Have you ever tried to choose your next read and felt overwhelmed by the sheer number of choices?
With bundles of popular books in the world and more and more coming out every day or month, it is increasingly difficult to decide what to read next.
Others may not have the same inclination but still wish to read for pleasure or to develop a reading habit but are unsure of where to begin.
For many years, books have been one of the main forms of entertainment for mankind.
Readers from all over the world invest plenty of time escaping into new and unique worlds, losing themselves in the words and pages of popular books of various genres.
Many popular books affect readers in various ways, history has shown that few books have a way of impacting a large number of people so that they are forever changed.
Such books can share information, inspiration, and discoveries in various fields. They give us lessons, influence, and alter the way we think.
Sometimes these books are so important and enlightening that they help the world evolve. Here we are sharing the TOP 15 popular books that you should read, even if you are not an avid reader.
TOP 15 popular books to read
1. Animal Farm
Author: George Orwell
Rating: 4
Animal Farm is a deceptively simple story of pigs, goats, sheep, cows, and humans, a fairy tale of sorts.
This popular book is an emotional comment on the cycle of society, where an oppressor is overthrown only to be replaced by another oppressor.
According to the author, the book shed light on the events leading up to the Russian Revolution in 1917 and then on into the Stalinist era of the Soviet Union.
2. The Great Gatsby
Author: F. Scott Fitzgerald
Rating: 3.93
This popular book The Great Gatsby is a charm of America during the 1920s and is considered a classic for a reason. The story revolves around the wealthy Jay Gatsby, his legendary parties, and his never-ending love for Daisy Buchanan, all told through the eyes of Jay’s neighbor and WWI veteran Nick Carraway.
Gatsby is only trying to impress Daisy with his expensive lifestyle and crazy parties. Now that he knows that Nick still loves Daisy, Gatsby wants Nick to set up a reunion between the two of them, but he fears Daisy will reject him.
Daisy receives an invitation from Nick to tea at his place without realizing that Gatsby will also be present. Gatsby and Daisy mend their relationship after an initially unpleasant meeting. They start an affair after their love is reignited.
3. The Catcher in the Rye
Author: J.D. Salinger
Rating: 3.80
Salinger’s sole full-length popular book, The Catcher in the Rye, is the classic coming-of-age story of a male teenager.
Depending on how much you can put up with him, it turned Holden Caulfield, an expelled prep student and a detester of everything “phony,” into a literary hero or antihero.
Despite Salinger’s well-known seclusion, his son believes that 5 decades of his unpublished writing may soon be published. Salinger passed away in 2010.
4. The Alchemist
Author: Paulo Coelho
Rating: 3.91
When a modest publishing business bought the rights to this novel in 1988, it was a bomb about a Spanish shepherd who goes to Egypt in pursuit of wealth.
However, after the business returned the rights to Coelho, he persisted in trying to get his book read and published.
His perseverance has paid off now, Coelho describes his wish to be remembered as fate. Original language Portuguese.
The primary takeaway from one of the popular books of all time The Alchemist is that people should pursue their passions and not allow the constraints of reality or everyday living to stand in the way of realizing their greatest aspirations.
Another lesson is that every individual is born with a predetermined destiny, and that destiny is always facilitated by the cosmos.
5. The Da Vinci Code
Author: Dan Brown
Rating: 3.91
This popular book The Da Vinci Code is a combination of short chapters, forward momentum, narrative twists, and church conspiracies.
This popular book was a pop culture phenomenon, making every reader indulge in its explosive, controversial claims that Jesus had a blood descendant and that there was a Catholic sect dedicated to hiding the truth.
The critics gave this book a bad review but the public made this book a huge success.
6. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
Author: J.K. Rowling
Rating: 4.47
No other popular book in the series conveys the same kind of innocent awe that Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone has upon his first encounter with the wizarding world as does The Boy Who Lived, which is the shortest and possibly the most magical of the series.
Before Rowling’s, there were books about boarding schools and boy wizards, and before her Chosen One.
But nothing, before or following, has quite captivated the public’s imagination like Harry Potter. Nevertheless, there are still a lot of Harry Potter-like novels out there that are well worth reading.
7. To Kill A Mockingbird
Author: Harper Lee
Rating: 4.26
To Kill A Mockingbird by novelist Harper Lee, was a huge success when it was first published and has remained so important and relevant that it’s still taught in schools today. It is a timeless story about compassion, justice, and innocence.
This popular book explores a child’s path to understanding racism and broader humanity during the Great Depression in the Southern states of America. It was known to be one of the popular books of that time and stood on top
8. The Kite Runner
Author: Khaled Hosseini
Rating: 4.34
The Kite Runner is one of the most popular books of all time. The story is set in 1970s Afghanistan, where a 12-year-old Amir is desperate to win the local kite-fighting tournament, and his loyal friend Hassan promises to help him.
But neither of them can ignore what had happened to Hassan that afternoon, an event that is to shatter their lives.
After the Russians invade and the family is forced to flee to America, Amir realizes that one day he will return to Afghanistan under Taliban rule to find the one thing that his new world cannot give him: redemption
9. Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind
Author: Yuval Noah Harari
Rating: 4.36
If you are looking for an explanation of the history and evolution of humankind then Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind is one of the popular books that is easily accessible yet expensive science novels on human evolution. This book was a huge success after its release.
In it, Yuval Noah Harari explores not only the most fundamental aspects of human evolution but also the evolution of free will, consciousness, intelligence, community, and happiness.
10. Thinking, Fast & Slow
Author: Daniel Kahneman
Rating: 4.29
Daniel Kahneman’s best-selling book Thinking Fast & Slow takes us on a mental journey through the two neural systems that govern our thought processes. System Two is slower and more rational than System One, which is quicker, more intuitive, and more emotive.
While certain non-fiction books, especially those on psychology, tend to be dull and one-dimensional, this one is rich and captivating and will genuinely alter your perspective on life.
11. 1984
Author: George Orwell
Rating: 4.19
A masterwork of insurrection and confinement, where Big Brother is watching conflict is peace, and freedom is enslavement Mind Police Orwellian Big Brother. These terms are already part of our lexicon because of George Orwell’s iconic dystopian novel 1984.
A man’s nightmare journey through a universe of warring states, a power structure that controls not only information but also people’s thoughts and memories, as he pursues an illicit love affair.
The undisputed masterwork of dystopia is 1984. This is an extremely unsettling and mind-blowing book that you just must read if you want to expand your thinking. This one will undoubtedly alter your perspective on things.
12. The Diary of a Young Girl
Author: Anne Frank
Rating: 4.19
It was originally published in Dutch in 1946, The Diary of a young girl is the diary kept by Anne Frank while she was in hiding for two years with her family during the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands.
Anne died because of typhus in a concentration camp, but her words lived long and were published by her father. It is a first-hand account of the horrors of WW2 and a must-read for everyone.
13. Brave New World
Author: Aldous Huxley
Rating: 3.99
Brave New World is one of the popular books and shows the horrifying clarity of our society is headed towards. The brilliant concepts make this book intellectually stimulating and a must-read.
It is highly controversial read and has been banned by several countries in the past for various reasons but yet still on the list of popular books to this date
14. Tuesdays with Morrie
Author: Mitch Albom
Rating: 4.17
Another straightforward yet lovely book that illuminates love, life, grief, and death. The show Tuesdays With Morrie serves as a helpful reminder that “you learn to live once you learn to die.”
This is a book that people of all ages should read because it is full of countless pearls of knowledge.
15. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
Author: Stephen Covey
Rating: 4.16
Stephen Covey’s The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People offers a framework for both individual and organizational effectiveness.
By forming these routines, you’ll improve your productivity, develop deep connections, and learn to prioritize what matters. You can take charge of your life and succeed in the long run with the help of this book.
An Upcoming book that Changes Your Mind in 2024
- Be Great & Be Happy
Author: Bryan Gile
Rating: Releasing on 10th June, 2024
This groundbreaking book Be Great Be Happy is a step-by-step guide on how to think like the most successful person on earth.
This book will help you to build a positive mindset, and habits to take immediate actions.
How to become a goal-oriented person and what steps are needed to achieve goals. How to gain confidence in life, and how to improve to be a better version of yourself.
What steps are needed for continuous self-improvement? The books give you everything you are asking for to be a successful person in your life.
Final Thoughts
These are just some examples but there are so many popular books that could be included on this list. The most popular books of all time are often those that leave a lasting impact on society and culture.
They are those books that people like to share and discuss with people even years after their publishing.
Enjoy reading these books, we hope you like the list and will give them a try!