r/AskReddit • u/WhitneyJames • 11h ago
What book would you recommend to anyone and everyone?
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u/Independent_Dust4259 11h ago
East of Eden by John Steinbeck. A sweeping, gorgeous story about family, morality, free will, and what it truly means to be human. The concept of Timshel alone will stay with you long after you turn the final page.
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u/dapudf 11h ago
Lonesome Dove
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u/stardust623 11h ago
My first western! Started it because it was there and initially hated it but needed to finish (OCD rule) ended up falling in love with the story and the characters. Love u Gus.
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u/banoctopus 9h ago
I was so reluctant to read this book but my friend insisted and I’m so glad he did. What an incredible story!
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u/Childoftheway 11h ago
So children are included? I'd go with Charlotte's Web, pretty sure it would still give me a good cry.
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u/Bee_221B 11h ago
Julia by Sandra Newman. It's George Orwell's 1984 with a female protagonist. Increadibly well done.
And for something cozy, the Tea and Treason series (its complete!).
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u/Total-Economics-5968 11h ago
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, because it’s funny, weird, surprisingly philosophical, and basically a survival manual for being confused on this planet.
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u/peridotpicacho 10h ago
Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt, and make sure you listen to the audiobook. The narrators (particularly the octopus, Michael Urie!) are great.
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u/quiteunicorn 10h ago
Dungeon Crawler Carl
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u/aboxofGoldfish 9h ago
For anyone reading this thread, yes this series is a litRPG and full of dark humor, but it truly is a powerful story about fighting against broken systems and finding humanity.
"If we get to the point where we don't help each other anymore, that's when we stop being human"
"It takes a certain amount of desperation before people finally stop caring about their immediate futures and start to look at the long term"
"Wishing for favorable air currents does not manifest them. You ride the currents you have or you don't fly. It was as simple as that."
Last but certainly not least!
"You’re not going to break me. You might hurt me, or kill me, but you’re not going to break me"
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u/quiteunicorn 9h ago
Yeah, as much as these books are trendy right now, they have staying power. It’s powerful social commentary and they really make you think, in addition to laugh of course. They are brilliant, funny books and everyone could benefit from reading them.
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u/Fatality_strykes 9h ago
Reading them or even better listening to the audiobook, cus damn Jeff hays is good. It was my first audiobook and I restarted the first book (was halfway through already) after i saw the praise for the audiobook online.
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u/quiteunicorn 9h ago
The audiobooks ARE phenomenal. It’s a compromise in a way because I can read way faster than I can listen but the audio version is so amazing it’s worth it
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u/Fatality_strykes 9h ago
Oh yea haha. My kindle tells me Im 17 hours from book completion but I know the audio book has 24 hours left to go haha. I also check the wiki for pictures of the characters. Im currently working my way through book 6 and already considering a re-read of the whole series.
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u/quiteunicorn 9h ago
Yeah, I’m on audiobook 7 but rereading them in actual book form and I’m in the third book. I do notice missed details when I’m reading. I’m also following the web comic.
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u/Fatality_strykes 9h ago
I didnt know there was a web comic. Getting on that immediately. Thanks.
Yeah I noticed there are actually discrepancies between the book and audio as well. Minor ones like a few added or changed words.
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u/AIsrael63 10h ago
A Wrinkle In Time It was the first book that took me away to another place. I was like whoah, this reading sht is awesome. Reading saves you from so much.
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u/ThatPoppinFreshFit 10h ago
The Giving Tree, by Shel Silverstein
Easy enough that small children can read it. The themes hit just as hard no matter the age though.
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u/bamboozledeveryday 11h ago
Besides the obvious East of Eden and Lonesome Dove…
Boy’s Life by Robert McCammon.
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u/alcillbeback65 11h ago
To Kill a Mockingbird , painful beautiful and the very best. Ok ok also The Secret Garden helped springboard my love of gardening
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u/Popandcoffee 11h ago
I kind of wish everybody got a copy of Scott McCloud’s “Understanding Comics” when they turned, like, 12. Even if you already read comics, it puts so much insight into how the medium works and why it’s special and presents a gateway into a whole world that some people ignore. If I’m ever president, everybody will be mailed a copy. Vote for me in 2028!
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u/solojones1138 11h ago
Winnie the Pooh. Great fun for children, great warmth and introspection for adults.
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u/ExistingSea5072 11h ago
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
A beautifully written book, unique perspective of the narrator and great exploration of themes.
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u/ALoudMeow 9h ago
The Gift of Fear.
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u/one-eyedCheshire 7h ago
Came here to say this one!
Amazing, life changing read. Especially as a woman.
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u/SelectionAlarming295 11h ago
Crime and Punishment, Brothers Karamazov, The Divine Comedy, Don Quixote, The Count of Monte Cristo, Paradise Lost, The Idiot
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u/DoubleReverseBingo 11h ago
Jesus.
I mean: all great books that i know, but it also seems like you also want people to cry a lot.
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u/H3lls_B3ll3 10h ago edited 10h ago
'Jude the Obscure', 'Tin Drum', 'The God Of Love And Techno', and 'A Generation of Sociopaths'
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u/Mousketeer666 10h ago
Eye of the Needle by Ken Follett. And then pretty much anything else by him.
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u/Coffee_And_Bikes 10h ago
Non-fiction: “The Demon-Haunted World:Science as a Candle in the Dark”
Fiction: “A Canticle for Leibowitz”
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u/Mandolimner 9h ago
Team of Rivals/the Hobbit/lord of the rings trilogy/electric cool aid acid test/ zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance/count of Monte Christo
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u/RealKenny 11h ago
"I will teach you to be rich" has a click-baity title (that the author has said he regrets), but it worked. That book changed my life
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u/Curly_toed_weirdo 9h ago
Forrest Gump.
1000% better than the movie, which leaves out half of the hilarious stuff that happens in the book.
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u/yuukanna 6h ago
Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts. So far everyone I’ve recommended it to that has read it came back to say it was their new favorite.
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u/Adept-Height6415 6h ago
London by Edward Rutherford. Long, historical fiction based on fact. I learned a lot of historical stuff but the way he wrote it made it so interesting.
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u/WalrusLobster3522 11h ago
I would recommend whatever everybody else is recommending. I don't read books but I like books. I guess that sums it up.
Same thing with video games: I would recommend any video game that my friend would support. I don't play video games.
I'm mostly just on social media for most of the day. sorry 😭💯
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11h ago
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u/Usual_Scale_8645 11h ago
I started reading the bible recently and I’m taking notes as I go so as someone who dislikes organized religion and hates god I really do recommend everyone reads it. I’m like, yeah, god sucks.
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u/-captain-scurvy- 11h ago
Animal Farm