Must-read classics: 7 books to read in your lifetime

Explore 7 timeless classic books that have left a lasting mark on literature and life. Discover why these masterpieces still matter today.

Jun 5, 2025 - 00:20

Must-read classics: 7 books to read in your lifetime

Some books fade with time. Others grow stronger.

In every era, there are books that don’t just tell stories — they become stories we carry with us for life. These classics transcend generations, cultures, and borders. They challenge how we think, feel, and live. They ask timeless questions, offer unforgettable characters, and often hold a mirror up to the human condition.

To read a classic is to hold history, emotion, and wisdom in your hands. These are the books that have shaped revolutions, stirred souls, and influenced everything from modern literature to political thought. And no matter how long your to-be-read pile grows, these seven are non-negotiables.

7 classic books you must read before you die

1. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

Why it endures: This Pulitzer Prize-winning novel is as relevant today as it was in 1960. Set in the racially charged Deep South, it explores justice, prejudice, and morality through the innocent eyes of Scout Finch.

Why you must read it: Harper Lee’s quiet, powerful prose reminds us of the cost of silence and the courage it takes to stand for what’s right, even when you're the only one doing it.

2. 1984 by George Orwell

Why it endures: Written in 1949, Orwell's dystopian vision of a surveillance state and thought control feels eerily familiar in our digital age.

Why you must read it: It’s a chilling reminder of how power, language, and fear can reshape reality. It will make you question everything — even your thoughts.

3. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

Why it endures: Published in 1813, Austen’s sharp wit, romantic tension, and social commentary remain irresistibly fresh.

Why you must read it: It’s more than a love story. It’s a critique of gender, class, and pride — all wrapped in elegant prose and unforgettable dialogue.

4. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

Why it endures: A jazz-age tragedy of wealth, illusion, and the American Dream gone sour, this novel captures the hollow heart of opulence.

Why you must read it: Its poetic language and haunting message about longing, identity, and loss still strike a nerve, especially in our image-obsessed era.

5. One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez

Why it endures: A masterwork of magical realism, this epic chronicles the Buendía family over generations in the fictional town of Macondo.

Why you must read it: It’s a surreal, sweeping tale about history repeating itself, the blur between fantasy and reality, and the weight of memory.

6. Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky

Why it endures: This psychological drama dives deep into guilt, morality, and redemption through the tortured mind of a young murderer in 19th-century Russia.

Why you must read it: Dostoevsky explores what it means to be human — to suffer, to question, and to confront our darkest instincts.

7. Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

Why it endures: Written by a teenager in 1818, Frankenstein is not just a horror story, but a profound meditation on creation, loneliness, and responsibility.

Why you must read it: It’s the original cautionary tale about playing God — and a surprisingly moving story about what it means to be loved... or feared.

Final thoughts

These classics have stood the test of time not because they’re old, but because they’re true. They speak to us across centuries, asking questions that still have no easy answers. When you read them, you’re not just reading a book — you’re engaging in a conversation with history, humanity, and yourself.

So light a candle, find a quiet spot, and pick one up. Life is short. These stories are forever.