hatred, love and innocence with humor to create an amazing novel that you are bound to love.

                                                                2. 1984, by George Orwell

                                                                Nineteen Eighty-Four [1984]
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                                                                                                                              1984 is George Orwell’s dystopian and totalitarian world where fear, control and lies take over the lives of people. Look into the life of Winston Smith who struggles with his nature in a world where free will, individuality, and love are not allowed.

                                                                                                                              3. Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, by J.K. Rowling

                                                                                                                              Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
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                                                                                                                                                                                            Chances are, you’ve heard about this book. Harry Potter is an integral part of the childhood of millions of people. In this book, you can join Harry as he journeys into the Wizarding World and he triumphs over Lord Voldemort. Throughout these books, you’ll get to know characters such as Hermione, Ron, Hagrid, Dumbledore, and many more.

                                                                                                                                                                                            4. The Lord of the Rings, by J.R.R. Tolkien

                                                                                                                                                                                            The Lord of the Rings: The classic fantasy masterpiece
                                                                                                                                                                                              The Lord of the Rings: The classic fantasy masterpiece
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                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          In this book, you will get to know the characters of Middle Earth, a beautiful and very expansive fantasy world that although it is filled with innocence, can also be ridden with turmoil. Follow the protagonist Frodo Baggins as the embarks on a challenging quest. This trilogy will definitely leave you at the edge of your seat.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          5. The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          The Great Gatsby
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                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        The Great Gatsby is one of the most exciting yet sorrowful books you will ever read. The novel was published in 1925 and perfectly shows how decadent the Jazz Age was. It will teach you a valuable lesson that not everyone is fortunate in love.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        6. Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Pride and Prejudice (Dover Thrift Editions: Classic Novels)
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                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      This book is dubbed as one of the most interesting books to read and most famous novels of all time. Pride And Prejudice tells the story of the courtship of two very opposite characters in a world where courtesy and manners are integral.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      7. The Diary Of A Young Girl, by Anne Frank

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                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    One of the most influential books ever published, the Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank tells the raw account of her life as she hides from the Nazi soldiers. Despite the circumstances she is facing, she still believes that naturally, people have a good heart and the world is still full of beauty. It’s truly a book that will change your perspective.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    8. The Book Thief, by Markus Zusak

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    The Book Thief
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                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  This book is set in Germany in 1939. It follows Liesel as she tries to rescue books from Nazi rule. At the same time, her family has hidden a Jewish fighter living in their home’s basement. When you read this book, you’ll get to experience courage that is rarely found in the world today, as well as the friendship that is formed even in the most challenging situations.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  9. The Hobbit, by J.R.R. Tolkien

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  The Hobbit: Or, There and Back Again
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                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                You may be wondering now: what book should I read? Well, you may have heard or even watched the film, but reading The Hobbit is a must for every Lord of the Rings fan. It follows the courageous Bilbo Baggins as he travels in the harsh Middle Earth to contest a dragon.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                10. Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott

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                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              In this book, you will get to join four sisters, each boasting their own personality, as they grow up during 19th Century New England. You will get to bask in their unique struggles and understand their flaws as they turn into strong women.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              11. Fahrenheit 451, by Ray Bradbury

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Fahrenheit 451: The gripping and inspiring classic of dystopian science fiction
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