Important Books in Literature
The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer. Written in the 14th century, this collection
of tales brought to life characters and stories that remain popular
today. The Canterbury Tales also provides a glimpse into the
customs and practices within the society at the time of its writing. This work
is one of the most read books and one of the most studied in all the world.
Many scholars suggest that Chaucer's magnum opus contributed greatly to the
popularization of the English vernacular in literature.
Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri. Considered one of the most important pieces
of world literature, the Divine Comedy is an epic poem that
details a journey through the realms of the afterlife and, allegorically, the
soul's discovery of God. Long considered to be the greatest piece of Italian
literature, the Divine Comedy also provides us with a closer
view of medieval Christian theology and philosophy.
The Complete Works of William Shakespeare. William Shakespeare is often considered the
greatest writer in the English language and the greatest dramatist in all of
history. The characters, stories, and language have taken hold of readers for
hundreds of years and have greatly contributed to shaping modern culture.
Shakespeare's complete works have been translated into every major language and
are still enjoyed around the world.
Moby Dick by Herman Melville. This now-famous book about a man's hunt for
the great whale is considered one of the greatest American novels ever
written. Moby Dick is heavy on symbolism, but is also famous
for the detailing of the whaling industry in the 19th century and its many different
narrative styles and structures.
1984 by George Orwell. This dystopian novel describes life in a totalitarian regime that
has stripped the people of their rights. The themes in this novel have become a
major part of modern culture, creating terms and concepts that have been
incorporated into our own society. Surveillance, truth, and censorship take
center stage in this novel; no other book has contributed to our understanding
of these themes like 1984.
Brave New World by Aldous Huxley. Another dystopian novel, this one by Huxley
is often considered one of the great novels of the 20th century. Huxley's novel
looked unfavorably on the loss of an individual's identity through futuristic
technological advancements. Huxley's own fears of commerciality and the
emerging youth culture are fully on display in this novel.
The Iliad and The Odyssey by Homer. These two ancient Greek epic poems are not only the preeminent
works in ancient Greek literature, but they are also incredibly influential
texts for all forms of art, thought, and music in Western civilization. The
Iliad details a few weeks during the end of the Trojan War and
the Odyssey describes Odysseus' ten-year journey home from the
Trojan War. These two works are important for their detail of Greek history and
legend, the composition of story, and the development of themes.
Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes. This Spanish novel, originally published as
two books, is one of the most influential and popular novels in the world. It's
also considered to be one of the best books ever written. The adventure,
symbolism, and characterization contained in Don Quixote has
promoted the book to the incredible popularity it has today. Don Quixote became
one of the earliest canonical texts and has been inspiring artists of all kinds
for hundreds of years.
In Search of Lost Time by Marcel Proust. Daunting in length, the seven-volume In
Search of Lost Time is one of the most prominent modern works of the
early 20th century. The novel explores themes of memory, childhood, and meaning,
but it avoids the plot-driven model of 19th-century novels. The supporting cast
are incredibly well drawn and the events are moved forward by the differing
perspectives that experience them, writing techniques that have been emulated
endlessly since the novel's publication.
Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert. Flaubert's story of a woman who engages in
adulterous affairs in an attempt to escape from a loveless marriage was
subjected to heavy censorship at the time it was published, and Flaubert was
taken to trial over the novel. After his acquittal, Madame Bovary became
renowned as a masterpiece of the Realism movement.
Arabian Nights translated by Andrew Lang. This English language version of One
Thousand and One Nights retells the ancient stories that have now
become popularized around the world, including the plight of Scheherazade, the
adventures of Aladdin, and the voyages of Sinbad.
One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel GarcÃa Márquez. Considered to be one of the most significant
novels in the Spanish literary canon, One Hundred Years of Solitude tells
the story of the BuendÃa family over several generations. The style and themes
in the novel are seen to be representative of a unique Latin American literary
movement of the 1960s: Magical Realism.
War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy. Though Tolstoy was hesitant to call this a
novel, War and Peace is often included in the discussion of
the best novels of all time. Chronicling the French invasion of Russia in 1812,
the book looks at the psychological effects of the war and the philosophical
discussions that it created.
The Tale of Genji by Murasaki Shikibu. Written in the beginning of the 11th
century, The Tale of Genji is often called the first novel.
While it does not have a plot by definition, the story does have many elements
of a modern novel, including a main character, a supporting cast, and
characterization. Translation of this novel has proved difficult over time, but
most still consider it the first and greatest work in Japanese literature.
Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriett Beecher Stowe. Written by a middle aged, white woman in
1851, Uncle Tom's Cabin has been credited for changing the
views of slavery in the north and continues to serve as a reminder of the
effects of slavery and other inhumane acts.
Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoyevsky. While Fyodor Dostoyevsky has written several
works that could be considered some of the most influential ever
published, Crime and Punishment is one that stands above the
rest as one of the best books ever written. This novel explores the mind of an
individualistic person from within, challenging the rules of crime and
punishment as they apply to the main character and the people around him.
Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe. The theme of preserving cultural history in
the face of Western domination in this novel gave voice to the oppressed people
in Africa and caught the attention of the world. This novel, written in 1958,
is still widely read and studied as an example of the damage of colonialism.
Faust by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. Faust is a tragic play, but it has long been
considered the single greatest work in German literature. The tale tells of
Faust selling his soul to the devil for worldly knowledge and pleasures. The
influence this story has on art, literature, music, and thought is immeasurable.
Beloved by Toni Morrison. Written to honor the memory of African
American slaves brought over during the slave trade, Toni Morrison's Beloved is
one of the most recognizable and influential texts in modern literature. For
giving voice to the African-American experience and observing and recording the
collective memory of the population, Morrison's novel won the Pulitzer Prize
for Fiction in 1988.
The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank. This landmark book is built from the actual
diary kept by Anne Frank, the young daughter of a Jewish family hiding during the
Nazi takeover in the Netherlands. The innocence of this young girl so full of
hopes and dreams is held in sharp contrast to the reality of her situation at
the hands of the Nazis. This book has become a strong symbol and reminder of
the impact of racial persecution.
The Vindication of the Rights of Women by Mary Wollstonecraft. Considered the first great treatise on
feminism, Wollstonecraft's text was written in response to those who felt that
women should not be educated. She argued that women are deserving of an
education that is proportionate to their position in society, that of educators
and companions. Wollstonecraft demonstrated that inequality is not only morally
and ethically wrong, but is also economically and socially irresponsible.
The Second Sex by Simone de Beauvoir. The Second Sex examines why a
woman's position in society is prohibitive and how it got to this point.
Establishing herself as a fundamental figure in feminist philosophy, de
Beauvoir was one of the first to explore gender as a social construct,
distinguishing between the terms "sex" and "gender."
A Room of One's Own by Virginia Woolf. In A Room of One's Own, an extended
essay that Woolf delivered to two women's colleges, the differences between
male and female writers and how those differences are the result of the
limitations and restrictions imposed on females, is discussed. Without the
freedom, the education, or the financial rewards of male authors, females are
barred from creating a literary tradition of their own.
Walden by Henry David Thoreau. Walden is the textual reflection of Thoreau's
social experiment of living isolated in a cabin next to Walden Pond in order to
better understand society. Thoreau wrote the results of his experience with
self-sufficiency and simplicity in Walden, which has subsequently
become a source of inspiration for those seeking a life removed from the
business of society.
A Dictionary of the English Language by Samuel Johnson. Considered the most influential dictionary of
the English language, Johnson compiled this book over seven years all by
himself. Credited as the foundational text for the study of the English
language and lexicography, Johnson's dictionary was not the first of its kind,
but it was the most comprehensive and well-researched.
Critique of Pure Reason by Immanuel Kant. Immanuel Kant's Critique of Pure
Reason is largely considered to be one of the most influential
philosophical texts of all time. Exploring human knowledge and reason, their
extents and limitations, and the perception of space and time, Kant's text is
one of the most important books to read for all who are interested in
philosophy.
Important Books in Politics
These titles represent some of
the most influential books that examine politics, economics, and philosophy.
Each of these texts had an impact on the way we understand governance.
The Republic, Plato. Written around 380 BCE, this text is considered to be one of the
most influential pieces ever written. The Republic observes
justice in man and politics and discusses the role of the philosopher in
society. Many of the intellectual concepts contained in The Republic are
still discussed today, but the text is also an important historical document
that provides historians with a snapshot of Greece at the time of its writing.
The Communist Manifesto by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels. One of the most recognized and popular
political texts ever written, The Communist Manifesto details
the class struggle that exists in society and traces its beginnings in history.
The document highlights the problems of capitalism and capitalist production
and how these structures impact the political and societal landscape.
The Rights of Man by Thomas Paine. The Rights of Man argues that
political revolution is acceptable and permissible when a government fails to
perform its duty of protecting the natural rights of its citizens. Written as a
defense of the French Revolution, Paine's 1791 book was widely circulated and
challenged all societal institutions that don't benefit the nation overall,
including institutions such as monarchies and aristocracies.
Common Sense by Thomas Paine. Published anonymously in 1776, this pamphlet
supported the Americans in their fight for independence from the British during
the American Revolution. The pamphlet encouraged the people in the American
Colonies to resist the leaders from Great Britain and push for an egalitarian
government. Still today, Common Sense is one of the all-time
best-selling American titles.
Democracy in America by Alexis de Tocqueville. In what was originally meant to be an
observation of the American prison system, Democracy in America is
a look at American society and institutions overall and the reasons why
American democratic equality exists and thrived at the time of the writing.
Alexis de Tocqueville traced the historical evolution of equality and suggested
that specific conditions, such as widespread economic opportunity and the
abolition of primogeniture, led to the American democratic revolution.
The Prince by Niccolo Machiavelli. Considered to be one of the first works of
modern political philosophy, The Prince is a political
treatise from 1513 that offers advice on how aspiring leaders can survive and
thrive in the contentious political landscape. While the intent of the book is
still debated, the result is one of the most unabashed meditations on political
power and what is required in order to make it last.
Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American
Slave by
Frederick Douglass. Written by the famed
orator and former slave, Frederick Douglass, this narrative is considered the
most famous of pieces written by former slaves and one of the most influential
texts during the abolitionist movement in the United States. In the text,
Douglass recounts his life as a slave on his way to freedom.
On Liberty by John Stewart Mill. This philosophical work is considered a
foundational text for modern liberal political thought. The text applies
ethical utilitarianism to society and state governance, arguing that more
importance be placed on the consequences of actions as they relate to the
interests of others than one's own interests.
The Wealth of Nations by Adam Smith. The Wealth of Nations, published in
1776, describes how and what builds a nation's wealth. Largely viewed as the
foundational text for classical economics, The Wealth of Nations explores
the economic system and suggests that a free market is able to automate and
regulate itself. These functions are only limited by the privileges given to certain
members within the economy.
Important Books in Science
Philosophae Naturalis Principia Mathematica by Isaac Newton. Written while Cambridge
was closed because of the plague, Newton's Philosophae Naturalis Principia
Mathematica details
the principles of gravity, mechanics, calculus, and light and color. This book
set the stage for modern studies of both math and physics.
The Meaning of Relativity by Albert Einstein. The Meaning of Relativity is a
collection of the Stafford Little Lectures made by Albert Einstein in 1921 at
Princeton University. Delivered five years after Einstein's groundbreaking
paper on general relativity was published, these lectures sum up the man's
work. While many of the ideas were presented in different forms prior to the
publication of this book, The Meaning of Relativity remains
one of the most important collections of ideas ever put together.
On the Origin of Species by Charles Darwin. This work by Darwin laid out the foundation
for the theory of evolution. Since its publication, the book's theories and
observations have helped make life sciences what they are today. Darwin's
adaptation and evolutionary model still aid modern scientists as they build a
better understanding of all Earth's species, including our own.
Silent Spring by Rachel Carson. Carson wrote on the topic of environmental
justice in this book that inspired readers to think more seriously about their
relationship to the Earth. Silent Spring helped the modern
environmental movement get off the ground and led to the nationwide ban on DDT.
Geographia by Ptolemy. Ptolemy wrote and mapped the world according to the knowledge he
had available to him in the 2nd century. His maps and methodologies were used
for hundreds of years afterward. Today's cartography is directly descended from
Ptolemy's work.
The Interpretation of Dreams by Sigmund Freud. Freud included the basics of his theories on
psychoanalysis in this landmark work that is still read and studied worldwide.
In this work, Freud introduced the concept of the unconscious and demonstrated
how his theories are used to interpret dreams. Freud's work popularized the
science of psychology and helped build the foundation on which modern
psychological discourse now stands.
Important Books in Religion
The Bhagvad Gita :'The Song
by God'; often referred to as the Gita , is a 700-verse Hindu
scripture that is part of the epic Mahabharata (chapters
23–40 of book 6 of the Mahabharata called the Bhishma Parva), dated to the
second half of the first millennium BCE . It is the holy scriptures
for Hinduism.
The Bible. This sacred text brought
Christianity to the world and has continued to serve as a source of inspiration
for millions of people. It is the most translated and the most frequently
purchased book in the world.
The Qur'an. The sacred text of Islam, the Qur'an is believed to be the last
word of God told to Muhammad through the angel Gabriel over a period of 23
years. This book is the cornerstone of the Islamic religion.
The Torah. The written laws and teachings that are contained in the Tanakh
have offered a way of life for those of the Jewish faith. The text provides
teaching and methods of practice for daily living and has influenced art and
literature in countless ways.
The Tibetan Book of the Dead. Perhaps the most well-known Tibetan text, this book was written by
a Tibetan monk and discusses what happens during death, the time between death
and rebirth, and rebirth.
The Analects by Confucius. The Analects is a collection of sayings and ideas
attributed to Confucius, a Chinese philosopher. The text has been read and
studied in China for the last 2,000 years and has had a monumental impact on
Chinese culture, values, art, and thought.
