Around this time every year, various friends reach out to me asking for book recommendations—specifically, for great works of fiction. I’ve sent this list out so many times I decided to turn it into a post.
As I and many of others have argued, there are many reasons why you should read great fiction. I won’t belabor the point here, but suffice it to say that if you’re not consuming a regular diet of great literature, you’re missing out on one of life’s greatest joys.
Simply put, these works of fiction are the most moving, challenging, and thought-provoking novels I’ve ever read. They will enlarge your imagination and change the way you think about the world.
I hope they impact you as much as they have me. So whether you’re looking for your next book club pick or simply a great novel to read before bed, you can’t go wrong with any of these works.
Note: These books are presented in no particular order.
“People don’t realize how a man’s whole life can be changed by one book.”
If you’re like most people, you bounce from book to book haphazardly. What you read from month to month and year to year is simply not something you really sit down and think about. Or maybe you’ve gone through a season without reading any books at all. If that’s the case, you’re definitely not alone:
With a few days left in 2018, there’s still time for a few more end-of-the-year lists. Here’s a list of my favorite shows from 2018.
As 2018 comes to a close, so does the year in reading. Unfortunately, I didn’t read as many books this year as I’d hoped. (I was shooting for 40 but ended up closer to 30).
But now it’s time to reflect back on the books I loved reading most this year. These books challenged and encouraged me. They opened up new worlds and gave me new perspectives. They gave me a sense of wonder, joy, and hope. I hope you’ll read a few of them in 2019.