American journalist Margaret Fuller once stated, “Today a reader, tomorrow a leader.” The quote is enough to showcase the benefits associated with reading, especially books. While all the literary material is worth going through, there are some must read books of all time, like Pride and Prejudice, which never failed to capture the attention of reading enthusiasts.
Being a book lover, I have explored multiple libraries and digital literature to improve my knowledge. Based on what I read and explored so far, I have compiled a rundown of the top 10 books you should have in your reading list, as they are enough to transform your life.
Let’s Explore Them!
10 Must Read Books for Self-Development
Here are the must read books of all time for educators to enhance their self-development.
- Author: Harper Lee
- Genre: Domestic Fiction, Thriller
- Personal Recommendation Scores: 4.2/5
To Kill a Mockingbird, published in 1961, is set in a small town in Alabama. It covers themes of prejudice, justice, and racism.
Harper Lee
America
I wanted you to see what real courage is instead of getting the idea that courage is a man with a gun in his hand. It’s when you know you’re licked before you begin, but you begin anyway and see it through no matter what.
- Author: Elif Shafak
- Genre: Historic Fiction
- Personal Recommendation Scores: 5/5
There is a novel inside this novel that covers the spiritual story of Shams and Rumi. Both stories are parallel.
Elif Shafak
Turkey
Every true love and friendship is a story of unexpected transformation. If we are the same person before and after we loved, that means we haven’t loved enough.
- Author: Jane Austen
- Genre: Romance, Historical Fiction
- Personal Recommendation Scores: 4.3/5
Pride and Prejudice is set in early 19th century, when young fall in love with each other. They have to face titular sins P&P if they express their love and marry.
Jane Austen
Hampshire
I cannot fix on the hour, or the spot, or the look or the words which laid the foundation. It is too long ago. I was in the middle before I knew that I had begun.
- Author: George Orwell
- Genre: Dystopian Fiction, Political Fiction
- Personal Recommendation Scores: 4.9/5
1984 is one of the must read books of all time because it covers all aspects of a dystopian future. In addition, the era when politicians will control each aspect of humans’ lives.
George Orwell
England
Being in a minority, even in a minority of one, did not make you mad. There was truth, and there was untruth, and if you clung to the truth even against the whole world, you were not mad.
- Author: George Orwell
- Genre: Fable, Political Sitare
- Personal Recommendation Scores: 4.9/5
This book is based on an anthropomorphic animal farm that rebels against their human farmer for a better future. Ultimately, becomes the worst decision of them.
George Orwell
England
Man is the only creature that consumes without producing. He does not give milk, he does not lay eggs, he is too weak to pull the plough, he cannot run fast enough to catch rabbits. Yet he is lord of all the animals.
- Author: William Wall
- Genre: Biography
- Personal Recommendation Scores: 4.8/5
Inspired by the Painting of Van Gogh, showcases the life scenes of Van Gogh. Moreover, this book also inspired a movie that is available on YouTube.
William Wall
Ireland
There would come a time when I would know very well the man who would stay in that house long after its charm had faded. Everything that I am writing here now leads to that.
- Author: Elif Shafak
- Genre: Religious Fiction
- Personal Recommendation Scores: 4.5/5
Elif Shafak wrote this book to explore the themes of Friendship, Faith, and identity. This book revolves around a wealthy housewife who falls in love with a Philosophy professor.
Elif Shafak
Turkey
She had always suspected that even the calmest and sweetest women under stress were prone to outbursts of violence. Since she thought of herself as neither calm nor sweet, she had reckoned that her potential to lose control was considerably greater than theirs.
- Author: Vladimir Nabokov
- Genre: Tragicomedy
- Personal Recommendation Scores: 3.5/5
Lolita is a tragicomedy book which covers the story of a girl who is precociously seductive. This book was written by Vladimir Nabokov, who was a Russian writer and poet.
Vladimir Nabokov
Switzerland
She was Lo, plain Lo, in the morning, standing four feet ten in one sock. She was Lola in slacks. She was Dolly at school. She was Dolores on the dotted line. But in my arms, she was always Lolita.
- Author: Alice Walker
- Genre: Domestic Fiction
- Personal Recommendation Scores: 4.5/5
The Color Purple is an epistolary novel, which is based on the story of a girl’s growing up and self-realization in the African American region. She survives by rape and abuse.
Alice Walker
California
I think it pisses God off if you walk by the color purple in a field somewhere and don’t notice it. People think pleasing God is all God cares about. But any fool living in the world can see it always trying to please us back.
- Author: Héctor García, Francesc Miralles
- Genre: Self Help Book
- Personal Recommendation Scores: 4/5
IKIGAI is a book based on Japan’s secret way of living. Iki means “To Live,” and Gai means “Reason.” This enclosed the secrets of living lives in hard conditions.
Héctor García and Francesc Miralles
Japan
Life is not a problem to be solved. Just remember to have something that keeps you busy doing what you love while being surrounded by the people who love you.
Finale
These are the details about the top 10 must read books of all time for learners. While some of them are my favourite ones, others are placed in this rundown because of the exceptional literature available in them.
As they are related to different genres, you have a golden opportunity to improve your knowledge base about different topics. Many readers find these books in the market, but if they are unavailable, you can visit online book markets like Pango Books and BookFinder.
So, what are you looking for? Just grab the book and embark on a high-end learning journey!
