Books everyone should read
From the best fiction books and best nonfiction books to Christmas romance books, there are so many excellent titles collected in libraries and bookstores around the world. So how do you know when one belongs among the best books of all time? Well, we believe the best books open our minds to new characters, points of view, and worlds. They stay with us long after the last page is read. They make us want to share them with everyone. Our avid readers have also shared their list of book recommendations they turn to again and again.
That’s true of all the tomes on our list of the best books of all time. To land in the top 100, a book needed to truly stand out in the stacks. We considered best sellers, award winners, and books that are highly rated by readers and critics alike. Many have been made into blockbuster movies. (Make sure to check out these exciting book to movie adaptations coming out this year!) Going on, many are taught in schools today. Many have snagged spots on other “best of” lists published by the likes of the New York Times, The Guardian, NPR, PBS, Time magazine, and more. And most have had profound impacts on literature, culture, or the world in general. Our list includes everything from classics, to new favorites, to biographies and children’s books. Ready? Let’s dive in!
Before starting, find out where to donate books and spread happiness by sharing your old ones with others.
Join the free Reader’s Digest Book Club for great reads, monthly discussions, author Q&As and a community of book lovers.
1. Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy (1878)
Ah, Anna Karenina. Lusty love affair or best romance of all time? Most critics pin it as one of most iconic literary love stories, and for good reason. Leo Tolstoy’s sweeping Russian tale of star-crossed lovers is littered with swoon-worthy quotes like, “He stepped down, trying not to look long at her, as if she were the sun, yet he saw her, like the sun, even without looking.” Described by Fyodor Dostoevsky as “flawless,” this one belongs on any book collector’s shelf. Love fictional characters? Find out what your famous book characters would look like in real life.
