No matter what genre is your favorite, these must-read books hold the power to keep you hooked till the last page.
I am not talking about ‘The Alchemist’ or ‘The Monk who sold his Ferrari’. Either these two are already your favorite or you think they’re over-rated. There’s no in-between. (Isn’t it?)
Do you know what’s the worst part about finishing an exceptional book? You have no idea if you are ever going to find a better read than that. But you eventually do. Every book comes with its own essence, after all.
So, without any delay, let’s head on to the list.
Must-read books –
1. The Quest of the Sparrows by Kartik Sharma and Ravi Nirmal Sharma –
A seemingly ordinary young man forced to become a guru takes a leap of faith and sets off with his followers on a taxing journey that changes their mindsets and lives forever.
This one is my go-to book whenever my mind whirls around with a number of questions regarding life. It’s not like any other book with theories and lots of theories. With a practical journey, it explains what exactly life is and how it’s meant to be lived. The father-son duo has totally nailed this book.
‘Once we’ve surrendered to the divine self within us, only the best can happen.’ – The Quest of the Sparrows
2. Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer –
A real story of Christopher Johnson McCandless, a young man who decided to get lost in the wilderness to live a life he always imagined. He abandoned everything he possessed and gave all his money to charity. Four months later, hunters found his decomposed body.
The life he lived in those few months is what this book is about. An adventurous read that tells, he may not have lived long but he died with gratification. Read this book even if you have watched the movie based on this book, it will be a totally different experience.
‘The core of man’s spirit comes from new experiences.’ – Into the Wild
Goodreads rating: 4/5
3. The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway –
Santiago is an old fisherman living alone and goes on 84 days in a row to the sea to fish but nothing to avail. They call him Salao, “worst form of unlucky” but the old man is ever hopeful with undefeated eyes. But there is a victory in his defeat. In the end, he succeeds. He was, finally able to catch a big fish. A unique feature of this book is the old man speaks to himself until the end.
‘A man can be destroyed but not defeated’ there is inspiring energy in the words he spoke.
Goodreads rating: 3.7/5
4. Here Falls the Shadow by Bhaskar Chattopadhyay –
A small town. A dark secret. Murder waiting to happen. Another masterpiece penned by this exceptional writer. Here falls the shadow is a prodigious murder mystery loaded with thrilling twists and turns. You will try to predict the culprit every now and then but will end up praising the writer’s intelligence.
With every page you turn, you’ll find yourself dragged deep into the conundrum and that’s what going to startle you with a quirky smile. I would not only suggest this particular book but will recommend Bhaskar’s other murder mysteries too.
‘Think of your sins. Prepare to die.’ – Here Falls the Shadow
Goodreads rating: 4.4/5
5. Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind by Yuval Noah Harari –
‘100,000 years ago, at least six human species inhabited the earth. Today, there is just one – Us, Homo Sapiens.’ I mostly finish a book in a single day but Sapiens: a brief history of humankind with 498 pages took quite a time and let me tell you, it was worth it.
The storytelling manner of Harari is remarkably entertaining and engaging. The way he explained human evolution is simply stimulating. While reading this book, you will be surrounded by many questions but with every page you turn, you will have your answer.
‘We are full of fears and anxieties over our position, which makes us doubly cruel and dangerous.’ – Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind
Goodreads rating: 4.5/5
6. The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin –
This is the book if you are confused about what’s wrong and what’s right? What should one do? How should one develop his character?
From the age of twenty, Ben Franklin kept a journal and recorded the 13 virtues like silence, cleanliness, tranquility, order, etcetera, and followed all this for like ages.
‘If you think that you want to be remembered after your death, then write something worth reading or do something worth writing’ – The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin
Goodreads rating: 3.8/5
7. Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert T. Kiyosaki –
Rich Dad Poor Dad: What the Rich Teach Their Kids About Money–That the Poor and Middle Class Do Not. Inspirational to many and a book I can read again and again. This book is fairly for entrepreneurs or for those who want to learn about managing personal finance.
It’s been on the bestseller lists for like forever. This book explains the concept with some outstanding examples. Personally, I would say, everyone should read it once. It’s one of the best, I have ever read.
‘There is gold everywhere. Most people are not trained to see it’ – Rich Dad Poor Dad
Goodreads rating: 4/5
8. Man’s Search for Meaning by Victor E. Frankl –
Victor Frankl shares his experiences at the concentration camp of Nazis about how the prisoners were treated harshly and how the hopeful survived. Being one of the prisoners, the writer observed little details of human nature especially when their desires are suppressed. This book helps us overcome adversity, gives us the sense that the meaning of life changes from person to person, from situation to situation
Ultimately, a man should not ask what the meaning of his life is, but rather must recognize that it is he who is asked. In a word, each man is questioned by life; and he can only answer to life by answering for his own life; to life, he can only respond by being responsible.
‘Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms—to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.’ – Man’s Search for Meaning
Goodreads rating: 4.4/5
9. Room by Emma Donoghue –
It’s a story narrated by a five-year-old, who is convinced by his mother that the room they were living in, was the whole world. So, Jack believed it to be the real world with no clouds, no buildings or any objects but after the five years, when he enters the actual world, he gets scared and asks “Maa, Am I not in another planet?”
Emma Donoghue manages to write a long story in the present tense and that’s what makes this book different. This book was adapted for a movie and has received an Oscar but it’s worth reading through the perspective of a five-year-old kid.
‘It’s called mind over matter. If you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter.’ – Room
Goodreads rating: 4/5
10. Inkredia: Luwan of Brida by Sarang Mahajan –
The treacherous journey of Luwan through the formidable empire of Inkredia is capable of holding your breath at times. Riddled with questions and hunted by legendary assassins, and by the nonhumans emerging out of the dark, this fantasy thriller is undoubtedly captivating.
This book delivered more than I expected. The very first thing that piqued my interest was the tagline of this book ‘Danger looms tall. Mystery runs deep’. Sarang Mahajan maneuvered Luwan’s journey so brilliantly. It’s assuredly a fast-paced fantasy thriller.
‘No weapon – no matter how potent – can help those who do not pick it up and fight.’ – Inkredia: Luwan of Brida
Goodreads rating: 4.2/5
11. In the Clearing by Robert Dugoni –
Let me start with this – I am a fan of Detective Tracy Crosswhite. Yes! That’s who you are going to meet in this dexterous murder mystery novel. Well, In the Clearing by Robert Dugoni is Book 3 in the Tracy Crosswhite detective series and the other novels are too staggering.
I have read quite a number of murder mysteries and the ones by Robert Dugoni are a pure gem. A flat-out fantastic piece of intelligence and planning. Indeed, a masterpiece.
‘You’re fishing, Detective. Problem is you’ve got a line in the water, but you got no bait on your hook.’ – In the Clearing
Goodreads rating: 4.3/5
12. The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini –
The Kite Runner is a heart-wrenching story of two very close friends, Amir and Hassan, which would touch you to the very core of your soul. A book that takes you on an emotional ride filled with friendship, trust, betrayal, and redemption.
Khaled Hosseini has so neatly weaved the story from the beginning to the end. A perfect read with a gripping tale. You will feel the emotion of each and every character and you would share their pain with every page you turn.
‘For you, a thousand times over.’ – The Kite Runner
Goodreads rating: 4.3/5
I am done with my suggestions. regarding the must-read books. Now it’s your choice, which one you would pick first but do give these all a try.
Stephen King said, ‘Books are uniquely portable magic’ and I can’t agree more. Books are like oceans you dive in for an adventurous exploration and you only come out when you have thoroughly explored it. (said the writer inside me)
Well, I would like to appreciate Mayur for some of his book suggestions and reviews, for those books are really worth reading.
So, which book according to you is a must-read? Do share with us in the comments below.
Please do share this list of must-read books with all the bibliophiles you have in your contact. They may thank you for this. (uh-huh)
‘I am a reader not because I don’t have a life but because I choose to have many.’
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