The one book everyone should read?!?

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Replies

  • shelbyfrootcake
    shelbyfrootcake Posts: 965 Member
    Timothy Ferriss - The 4-Hour Body

    Intrigued by the title I just looked that up. It was not what I was expecting!
  • JenMull44
    JenMull44 Posts: 226 Member
    ANYTHING by James Patterson or "A Painted House", and "The Broker ." by John Grisham
  • vim_n_vigor
    vim_n_vigor Posts: 4,089 Member
    OP - the nice thing with books is that if one doesn't appeal to you, you can always pick up another. I would say there isn't 'one book' that everyone should read, but that people should find the 'one book' that really changes them. When I was younger, I would go to the library and check out a lot of books at a time. I would start reading them. I was pretty young, but the rule I had for myself was that I would read the first 10 pages. If I wasn't interested by then I would simply set that book aside and grab the next one.

    When I was in high school, we were on a class trip and I borrowed a book from a friend. I was only able to get through less than half of the book, but I was so engrossed in it. I remembered it for years, but I couldn't remember the name of the book. About 15 years later, I was in a movie theater watching a new movie. There was my book! I bought the book on the way home from the movie - Lord of the Rings.

    Will that one click for you? I have no idea. When I was younger, I read Anne Frank and Harriet Tubman until I wore out the books. Will those click for you? I have no idea again. I would suggest picking up some of the books in this thread from your local library and start reading. If you don't like them, move on.
  • VelociMama
    VelociMama Posts: 3,119 Member
    I really enjoy nonfiction for some good perspective, though I enjoy fiction sometimes too.

    If you're interested in ideas surrounding religion and science: The Universe in a Single Atom by the Dalai Lama is a wonderful read.

    If you love history:

    A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson (FANTASTICALLY written book on the history of science and the modern world)

    Guns, Germs, and Steel by Jared Diamond (Wonderful book on how human societies got formed and why).

    If you love biographies:

    The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank

    Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass by Frederick Douglass

    John Adams by David McCullough

    Caesar: Life of a Colossus by Adrian Goldsworthy (probably my favorite biography ever)

    I don't believe in just having ONE book to rule them all per se, but there are a list that I find really enjoyable and enlightening. I've listed a few above.
  • bowseramanda
    bowseramanda Posts: 58 Member
    I would suggest getting an E-Reader of some sort. You don't need the top of the line and you could maybe find one on ebay as the bookworms tend to upgrade. I suggest this because you would be able to check out many books free or very cheap and if you get some friends that also have one you can even "loan" stuff. It would let you experience multiple genres until you figure out what you really like.

    Or he could just go to the library. :-)
    LOL that is true. I love books and bookstores and libraries but I was trying to see it thru the eyes of someone that doesn't. It may be a little less intimidating to browse at home. At least that's how it is with my hubby who is not a reader at all. He will at least use the nook to find something he likes.
  • Shrelana
    Shrelana Posts: 248 Member
    Oh yea...any thing by Mitch Albom! :)
  • G_Wiz87
    G_Wiz87 Posts: 25
    "Tuesdays With Morrie" is one of my go-to books.
  • Bex2Bslim
    Bex2Bslim Posts: 1,092
    Timothy Ferriss - The 4-Hour Body

    Intrigued by the title I just looked that up. It was not what I was expecting!

    Still a good read though :)
  • vim_n_vigor
    vim_n_vigor Posts: 4,089 Member
    As a guy looking for a classic...All Quiet on the Western Front.

    That is a great book
  • rmarie1017
    rmarie1017 Posts: 58 Member
    Bump for later! I'm always looking for a good book to read! :smile:
  • rml_16
    rml_16 Posts: 16,414 Member
    I would suggest getting an E-Reader of some sort. You don't need the top of the line and you could maybe find one on ebay as the bookworms tend to upgrade. I suggest this because you would be able to check out many books free or very cheap and if you get some friends that also have one you can even "loan" stuff. It would let you experience multiple genres until you figure out what you really like.

    Or he could just go to the library. :-)
    LOL that is true. I love books and bookstores and libraries but I was trying to see it thru the eyes of someone that doesn't. It may be a little less intimidating to browse at home. At least that's how it is with my hubby who is not a reader at all. He will at least use the nook to find something he likes.

    I have to have the actual books in front of me to figure it out. But he's got a whole list to start with from this thread, so he could write a few down and then head to the library.

    One thing I will say is if he has a smart phone and can download the Kindle app, there are a lot of classics available for free that way and that wouldn't require spending money on an e-reader he may or may not use again.
  • Seriousmom3
    Seriousmom3 Posts: 164
    Fool by Christopher Moore. Or anything by Christopher Moore for that matter. They are all full of heinous f*ckery. So funny. Or if you like fantasy...David Gemmel and the Rigante books, awesome. On the level with George R. R. Martin's books, but easier to get into.
  • bcattoes
    bcattoes Posts: 17,299 Member
    Haven't read the other answers but my honest answer would be the Bible. However, I sense that is not the sort of thing you are looking for. But I can't think of just one other book everyone should read so I'll just list a few of my favorite classics.

    A Tale of Two Cities - Charles ****ens
    Tess of the D'urbervilles - Thomas Hardy
    The Grapes of Wrath - John Steinbeck
    (actually anything by ****ens, Hardy or Steinbeck)
    To Kill A Mockingbird - Harper Lee
    Dracula - Bram Stoker
    The Count of Monte Cristo - Alexandre Dumas
    Moby-**** - Herman Melville
    The Lord of the Rings - J. R. R. Tolkien
    The Scarlet Pimpernel - Baroness Orczy

    I could go on, but that should get you started.
  • rml_16
    rml_16 Posts: 16,414 Member
    Another suggestion: What movies based on books do you really love? Check out the book versions!
  • VelociMama
    VelociMama Posts: 3,119 Member
    By far, my three favorite classic fiction novels are David Copperfield by Charles ****ens, Moby **** by Herman Melville, and The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas. All are fantastic reads.

    The collection of Hemingway's short stories is really wonderful stuff too.
  • Hannah_Banana
    Hannah_Banana Posts: 1,242 Member
    The Creature from Jekyll Island, The Worldly Philosophers, Atlas Shrugged or or anything by Andrew Napoliatano.
  • MelissR75
    MelissR75 Posts: 735 Member
    Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford or The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini.
  • cmeade20
    cmeade20 Posts: 1,238 Member
    Anything Stephen King and John Grisham usually sucks me in
  • Truemoose
    Truemoose Posts: 19 Member
    To Kill a Mockingbird , love the movie as well!
  • frando
    frando Posts: 583 Member
    If you want good erotica the Plume series.

    But a truly beautiful book is Like of Pi by Yann Martel.
  • Aross83
    Aross83 Posts: 936 Member
    Wow this is pretty funny........
  • Mr_Bad_Example
    Mr_Bad_Example Posts: 2,403 Member
    Fool by Christopher Moore. Or anything by Christopher Moore for that matter. They are all full of heinous f*ckery. So funny.

    Good call! Christopher Moore is a riot - "Bloodsucking Fiends" is one of my all-time favorites - Tom Robbins is pretty hysterical too ("Still Life With Woodpecker" was great).
  • cmeade20
    cmeade20 Posts: 1,238 Member
    Haven't read the other answers but my honest answer would be the Bible. However, I sense that is not the sort of thing you are looking for. But I can't think of just one other book everyone should read so I'll just list a few of my favorite classics.

    A Tale of Two Cities - Charles ****ens
    Tess of the D'urbervilles - Thomas Hardy
    The Grapes of Wrath - John Steinbeck
    (actually anything by ****ens, Hardy or Steinbeck)
    To Kill A Mockingbird - Harper Lee
    Dracula - Bram Stoker
    The Count of Monte Cristo - Alexandre Dumas
    Moby-**** - Herman Melville
    The Lord of the Rings - J. R. R. Tolkien
    The Scarlet Pimpernel - Baroness Orczy

    I could go on, but that should get you started.


    I haven't read all of these but I do second that ATale of Two Cities, The Count of Monte Cristo, To KiIl A Mockingbird, Dracula and anything Steinbeck are all great reads.
  • Tsunami79
    Tsunami79 Posts: 122 Member
    If you like horror book, The Watchers by Dean Koontz & A Time to Kill: A Novel by John Grisham

    If you like scifi - Look Again a Novel by Lisa Scottoline

    For you ladies: Why My Third Husband Will Be A Dog by Lisa Scottoline
  • WarriorReady
    WarriorReady Posts: 571 Member
    The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch

    It's a short but awesome book! :wink:
  • kelly101386
    kelly101386 Posts: 389 Member
    Ready Player One by Earnest Cline is a definite. It's not too long and perfect!

    If you'll feeling brave, The Dark Tower series by Stephen King is wonderful and I cannot recommend it enough!
  • sdereski
    sdereski Posts: 3,406 Member
    A Million Little Pieces or My Friend Leonard by James Frey. Two of the best books I have ever read. And based on his real life experiences.

    About a junkie who goes to rehab and his journey there. My Friend Leonard is about his journey after rehab and his wonderful friend he meets in rehab, Leonard.

    Unfortunately James Frey is a fraud and A Million Little Pieces is entirely fiction.

    Still a damn good read. I continue to recommend it.
  • sdereski
    sdereski Posts: 3,406 Member
    To Kill a Mockingbird , love the movie as well!

    I am currently reading this. :happy:
  • shanster23
    shanster23 Posts: 144 Member
    Harry Potter!
    It's my obsession. It's been my favourite ever since I first read it over 10 years ago. Although I'm aware that the simple writing style makes it not for everybody.

    Her writing style is actually very sophisticated, especially starting in book 4. It's EASY to read, but it isn't simple. It's a very complex and well-developed story.

    You're right, I just worded it wrong. What I meant was that because it is written to be easy for children to read, it wont suit everybody's tastes, because some people like books that use bigger words and such. :)
  • maab_connor
    maab_connor Posts: 3,927 Member
    Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Prachett

    Harry Potter by JK Rowling

    these are the books that i MUST re-read every single year.

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