Top 10 Best Books of All Time
Reading is a simple pleasure and something that a lot of us should probably do more of. A good book can have us immersed in wonderful worlds, helping to broaden our horizons, while reading can also be very educational. For a lot of people, there is nothing better than getting some quiet time alone to bury yourself in a good book.
There have been countless books written and published over the years and some are better than others. Some of the best remain popular no matter how old they are and are enjoyed by people of all ages. Here’s a look at some of the best-known books that have ever been produced.
1. The Hobbit - J. R. R. Tolkien
You’ve probably seen at least one of the movies. With incredible special effects and fascinating characters, the movies made for superb entertainment. The movies were bought to us thanks to the wonderful imagination of J. R. R. Tolkien, who published the book in 1932.
The Hobbit is a wonderful story of adventure and heroism. The unlikely hero, Bilbo Baggins, is more at home in his sleepy home in The Shire than saving the world from evil forces. Bilbo meets a host of incredible characters along the way in an adventure that is steeped in magic, fantasy, and danger. Despite being more than 100 years old, the book is just as appealing as it always has been.
2. Harry Potter and The Philosopher’s Stone - J. K. Rowling
Harry Potter and The Philosopher’s Stone is a relatively new book on the list, having been published in 1997, but that does not make it any less worthy of its position. The book’s author, J. K. Rowling, released a series of Harry Potter titles, which have been among the most successful books of all time.
The books follow the hero, a young wizard by the name of Harry Potter. Potter is invited to take a place in Hogwarts school, a place where witches and wizards are taught their crafts. Potter and his friends have some incredible adventures, including helping to save the world from he who cannot be named.
3. Moby Dick - Herman Melville
Captain Ahab, a sailor and captain of the good ship Pequod, sets off on a mission to hunt a whale. This is not just any whale, though. It is a white whale that is larger and craftier than any other whale in the ocean, and it goes by the name of Moby Dick.
The book is told from the viewpoint of Ishmael, who was a crew-member on board the ship. Ishmael shares the adventures of Captain Ahab and the rest of the crew in their pursuit of Moby Dick. Ahab eventually finds Moby Dick, who fights off his attackers and everybody on the Pequod is killed, except for Ishmael who lives to tell the tale.
4. Romeo and Juliet - William Shakespeare
No list of literary masterpieces is complete without an entrant of arguably the finest writer of them all � William Shakespeare. It is difficult to choose any one from his fine selection of masterpieces, but Romeo and Juliet is perhaps the best known of all.
Romeo and Juliet is a tragic tale of two young lovers that come from families that are feuding with each other. Despite their family’s differences, the couple loves each other fiercely and vows to remain together no matter what. The story ends in tragedy as both lovers take their own lives in one of the most iconic love scenes ever written.
5. War and Peace - Leo Tolstoy
War and Peace was published in 1869 by Leo Tolstoy. Today, it is still considered to be one of the finest literary works ever produced. The book is set in 1812 during Napoleon’s invasion of Russia and follows the stories of numerous characters during the invasion.
The characters in Tolstoy’s War and Peace all come from different backgrounds, and Tolstoy highlights the different challenges that each one faces. Their experiences will change each character, and the reader’s opinion of the characters will change along with them. It is an epic read so you will need to make a lot of spare time, but it is time very well spent.
6. Animal Farm - George Orwell
George Orwell was an author who focused on politics, with his works addressing social injustice and fictional dystopias. He produced several masterpieces, the most famous of which is arguably Animal Farm.
Animal Farm is a story that follows the various residents of Manor Farm. The animals revolt against the oppressive farmer and take over the running of the farm themselves. Things go well to begin with, but disagreements lead to fights for power between different factions. A pig by the name of Napoleon eventually takes totalitarian control. Napoleon rules with an iron fist, and eventually becomes barely distinguishable from the humans the animals first overcome.
7. The Great Gatsby - F. Scott Fitzgerald
The Great Gatsby is a book that is set in the 1920s, the same era in which it was written. It is told from the point of view of Nick Carraway, a young man who rents a cottage on Long Island. Living next door to his humble cottage is the millionaire, Jay Gatsby.
Carraway ends up finding himself involved in a world of astonishing wealth and privilege. He also finds that Gatsby is fiercely in love with Carraway’s cousin, Daisy, and that Gatsby bought his current home so that he could be close to her. What ensues is a story of love and deceit that ultimately ends up in tragedy.
8. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn - Mark Twain
Huckleberry Finn is a young boy who comes from a town near the Mississippi River some time during the 19th century.
The book tells tales of the boy’s adventures travelling along the river with his companion, Jim, who is an escaped slave. Huck himself has just managed to run away from his father who is an abusive alcoholic. The story introduces us to a wide range of colorful characters that the pair meet on their journey. The book often aims to criticize the racism of the time. It has been banned by many libraries due to its coarse language including racially motivated terminology, despite others pointing out that the book is actually critical of racism.
9. 1984 - George Orwell
1984 was written by George Orwell in 1949, so it was a look into the future at the time. It is set in a dystopian world where the population is ruled over by oppressive regimes.
The regimes are known as “big brother,” a term that is still well known today. In 1984, “big brother” is always watching with access to technology that was beyond Orwell’s time but is more familiar to us today. The people of the time are largely controlled by “big brother” thanks to a manipulative media and ever watchful authorities. The book is often referred to today for its parallels with many aspects of today’s society.
10. The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy - Douglas Adams
The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy is the story of the amazing adventures of Arthur Dent, the last remaining human.
His adventure starts when he is rescued by Ford Prefect, an alien that looks just like a human. Dent needed to be rescued because the Earth was about to be destroyed by the Vogons, a powerful race of aliens, who needed to destroy the planet to make way for an intergalactic bypass. The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy is a hilarious work that has become very popular in the mainstream, while also gaining a cult-like status among many self-proclaimed nerds.
