Loved both of those, and also give a second nod to Kafka’s The Trial as a candidate. But for me, personally, the best book I’ve read is Tolstoy’s War and Peace. It’s stupidly long, but had me deeply engaged from start to finish. Hate Russia, but love the Russian classics.
Russian literature is by far my favorite. It actually makes me love Russia for its historical grit and wonderful characters (or maybe caricatures?)
I am not Russian (my handle is a joke), but you don't have to hate Russia because of today's political environment. It has a very troubled past, but I marvel at how tough the people must have been throughout history. The Revolution(s) in the early 1900s is nightmare fuel if you want to dig into how it all went down.
War & Peace is a beautiful work, but it remains my second-favorite Tolstoy behind Anna Karenina.
In response to G Cup's post below yours, I absolutely love the mowing scene in AK where Levin works alongside the peasants to get the hay done in one day. It almost reads like he is describing the joy of running long. No one understands why he wants to work so hard out in the fields, but it fills him with joy. Kind of like running. There is something nice in those scenes.
Probably because it has resulted in centuries of cruelty in the name of God. Jesus had a wonderful message about loving our neighbors. Too bad so few of today's "Christians" live it.
As others have said, of course there is no " best book. "
But these are a few of the books that left a lasting impression on me and or I thoroughly enjoyed [ repeating several that have already been mentioned and adding a few others]-
Candide- Voltaire
Rasselas- Samuel Johnson [ published in the same year as Candide, with many similar themes and parallels. But also major differences]
The Trial - Kafka
Notes from the Underground- Dostoevsky. [ It left a bigger impression on me than did his great novels, though those of course are also up there]
Doctor Jeckle and Mr Hyde- Robert Louis Stevenson
1984- Orwell
The Dubliners- James Joyce
Catcher in the Rye- Salinger
The Death of Ivan Ilyich- Tolstoy
The Box Man - Kobe Abe
[ A theme you might notice is my preference for shorter works, Possibly less complex narratives/ language, dark humor/satire combined with serious themes. Not all , but most. ]
I have to say that I've spent a lot of my adulthood (now 38) reading books that are noted as classics of literature to find out why they are so great. this is partially fueled by some english classes in college and also just wanting to be more well read.
I just finished Grapes of Wrath this year and it was so powerful and so meaningful in the world today. to read about how Steinbeck was A political and simply was writing about how he saw people being treated is so interesting.
I would have to put
War and Peace is up there. I liked it more than anna Karenina at the end of the day. I would echo what many have mentioned that russian literature is so wonderful. just lengthy books you can dive into amazing stories and descriptions of the world. I'll never forget a scene in war and piece where a carriage rolls through a kopse of trees and the sun hitting the leaves is described.
I am also a big fan of the Nick Adams Stories by Hemingway.
I also have really enjoyed Faulkner's way of writing. IT's similar in some manner in the impressionistic way of Joyce. I will say that the complexity of Joyce's work sometimes makes it hard.
I have to say that I've spent a lot of my adulthood (now 38) reading books that are noted as classics of literature to find out why they are so great. this is partially fueled by some english classes in college and also just wanting to be more well read.
I just finished Grapes of Wrath this year and it was so powerful and so meaningful in the world today. to read about how Steinbeck was A political and simply was writing about how he saw people being treated is so interesting.
I would have to put
War and Peace is up there. I liked it more than anna Karenina at the end of the day. I would echo what many have mentioned that russian literature is so wonderful. just lengthy books you can dive into amazing stories and descriptions of the world. I'll never forget a scene in war and piece where a carriage rolls through a kopse of trees and the sun hitting the leaves is described.
I am also a big fan of the Nick Adams Stories by Hemingway.
I also have really enjoyed Faulkner's way of writing. IT's similar in some manner in the impressionistic way of Joyce. I will say that the complexity of Joyce's work sometimes makes it hard.
I'm reading Marcus Aurelius's Meditations right now (Gregory Hays translation) and I find myself highlighting so many maxims one ought to live by. Arguably the first real "self-help" book before those became a thing: "Choose not to be harmed—and you won't feel harmed. Don't feel harmed—and you haven't been" (p. 39).
I'll also give Atomic Habits and The Magic of Thinking Big a shout. Apply just one (1) lesson from each of those books and watch your life take a turn for the better.
I've also really enjoyed Plato's shorter dialogues, namely Theaetetus (essentially lays the foundation for epistemology) and Euthyphro ("Is something pious because the gods love it or do the gods love what is pious?").
If you're into money and investing, read anything by Morgan Housel. The Psychology of Money and Same As Ever will change how you view seemingly trivial everyday occurrences.
In terms of straight literature, I'll chime in and say Anton Chekhov's short stories are masterpieces, with "The Bet" being my favorite (it's short so just go read it). F. Scott Fitzgerald's essay "The Crack-Up" (about his mental breakdown) and his story "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" really made me think about my meaning of life.
A couple hot takes I have: Orwell's essays are 10x better than his novels (read "Politics and the English Language," "Why I Write," and "Shooting an Elephant" if you think I'm crazy); The Tipping Point and David and Goliath (by LRC's favorite author) are masterpieces in 21st-century everyday thinking.
I've been fortunate enough to read many great works of literature and philosophy, and I am certainly leaving out many, but these are the ones which come to mind first.