12 Best One Hundred Books Everyone Should Read 2025
Looking for one hundred books everyone should read? We picked twelve great ones, each a classic, funny, strange, or just unforgettable.
Choosing the 12 best ‘one hundred books everyone should read’ themed books is like picking snacks for a roadtrip—you need a little bit of everything to keep things tasty. We focus on books that mix timeless stories, big ideas, and, most of all, fun. Some will make you laugh, others will have you thinking deep thoughts in the shower. We don’t just go for the oldest or the thickest books, but for the ones that stick with you and give you something to talk about at parties. Whether you’re searching for wild adventures, biting humor, or wisdom from cranky old Russians, our list of ‘one hundred books everyone should read’ themed picks has something for everyone.
On this list:
12 To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
This book makes almost every ‘one hundred books everyone should read’ list, and for good reason. It’s got courtroom drama, childhood pranks, and a lesson or two about being a decent human. The story sticks with you longer than leftovers in the back of your fridge.
11 1984 by George Orwell
Before we all started worrying about our phones listening to us, Orwell had it all figured out. This book about Big Brother and creepy government stuff ranks high on every ‘one hundred books everyone should read’ pile. It’s scary, smart, and will make you side-eye your toaster.
10 Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
Romance, wit, and misunderstandings. Jane Austen packs it all in and still finds time for poking fun at society. This one’s a mainstay on any ‘one hundred books everyone should read’ shelf.
9 The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
We’ve all dreamed of throwing a wild party to impress someone, right? Gatsby wrote the book on it—literally. This classic is short, stylish, and loaded with glitter and regret.
8 Moby-Dick by Herman Melville
It’s a book about a whale but also about obsession. Sure, the whale is the main event, but we stayed for all the wild sea stories. This is a regular player in every ‘one hundred books everyone should read’ conversation.
7 Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë
A governess, a brooding dude, a spooky mansion—Jane Eyre’s got drama and heart. It’s not all doom and gloom; there’s some hope, too. It’s easy to see why this one always pops up in ‘one hundred books everyone should read’ lists.
6 The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
Angsty teens everywhere owe a debt to Holden Caulfield. Some people love him, others want to give him a sandwich and a pep talk. But he’s impossible to forget, which is why this book sneaks onto every ‘one hundred books everyone should read’ countdown.
5 One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez
If you like your books magical and a little weird, this is for you. We got lost in the Buendía family’s wild world, and it was a trip. Magical realism at its best—and on every ‘one hundred books everyone should read’ hit list.
4 Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky
If you’ve ever felt guilty about eating the last cookie, this book will make you feel better. Raskolnikov takes guilt to a whole new level. It’s intense, thought-provoking, and keeps popping up in every ‘one hundred books everyone should read’ debate.
3 War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy
The book is big; the cast list is even bigger. But there’s a reason people wade through all those pages. It’s epic, moving, and has enough drama for ten soap operas. Always present in ‘one hundred books everyone should read’ stacks.
2 The Odyssey by Homer
If you like monsters, magic, and a hero who takes forever to get home, The Odyssey is your jam. It’s ancient, but it never gets old. Always a VIP on any ‘one hundred books everyone should read’ guest list.
1 The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien
This is the top pick for our ‘one hundred books everyone should read’ theme. Tolkien’s fantasy adventure breaks all the rules and then writes new ones. We read this with our friends, and everyone found a favorite character (even Gollum got a fan or two). The world-building is nuts—there’s a map, languages, songs, and enough lore to make you forget your real-life chores. The good: It’s exciting, creative, and makes you believe in magic. The not-so-good: It’s long, and some chapters move slower than a snail on a lazy Sunday. Still, nothing beats the feeling of walking with Frodo and Sam through Middle-Earth. That’s why this classic stands at the top of our one hundred books everyone should read list.
