best books to read
Reading is one of the most enriching habits one can cultivate. Books open doors to new worlds, expand our knowledge, and sharpen our thinking. Whether you’re looking for inspiration, self-improvement, or simply a great story, there’s a book for every mood and interest.
We have listed the books here to read across different genres fiction, nonfiction, and classic. All these books contain their own uniqueness and rhythm.
Let’s start the reading journey!
1. Atomic Habits By James Clear
Atomic Habits by James Clear is a powerful guide to building good habits and breaking bad ones by focusing on small, consistent changes. The book explains how tiny improvements of just 1% each day compound over time to create remarkable results.
Clear breaks down the science of habit formation, using a simple framework: cue, craving, response, and reward. He also shares practical strategies like the “4 Laws of Behavior Change” (make habits obvious, attractive, easy, and satisfying) to help readers stick to positive routines.
2. 1984 By George Orwell
This book shows a scary future where the government controls everything. People are watched all the time by “Big Brother.” The main character, Winston, works for the government but starts to hate the system. He writes his thoughts in a secret diary, which is illegal. He also falls in love with Julia, another crime in this world.
The government changes facts and lies to people. They even have police who arrest you for thinking the wrong things. In the end, Winston learns you can’t escape the system. Orwell wrote this in 1949, but many ideas feel true today. It makes you think about freedom, truth, and power.
3. The Alchemist By Paulo Coelho
This book contains the story of Santiago, a young shepherd from Spain who keeps having the same dream about treasure near the Egyptian pyramids. He decides to follow this dream, even though it means leaving behind everything he knows. His journey takes him across Africa, where he meets all kinds of people, some who help him and some who trick him.
The book teaches that when you truly want something, the world helps make it happen. But it’s not really about finding gold the real treasure is what you learn along the way. The writing is simple but powerful, with lots of little lessons about listening to your heart and watching for signs.
4. Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari
This book tells the incredible story of how humans went from being just another animal to ruling the planet. Harari takes you through three big revolutions that changed everything:
- The Cognitive Revolution (70,000 years ago): When our brains suddenly got better, letting us create languages, stories, and gods. This is why we could team up in big groups while other animals couldn’t.
- The Agricultural Revolution (12,000 years ago): Farming made life easier, right? Wrong, Harari says it trapped us in harder work and created kings, money, and wars. But it also let civilizations grow.
- The Scientific Revolution (500 years ago): When humans finally admitted we didn’t know everything and started discovering like crazy. This led to empires, factories, and the world we know today.
5. To Kill a Mockingbird By Harper Lee
This is a story about a little girl named Scout who lives in a small town in the 1930s. She and her brother Jem learn about life through their father, Atticus, a good lawyer. Atticus defends a black man named Tom Robinson, who is unfairly accused of a crime. The town shows its ugly racist side during the trial.
Scout also wonders about their mysterious neighbor Boo Radley, who never comes outside. By the end, she learns important lessons about kindness and fairness. The book shows how unfair the world can be, especially in the past.
It came out in 1960 and became very famous. Many schools make students read it. Some parts might make you uncomfortable, but that’s the point it shows how racism hurts people. The title comes from something Atticus says: it’s wrong to hurt innocent things, like killing a bird that only sings for us.
6. The Power of Now By Eckhart Tolle
This book shows how our thoughts often trap us. We replay old memories or imagine future problems, missing the actual moment we’re living in. Tolle explains that this mental habit creates most of our suffering. His solution? Practice paying full attention to what’s happening right now.
He offers clear techniques to notice when your mind wanders and gently return to the present. Many readers say these methods reduced their anxiety dramatically. The teachings blend spirituality with psychology, using simple language anyone can understand. Originally self-published in 1997, it became a word-of-mouth bestseller by helping people break free from stressful thought patterns.
7. The Subtle Art of Not Giving a Fck By Mark Manson
Manson argues we should focus on what truly matters to us and stop caring about everything else. He uses blunt humor to explain how life’s struggles give it meaning and why we should choose better problems to solve. Key ideas include taking responsibility for your life, embracing failure, and realizing you can’t please everyone. No sugarcoating here, just straight talk about facing reality. It became a mega-bestseller for its refreshing, no-BS approach.
These books offer powerful lessons that stay with you long after reading. James Clear’s Atomic Habits shows how small changes create big results, while *1984* warns about losing freedom without noticing. The Alchemist reminds us that life’s real treasures often come from the journey itself. Yuval Noah Harari’s Sapiens makes you rethink human history in surprising ways.
