Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe is an illuminating flash into African culture and literature. This novel deals with the shifting power dynamics in a colonized Africa. The protagonist, Okonkwo, finds it hard to accept the laws and norms enforced on his community. Recommended by bibliophiles around the world, this novel is among the top books that one must read before they die, because it strengthens ones perspective on what civilization and community mean.

5. Frankenstein

Mary Shelly’s ‘Frankenstein’ is a very important contribution to the literary world. It can easily qualify as the first science friction book to ever be written. The plot revolves around an obsessed scientist named Frankenstein, and the monster that he creates. After reading this great piece of fiction, many questions will crowd your mind about the ethos and pathos of life. The most important question will be: who is the real monster in Frankenstein?

Also read: Dream psychology

6. The God of Small Things

Arundhati Roy’s book named "The God of Small Things" should definitely be considered if you want to select one book to read before you die. Her first fictional work and her debut novel earned her the Booker Prize. Readers have described this book as a hauntingly beautiful story of caste taboos and what breaking them means in rigid and orthodox societies.

7. To Kill a Mocking Bird

To Kill A Mocking Bird by Harper Lee is extraordinary and educational in the way it is written. It illustrates the oppressive power structure in America through the eyes of its young and innocent protagonist named Scout. This is one of the must read books that one must read. Although it was written in the 20th century but American society will still seem eerily similar to you even today.

8. The Great Gatsby

This novel by F. Scott Fitzgerald is the roaring 1920s. This time American society was infused in corrupted and indulgence. When you read this book, you will learn each and everything about the fragility of the American dream and the heights people can go to achieve it.

9. The Handmaid’s Tale

The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood can be best described as terrifying. The novel’s creepy yet plausible dystopic society is a fine critique of the patriarchal status quo and imperiled women’s rights in America. It is certainly one of the most important novels to read before you die, this dynamic book raises various political concerns for today’s world.

10. All About Love

The last one of the books you must read before you die, is Bell Hooks’ ‘All About Love’. It is a book that teaches us all about ‘love’, the most important quality a human possesses. This novel asserts the fact that love is more of a noun than a verb. It also describes how our society has appropriated and crooked the meaning of ‘love’. This book will teach you how you can fall in love, stay in love, and cultivate love.



Now that you know the books you absolutely should read, you can start your journey. As you move down the list, you will find your life enriched in many different ways and get to know many different aspects of life.

Also read: Dream psychology