105 books you should read before you die

We have prepared a selection of books that you should read before you die. Each one of them represents an authentic literary gem, different in its form and style, and all deserve to be appreciated before leaving.

Reading is a high return investment. Whether as a hobby or as a study method, in reading you will find a great ally when it comes to cultivating new ideas, expanding your mental horizons and giving life to deep perspectives on the world around you. Choose your next reading!

List of books you have to read before you die

You may be able to anticipate some of the titles on the list; However, others will surely surprise you. We have not limited ourselves to classical literature. Although we have of course taken these criteria into account, we have also added works that are of particular interest.

Nor have we restricted ourselves to a single genre; Our collection covers a wide variety of themes to please all tastes.

1. Don Quixoteby Miguel de Cervantes

Don Quijote of La Mancha, is the second best-selling book in the world. Its first part was published in 1605, and the second was published 10 years later, shortly before its author died. It is considered the first modern novel and the most important work of Spanish and universal literature..

2. Cosmosby Carl Sagan

Inspired by the popular science series Cosmos: A personal journeyin Cosmos Some topics are expanded and addressed from a more analytical perspective. It is divided into 13 chapters, and since its launch in 1980 it has been a bestseller.

3. The Count of Monte Cristoby Alexandre Dumas

Published in 1844, it is considered the most important work of the French novelist Alexandre Dumas. The plot follows the life of Edmundo Dantes, a young sailor who is betrayed and unjustly imprisoned in a prison on the island of If.

4. Frankensteinby Mary Shelley

Frankenstein is one of the greatest exponents of the gothic novel and a classic of fantastic literature and even science fiction literature (many consider it the first of its kind). It has been adapted countless times to film and theater.

5. History of two citiesby Charles Dickens

An outstanding work of English literature, published in 1859. The narrative moves through the cities of London and Paris, highlighting the marked contrasts inherent to the historical context in which it is set: the French Revolution.

The same author gives us other literary treasures such as Oliver Twist and David Copperfieldwhich also deserve a place on the list of books you should read before you die.

6. gone With the Windby Margaret Mitchell

The novel was a bestseller from its first week on the market, and was immediately adapted to film. The film was released at the end of 1939 and won 10 Oscars.. Set during the Civil War, gone With the Wind is a book that all romantic drama fans must read.

7. One hundred years of lonelinessby Gabriel García Márquez

One hundred years of loneliness serves as a letter of introduction to the literary universe of the renowned Colombian writer, Gabriel García Márquez. This work was published in 1967 and since then it has established itself as one of the references of magical realism.

The author, winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1982, He devised several stories and novels set in the fictional world of Macondo, a setting that becomes the epicenter for the development of many of his stories.

8. Brief answers to the big questionsby Stephen Hawking

Published at the end of 2018, it is one of the most important scientific dissemination works in recent years. In it you will find an introduction to the most transcendental enigmas of the universe, such as the origin of life, the existence of God and the possible presence of civilizations in the cosmos.

It should be noted that this is a posthumous book, since its author died shortly before finishing it.

9. 1984by George Orwell

1984 is one of the best dystopian books ever written. It was published in mid-1949 and many of its ideas have been extrapolated to today’s society.

For example, today, it is disturbing to observe concepts such as “Big Brother” or the “thought police” are present in different forms. Even the term “orwellian» to describe events similar to those narrated in the novel.

10. The Adventures of Sherlock Holmesby Arthur Conan Doyle

The passion for the famous English detective has been reborn thanks to the film adaptations of the last decade. If you have seen one and liked it, it is likely that the books will captivate you even more. The collection brings together a total of 12 stories that will introduce you to the insight of Sherlock Holmes.

eleven. Harry Potterby JK Rowling

Harry Potter deserves a top spot among the books you should read before you die, regardless of whether you’re a fan of the movies or not. This saga is positioned as one of the most significant contemporary sales phenomena, and its influence on popular culture is latent everywhere.

12. The Lord of the ringsby JR Tolkien

If you have seen its film adaptations, you cannot stop reading the original copy. Although publishers often divide it into three volumes, in reality the work does not constitute a trilogy.

Furthermore, if you are captivated by the universe created by Tolkien, we suggest you also consider reading The Hobbit and The Silmarillionas complements that will enrich your literary experience.

13. Churchill: The Biographyby Andrew Roberts

Published in late 2019, it is recognized as the best biography written about Winston Churchill to date.

In its more than 1300 pages, This work offers all kinds of information about the public and private life of the influential politician, who stood out as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom during the Second World War. and whose leadership was crucial in the resistance against Nazi Germany.

14. Tom Sawyer’s adventuresby Mark Twain

Another classic of North American literature that we could not leave out of our selection. Published in 1876, this charming story tells the adventures of a young man in the context of the 19th century on the banks of the majestic Mississippi River.

fifteen. Alice’s Adventures in Wonderlandby Lewis Carroll

Due to the popularity it has achieved thanks to disney, this work does not require further presentations. Characters such as Alice, the White Rabbit, the Queen of Hearts or the Cheshire Cat are part of popular culture.

16. The selfish geneby Richard Dawkins

One of the best-known texts by Richard Dawkins, the well-known evolutionary biologist. It is written in an informative tone in which The theory of evolution is explained from the point of view of genes. Without a doubt, this is an essential title among the recommended books that you should read before you die.

17. Song of ice and fireby George R.R. Martin

Although this is a series of novels that already enjoyed recognition before its film adaptation, Game of Thrones He achieved massive notoriety thanks to his success on screen.

The story focuses on the political struggles and wars between noble houses for control of the Iron Throne in the Seven Kingdoms of a fictional world, where intrigue, betrayal and magic are intertwined in a rich and complex plot.

18. The catcher in the ryeby JD Salinger

It had its first edition in 1951, generating controversy due to its provocative content for the time. It narrates the emotional and existential journey of Holden Caulfield, an alienated young man searching for his place in the world, exploring themes of adolescence, loneliness and the search for authenticity in a hypocritical world.

The catcher in the rye It is one of those books that collects everything but indifference. His unbridled and particular style can make you fall in love or dislike you from the first chapter, since it remains constant throughout the entire work. But why don’t you give it a try and decide for yourself?

19. Tales from childhood and homeby the Brothers Grimm

It is a collection of popular tales that includes iconic stories such as Rapunzel, Hansel and Gretelthe Cinderella, little Red Riding Hood and Snow White, among many others. Their versions differ from those we are used to in the cinema and in other adaptations.

twenty. Sapiensby Yuval Noah Harari

Its first edition was published in Hebrew in 2011, although it was not until 2014 that we saw the version in English, Spanish and thirty other languages. This book tells ustake you on a fascinating journey from the Stone Age to the 21st century, offering a critical analysis of the evolution of humanity as a species.

twenty-one. Itemby Stephen King

It is a horror novel set in the fictional city of Derry, which tells the story of a group of friends who, in their childhood, face an evil entity that takes the form of their worst fears. Like many of the must-read-before-you-die books on our list, Item It has been adapted to film on several occasions.

22. The Great Gatsbyby Scott Fitzgerald

Despite its initial commercial failure, after the death of its author, critics rediscovered it and considered it a masterpiece. The Great Gatsby tells the life of an enigmatic millionaire who throws lavish parties at his mansion while pursuing an old love in a world of opulence and decadence.

23. A Clockwork Orangeby Anthony Burgess

Another title that explores dystopian scenarios and is part of popular culture. Follow Alex, a young leader of a gang of violent criminals, who becomes the subject of a controversial psychological experiment that aims to “cure” him of his inclination towards violence.

Its massive reception came when filmmaker Kubrick adapted it to the big screen, although of course this interpretation differs in many points from the original version.

24. World history and chronologyby Isaac Asimov

In its pages you will find a tour of the most relevant moments in the history of humanity, at least until the end of the Second World War. Other titles by the author that you can include on your list of books you should read before you die are Chronology of discoveries and The universe.

25. Charlie and the Chocolate Factoryby Roald Dahl

Published in 1964, the novel has become famous for its film adaptations. The first of them in 1971, with a script by Dahl himself. The second in 2005, by Tim Burton. In addition to the original work, there is a second, less well-known part entitled Charlie and the big glass elevator.

But that’s not all: this year (2023) the movie Wonka was released, which focuses on Willy Wonka’s youth and his encounter with the Oompa-Loompas on one of his first adventures.

26. The origin of speciesby Charles Darwin

Since its publication in 1850, The origin of species of Darwin has caused a revolution in the sciences. Ideas that we all know today as that of natural selection.

Although…