What books should I read to be considered well-read?

Question

Around 1990 my Humanities professor gave me a list of books (I think it named 100 of them) that anyone who considers themself well-read must read. The list included books on philosophy, the arts, music, fiction, non-fiction, history, and the Bible. The list was compiled from scholars and bibliophiles from around the world. I tried finding this list on Yahoo, Google, and Ask Jeeves, but so far book lists I found were narrow in perspective and were more of a suggestion for a "best" book list instead of a "required" book list for the well-read. Can anyone help?

Answer 1

Hi Compu Q!

I have asked myself that same question millions of times, and believe it or not the book on this link (http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1844034178/026-0909712-7165228?v=glance&n=266239) has helped me a lot. Hope it does the same for you.
Good luck finding your list!

Hannah :)

Answer 2

Haha, funny thing is, my mom said I really should read the books by Mitch Albom, but I haven't yet. That's why this question caught my eye. Like Tuesday's With Morrie and The Five People You Meet in Heaven. The classics are a really good idea, but you've got to find your thing or they'll just bore you. The Great Gatsby is very famous. I enjoyed The Diary of Anne Frank. Make sure it's stuff you enjoy reading, too, otherwise it's pointless. My dad says War and Peace is a really famous book that really makes it look like you're well read (and you wouldn't just SEEM to be well read; you WOULD be. If you just look at it in the bookstore, you'll see what I mean; it's HUGE. But you can tell from the title that not everyone would enjoy it). Good question; I'll check out the other answers myself, too. Happy reading. ♥ Peace

Answer 3

I think you may be looking for "The Great Books Curriculum" or in a contemporary setting "The Western Canon". The GBC was developed by Columbia University at the turn of the century and includes the monumental works of all languages throughout history. It included alot of books, read half and you'll be in the top 2% of reading americans.

The Western Canon is a book that was put out my literary scholar Harold Bloom (famous for Shakespeare and Poetry criticism). It's at most bookstores and gives about a four page criticism to many books that make up the "Western Canon" or the great works of the western world. It includes plays, novels, and histories, aswell.

Answer 4

These lists will give you something close to what you want.

The first is called 'The 100 Greatest Books Ever Written.'
http://www.listsofbests.com/list/5883

This one is from Harold Bloom's book The Western Canon:
http://www.listsofbests.com/list/3458

List from the book The New Lifetime Reading Plan:
http://www.listsofbests.com/list/5227

List from the book The Well-Educated Mind:
http://www.listsofbests.com/list/18321

101 Great Books for College-Bound Readers:
http://www.listsofbests.com/list/16484

I suggest you take a few of these lists and combine and edit them to form your own list. Also take a look at other lists on this website.

Answer 5

I did this at one point... tried to get a handle on the "Bokks you should read". I like novels, so I started there. One's I recommend:

The Jungle
The Heart is a Lonely Hunter
The Good Earth
East of Eden


All these are early 20th century and by western writers, although Good Earth takes place in China. All good stuff

Oh, one more

Superfudge.

Answer 6

This might be the list (or at least it's similar to the list) you're looking for. This is TIME magazine's list of all time 100 novels. Let me know if you need any recommendations on any of them--I've read a good number! :)

http://www.time.com/time/2005/100books/the_complete_list.html

Answer 7

I think that you would need to read a wide range of genres. Read fiction and nonfiction and some of the other genres like fantasy and sci fi and romance, etc...Also definitely read a range of classics and contemporaries. Don't necessarily read only what's on the bestseller lists either. Read good quality and you'll be considered well read.

Answer 8

Wow I wish I had that list. I'm sorry I can't help to find that list. Although you can possibly start with finding authors you do like and finding out who THEY read and who those authors read, etc. etc. You can also look up Pulitzer Prize winners as a start.

Answer 9

I don't think there is such a list of books that if you read them you will be considered well-read, and the reason for that is that reading them alone will not do, you must also be able to understand what you are reading.

Answer 10

I don't think that there are certain books that you must read to be considerd well read. Read what you would like to read, or about things that you are interested in.