Top 100 Books to Read Before College (84 books)

Top 100 Books to Read Before College

What does it take to be a well rounded reader in 21st Century academia? Read these novels and you will be well on your way to finding out.

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1	1984 by George Orwell 4.06 of 5 stars 4.06 avg rating — 934,247 ratings score: 798, and 8 people voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
2	To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee 4.22 of 5 stars 4.22 avg rating — 1,437,035 ratings score: 686, and 7 people voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
3	Animal Farm by George Orwell 3.75 of 5 stars 3.75 avg rating — 1,009,421 ratings score: 584, and 6 people voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
4	Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë 3.77 of 5 stars 3.77 avg rating — 441,147 ratings score: 536, and 6 people voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
5	How to Make A Winning College Application Video Essay: Everything You Need to Know, From Idea to Upload by Max Kiefer 5.0 of 5 stars 5.00 avg rating — 5 ratings score: 500, and 5 people voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
6	The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald 3.8 of 5 stars 3.80 avg rating — 1,196,782 ratings score: 495, and 5 people voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
7	The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco 4.05 of 5 stars 4.05 avg rating — 106,367 ratings score: 462, and 5 people voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
8	Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoyevsky 4.12 of 5 stars 4.12 avg rating — 196,913 ratings score: 456, and 5 people voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
9	Albion Imperilled by Ruth Thomas (Goodreads Author) 3.54 of 5 stars 3.54 avg rating — 26 ratings score: 394, and 4 people voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
10	The Giver by Lois Lowry 4.11 of 5 stars 4.11 avg rating — 546,819 ratings score: 392, and 4 people voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
11	We Wove a Web in Childhood: The Brontes at Home by Ruth Thomas (Goodreads Author) 3.55 of 5 stars 3.55 avg rating — 20 ratings score: 391, and 4 people voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
12	The Bell Jar: A Novel by Sylvia Plath 3.91 of 5 stars 3.91 avg rating — 204,842 ratings score: 385, and 4 people voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
13	Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë 4.06 of 5 stars 4.06 avg rating — 660,813 ratings score: 383, and 4 people voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
14	And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie 4.17 of 5 stars 4.17 avg rating — 140,119 ratings score: 378, and 4 people voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
15	The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde 4.16 of 5 stars 4.16 avg rating — 98,507 ratings score: 370, and 4 people voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
16	The Secret History by Donna Tartt 4.03 of 5 stars 4.03 avg rating — 55,681 ratings score: 367, and 4 people voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
17	The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Brontë 3.86 of 5 stars 3.86 avg rating — 24,780 ratings score: 362, and 4 people voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
18	Life of Pi by Yann Martel 3.84 of 5 stars 3.84 avg rating — 501,026 ratings score: 359, and 4 people voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
18	Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy 3.98 of 5 stars 3.98 avg rating — 188,045 ratings score: 359, and 4 people voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
20	Emma by Jane Austen 3.96 of 5 stars 3.96 avg rating — 237,529 ratings score: 352, and 4 people voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
21	Atonement by Ian McEwan 3.8 of 5 stars 3.80 avg rating — 197,766 ratings score: 345, and 4 people voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
22	Middlemarch: A Study of Provincial Life by George Eliot 3.89 of 5 stars 3.89 avg rating — 48,558 ratings score: 332, and 4 people voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
23	The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien 4.18 of 5 stars 4.18 avg rating — 1,081,606 ratings score: 297, and 3 people voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
24	Our Town by Thornton Wilder 3.53 of 5 stars 3.53 avg rating — 17,977 ratings score: 294, and 3 people voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
25	Emma by Jane Austen 3.96 of 5 stars 3.96 avg rating — 237,529 ratings score: 287, and 3 people voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
26	Corelli's Mandolin by Louis de Bernières 3.87 of 5 stars 3.87 avg rating — 34,307 ratings score: 283, and 3 people voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
27	Brave New World by Aldous Huxley 3.9 of 5 stars 3.90 avg rating — 559,877 ratings score: 279, and 3 people voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
28	Arthur & George by Julian Barnes 3.64 of 5 stars 3.64 avg rating — 6,403 ratings score: 277, and 3 people voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
29	The Heart is a Lonely Hunter by Carson McCullers 3.91 of 5 stars 3.91 avg rating — 38,393 ratings score: 275, and 3 people voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
30	Empire of the Sun by J.G. Ballard 3.94 of 5 stars 3.94 avg rating — 6,071 ratings score: 273, and 3 people voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
31	Wild Swans: Three Daughters of China by Jung Chang 4.2 of 5 stars 4.20 avg rating — 29,804 ratings score: 272, and 3 people voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
32	The Balkan Trilogy by Olivia Manning 4.19 of 5 stars 4.19 avg rating — 453 ratings score: 268, and 3 people voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
33	Nostromo by Joseph Conrad 3.76 of 5 stars 3.76 avg rating — 5,326 ratings score: 267, and 3 people voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
34	The Trial by Franz Kafka 3.98 of 5 stars 3.98 avg rating — 66,779 ratings score: 264, and 3 people voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
35	Steppenwolf by Hermann Hesse 4.05 of 5 stars 4.05 avg rating — 42,107 ratings score: 263, and 3 people voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
36	The Mill on the Floss by George Eliot 3.7 of 5 stars 3.70 avg rating — 16,727 ratings score: 259, and 3 people voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
37	The Glass Bead Game by Hermann Hesse 4.09 of 5 stars 4.09 avg rating — 10,844 ratings score: 256, and 3 people voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
38	The Book Thief by Markus Zusak (Goodreads Author) 4.35 of 5 stars 4.35 avg rating — 313,882 ratings score: 255, and 3 people voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
39	The Beach by Alex Garland 3.83 of 5 stars 3.83 avg rating — 29,779 ratings score: 252, and 3 people voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
40	The Sense of an Ending by Julian Barnes 3.69 of 5 stars 3.69 avg rating — 52,338 ratings score: 249, and 3 people voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
41	Hard Wired: A Crash Course in Small College Football by Jebb A. Rebal (Goodreads Author) 4.7 of 5 stars 4.70 avg rating — 10 ratings score: 200, and 2 people voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
42	Skin and Other Stories by Roald Dahl 4.06 of 5 stars 4.06 avg rating — 2,692 ratings score: 196, and 2 people voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
43	The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood (Goodreads Author) 3.97 of 5 stars 3.97 avg rating — 258,116 ratings score: 187, and 2 people voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
44	The Stranger's Child by Alan Hollinghurst 3.27 of 5 stars 3.27 avg rating — 4,420 ratings score: 185, and 2 people voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
44	Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury 3.92 of 5 stars 3.92 avg rating — 525,495 ratings score: 185, and 2 people voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
46	We by Yevgeny Zamyatin 3.96 of 5 stars 3.96 avg rating — 19,206 ratings score: 184, and 2 people voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
47	The Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov 4.32 of 5 stars 4.32 avg rating — 62,300 ratings score: 182, and 2 people voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
48	The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck 3.85 of 5 stars 3.85 avg rating — 273,725 ratings score: 181, and 2 people voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
49	The Children's Book by A.S. Byatt 3.61 of 5 stars 3.61 avg rating — 7,421 ratings score: 177, and 2 people voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
50	Wives and Daughters by Elizabeth Gaskell 4.06 of 5 stars 4.06 avg rating — 15,834 ratings score: 174, and 2 people voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
51	Candide by Voltaire 3.74 of 5 stars 3.74 avg rating — 79,866 ratings score: 172, and 2 people voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
52	Le Grand Meaulnes by Alain-Fournier 3.79 of 5 stars 3.79 avg rating — 2,604 ratings score: 165, and 2 people voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
53	A Separate Peace by John Knowles 3.52 of 5 stars 3.52 avg rating — 90,306 ratings score: 163, and 2 people voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
54	The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin 4.03 of 5 stars 4.03 avg rating — 58,538 ratings score: 100, and 1 person voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
54	Control Switch On: The Untold Story Of The Most Powerful Man In The World-Ryan Moran-Who Shaped The Planet For Peace by Ira Teller (Goodreads Author) 3.29 of 5 stars 3.29 avg rating — 21 ratings score: 100, and 1 person voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
54	Hikers - Part One: Power by Lauren Algeo (Goodreads Author) 3.4 of 5 stars 3.40 avg rating — 5 ratings score: 100, and 1 person voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
54	The Wasp Factory by Iain Banks 3.87 of 5 stars 3.87 avg rating — 22,664 ratings score: 100, and 1 person voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
54	Operating Manual for Spaceship Earth by Richard Buckminster Fuller 4.12 of 5 stars 4.12 avg rating — 438 ratings score: 100, and 1 person voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
59	Opening Up: A Guide to Creating and Sustaining Open Relationships by Tristan Taormino (Goodreads Author) 4.1 of 5 stars 4.10 avg rating — 786 ratings score: 99, and 1 person voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
60	Prep by Curtis Sittenfeld 3.3 of 5 stars 3.30 avg rating — 36,382 ratings score: 98, and 1 person voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
60	Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut 3.97 of 5 stars 3.97 avg rating — 482,504 ratings score: 98, and 1 person voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
60	The Social Contract by Jean-Jacques Rousseau 3.7 of 5 stars 3.70 avg rating — 12,829 ratings score: 98, and 1 person voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
63	Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston 3.79 of 5 stars 3.79 avg rating — 101,721 ratings score: 97, and 1 person voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
63	Dance Dance Dance (The Rat, #4) by Haruki Murakami 4.0 of 5 stars 4.00 avg rating — 22,662 ratings score: 97, and 1 person voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
63	Beloved by Toni Morrison 3.69 of 5 stars 3.69 avg rating — 138,362 ratings score: 97, and 1 person voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
66	Ham on Rye by Charles Bukowski 4.15 of 5 stars 4.15 avg rating — 26,453 ratings score: 96, and 1 person voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
67	The Terrorist by Caroline B. Cooney 3.58 of 5 stars 3.58 avg rating — 915 ratings score: 95, and 1 person voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
68	A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius by Dave Eggers 3.63 of 5 stars 3.63 avg rating — 101,316 ratings score: 94, and 1 person voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
68	The Best Night of Your (Pathetic) Life by Tara Altebrando (Goodreads Author) 3.48 of 5 stars 3.48 avg rating — 711 ratings score: 94, and 1 person voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
70	The Hiding Place by Corrie ten Boom 4.42 of 5 stars 4.42 avg rating — 86,960 ratings score: 91, and 1 person voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
71	Oryx and Crake (MaddAddam Trilogy, #1) by Margaret Atwood (Goodreads Author) 3.96 of 5 stars 3.96 avg rating — 64,452 ratings score: 90, and 1 person voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
72	The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven by Sherman Alexie 4.07 of 5 stars 4.07 avg rating — 11,155 ratings score: 89, and 1 person voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
73	The Ear, the Eye, and the Arm by Nancy Farmer (Goodreads Author) 3.86 of 5 stars 3.86 avg rating — 6,443 ratings score: 88, and 1 person voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
74	Dominion by C.J. Sansom 3.81 of 5 stars 3.81 avg rating — 828 ratings score: 80, and 1 person voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
75	Einstein: His Life and Universe by Walter Isaacson 4.05 of 5 stars 4.05 avg rating — 25,803 ratings score: 79, and 1 person voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
76	Sweet Tooth by Ian McEwan 3.42 of 5 stars 3.42 avg rating — 13,882 ratings score: 77, and 1 person voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
77	Main Street by Sinclair Lewis 3.7 of 5 stars 3.70 avg rating — 9,884 ratings score: 76, and 1 person voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
78	A Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway 3.73 of 5 stars 3.73 avg rating — 104,722 ratings score: 75, and 1 person voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
78	Under the Volcano by Malcolm Lowry 3.8 of 5 stars 3.80 avg rating — 8,271 ratings score: 75, and 1 person voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
80	Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford (Goodreads Author) 3.92 of 5 stars 3.92 avg rating — 99,834 ratings score: 74, and 1 person voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
80	Flaubert's Parrot by Julian Barnes 3.68 of 5 stars 3.68 avg rating — 4,558 ratings score: 74, and 1 person voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
82	De Profundis by Oscar Wilde 4.18 of 5 stars 4.18 avg rating — 2,195 ratings score: 73, and 1 person voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
83	Midnight's Children by Salman Rushdie 4.01 of 5 stars 4.01 avg rating — 44,753 ratings score: 72, and 1 person voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
84	The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd 3.93 of 5 stars 3.93 avg rating — 586,980 ratings score: 71, and 1 person voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars