Top 10 Best Books of All Time

Trying to name the best book ever is a great way to start a friendly argument, then watch it become a full literary courtroom drama by lunch. You bring your own shelves, childhood obsessions, late-night page-turners, school-assigned surprises, sacred texts, fantasy epics, dystopian nightmares, tearjerkers, and comfort reads. That is the fun of this list. It is not a quiet library display behind glass. It is a loud, opinionated reading room where every vote says, "No, this one belongs higher."

Use this list as a place to defend the books that changed how you think, kept you awake past a reasonable hour, or made you stare at the wall for five minutes after the final page. Some picks earn love for their ideas. Some for their worlds. Some because they got you reading when nothing else could. Vote for the books you believe deserve the top spots, and try not to judge too hard when someone's favorite is the one you were forced to read in class and still have emotional paperwork pending.

The Top Ten

The Bible

This is not just an ordinary book. This is a sacred book that deserves to be respected by anyone, even those who are non-believers of God. This book contains historical events that are beyond scientific explanation.
Even though it contains some gruesome stories like killing or fighting, it also tells us the difference between right and wrong, and what the effects would be if we have done something to our fellow people in this world. If you read it every day and incorporate it into your daily life, such as trusting God, you will feel more calm and worry less. You will also feel like you have purified your sins and let go of your problems.
The Return of the King - J.R.R. Tolkien

I can't believe this isn't number one. This book is absolutely amazing in every possible way. Every single character, no matter how minor, becomes someone of great importance and learns a very important life lesson. Tolkien's world of Middle-Earth is the best fictional world ever created.
I don't think the Bible should be ranked above this masterpiece, considering that only a percentage of the population actually believes in the Bible anyway. However, any of Tolkien's works can appeal to anyone. I first read this book when I was 12 years old, and I still have maps of Middle-Earth and Elvish family trees plastered all over my walls.
I believe Tolkien's Lord of the Rings is so inspiring and magical that it should always be considered the best book ever. I might sound biased, but if you read this book, you would be biased towards it too.
The Hunger Games - Suzanne Collins

Best book ever, it has fantasy, action, adventure, drama, mystery, and a somewhat feel of science fiction. It gets its fantasy because it is all fake, its action by having sudden events filled with adventure, giving the book its adventure. It gets its drama from deaths of important people that you only know for a couple hundred pages of a book, and it gets its mystery from the parts of the book that you and the main character don't know what's going to happen next, giving you that on the edge action and mystery feel.
The story gets the science fiction from the fact that it is like what might happen in the future if we keep watching reality TV shows and what might happen if we worship them so much that our capital, D.C., might have an uprising against us. That hasn't happened yet, so it is currently fiction, and it seems like something that would be really crazy if it did happen, so it gives the book that science fiction feeling in general. I just love this book. I have read it twice, but the first time, for sure, was the best reading experience that I have ever had in my not-so-long 16-year-old life.
The Hobbit - J.R.R. Tolkien

To everyone who is rating this, please tell me that you actually have read the book and are not voting because you liked the movie. The Hobbit took me (sadly) a little bit less than 7 months to read, but then again I did lose the book for about 3 months, and I was in the 5th grade when I read it.
But when I finished it, I felt so accomplished, and it was such an iconic book to read. I loved reading it so much that I bought myself another copy to read in the future. As a matter of fact, I like the book so much more than the 3 movies.
To anyone who has only seen the movies, please read the book today! It will make your life and opinion of the movies so much better.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - J.K. Rowling

This is an amazing book. It finished the series in an amazing way, but let's be honest: RIP my 3 lovelies (if you know, you know - I wasn't going to post spoilers).

The Hunger Games is above this?! It made me feel nothing at all. Absolutely nothing. Katniss doesn't do anything but survive. She's selfish and doesn't care for anyone but herself and Prim. Peeta and she were for her convenience so that she could rise above the Capitol and not be killed. Gale and she were cheap plot tension.
The second book... I swear, if I have to read another book like that again I will...never mind. Every tribute was her partner, and they all survived except one. At this point, I was really, really disappointed with this book. And the third book... Katniss conks out halfway and gets the ending explained to her. EXPLAINED to her. (Calming breaths) Rant over.
Harry Potter is a whole other story. J.K Rowling literally made me feel so much when Dobby, Fred, Tonks, Lupin, Sirius, and even when Hedwig died. She writes in a way that can only be matched by Stephen King and J.R.R Tolkien. Every single character was developed. Harry was hot-headed but brave. He also felt like he needed to be a hero.
He wanted revenge against Sirius, but his better judgment said that he should listen to Sirius first. The book isn't just black and white. It has shades of gray. Severus Snape was a clear-cut example of that.
1984 - George Orwell

Just finished it, and from what I know, this is not a light read. It's grim, thought-provoking, frightening, shocking, and terrifying in regards to politics and social science gone into maniacal control. And scariest of all, it actually feels... realistic enough, thanks to how the setting of the novel is laid out and each component of said setting operates. That's what makes 1984 such an effective book.
Each character displayed in the film signifies some area of importance that would be displayed later on, and some of the buildup is masterfully crafted as it is tellingly horrifying. Without a doubt, this is one of the best books of all time. In addition, it's also the codifier of the Dystopian Genre in general and an incredibly important piece of writing, both for fiction literature and as an allegory for totalitarianism, political corruption, and the possible takeover of the human mind and spirit.
To Kill A Mockingbird - Harper Lee

Reading this book can literally change your life and make you see things and other people in a whole new light. While it's gratifying to see Mockingbird solidly in the top 20, it's still not as high as it should be. It shouldn't be struggling to stay in the top ten.
While some of the books ahead of this are good books, I have to question whether people five hundred years from now will know about their characters. I do think people five hundred years from now will know who Atticus Finch is.

Great characters, interesting events, deep and insightful messages, realistic drama, and swings of emotion! I have known people, even ones that do not read much, that can admit that To Kill a Mockingbird is truly a great book.
It's one of my all-time favorites, and it's worth the read. I mean it. A few chapters in, and you'll fall in love with the enticing story, interesting characters, and absolutely gorgeous storytelling. This book is really something else.
The Great Gatsby - F. Scott Fitzgerald

I love that it is based in the 1920s. It's my favorite time period in modern history. Plus, the movie turned out really good. It has some good lessons that everyone should learn and still has an intriguing story along with them. Something that a lot of books don't do, in my opinion.

The moral of the story is incredible. It tells of characters who are consumed by themselves and have no care for others or sympathy due to their self-proclaimed superiority.

I read this book when I was in sixth grade and I still love it! In my opinion, this should be ranked way higher than other books meant for kids aged 11-17 (minus the Bible).
Diary of a Wimpy Kid - Jeff Kinney

No, there is no real character development or a strong plot. But we enjoy it because, unlike so many books today, its characters and themes are relatable on every level. It's an entertaining read, and it's actually kind of sickening that people are calling this a money grab and not Dork Diaries.
Really? Diary of a Wimpy Kid is popular and suddenly Dork Diaries appears with the same simple designs and concepts, and everyone calls it the more original of the two. Diary of a Wimpy Kid may be getting redundant, but it's never been a boring read. In this day and age, that's a rare find.

A timeless, satirical reflection of the struggles of an average teenager, Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney is the classic literary masterpiece everyone needs in their lifetime. The story follows Greg Heffley and his family through his nonsensical misadventures as a developing adolescent, battling social acceptance, female troubles, puberty, and more.
Whether it's through Greg's triumphs or his failures and insecurities, the reader is surely able to commend and sympathize with a growing lad representative of children everywhere. An absolute classic.
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone - J.K. Rowling

Excellent book, the whole series is wonderful. Our entire family loved these books. They are entertaining but also full of symbolism and analogies if you enjoy a deeper read. Great for kids and adults. If possible, read the books before you watch the movies.

The Harry Potter series is amazing. It has to be listed as one of the greatest series of books of all time. You have to ask yourself, how did J.K. Rowling come up with all this stuff? She has such an amazing imagination and is a great writer.

I love Harry Potter. It is a great book that everyone of every age can enjoy. I finally got my mum to read it and she loves it! I have a life goal to read Harry Potter more than 20 times. I love you, J.K. Rowling!

The Newcomers

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A Memory of Light - Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson

The conclusion to the greatest fantasy series of ALL TIME, in my opinion. Plus, if you ask me, "The Last Battle" is the best battle ever written. It's the crowning conclusion to a masterpiece.
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The Supreme Sign - Bediuzzaman Said Nursi

The Risale-i Nur, authored by Bediuzzaman Said Nursi, is a Qur'anic commentary that illuminates the core tenets of faith with clarity, reason, and spiritual depth. It addresses the doubts of modernity with compelling arguments, offering both the mind and the heart a path to certainty. Recognized by scholars as a unique work that unveils the universe in harmony with the Qur'an, it stands as a timeless guide for those seeking truth and meaning in today's world.

The Contenders

Animal Farm - George Orwell

My favorite Orwell novel, Animal Farm, surpasses 1984 in terms of political commentary and storytelling. Presented as a "talking animal" fantasy, this cautionary tale could easily deceive the casual reader with its stereotypes and jingoism. It's a true treat.

It is what you make of it, though it is probably one of the best reflections on society ever written. Even though it seems a bit childish at first glance, it is a work of art and a great opportunity to observe society.
It certainly has never aged!
Catching Fire - Suzanne Collins

Personally, this was better than The Hunger Games. In my opinion, it was fresh yet still followed the same guidelines as The Hunger Games. This is one of the few sequels that improve after the first book. 10/10.

Catching Fire is my favorite book ever. Ask yourselves, do you think Harry Potter, The Hobbit, and even the Bible will still top the charts in 2014 when the film Divergent is released, as is expected? Just wait, read Divergent, and see if I'm right.

I actually thought this book was better than The Hunger Games, the one she wrote before this. This book and the movie are so well written and acted. This book is just amazing!
The Catcher in the Rye - J.D. Salinger

I loved this book! It's definitely one of the best character-developing books out there. With just a quick glance or reading a few pages without delving into the words, Holden may seem like a jerk. But he's not.
He's a kid going through a terrible time in his life, and he's trying to make friends. However, the world doesn't accept that. It's not some compelling "oh sexy plot where John Travolta flies to the moon in the 1800s!" but it's certainly a good book.

This book killed me! Also, the fact that Artemis Fowl, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, and The Hunger Games have been voted above this masterpiece is deeply upsetting and concerning.
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban - J.K. Rowling

It's a good book to start with. Also, The Hunger Games and The Great Gatsby cannot be ranked before this book. The plot, characters, and everything about this book are spectacular! Honestly, this book deserves more love. Harry, Ron, and Hermione are also the most interesting and best book characters in the whole history! I like everything about this book, and J.K. Rowling is an amazing author.

I love this book. Harry Potter finds out about a guy named Sirius Black who was misunderstood as a bad guy. When Harry, Ron, and Hermione found him, they discovered that Sirius was really Harry's guardian who associated with his parents. Peter Pettigrew, who was once Ron's pet rat, turned into a human and betrayed him. In the fourth book, Peter is known as Wormtail and works for Voldemort.
A Christmas Carol - Charles Dickens

Perhaps the most adapted story ever penned, this beloved timeless classic recounts the transformation of a "stingy, avaricious old sinner" as, on one fateful Christmas Eve in Victorian England, he faces ghosts and a past long-forgotten. He will be forced to reckon with three Spirits before he earns a chance for redemption and, in that stead, discovers the true meaning of Christmas.
A quick page-turner, deftly told in avid yet precise prose. I cannot laud this beloved opus enough! Sit back, light a fire, sip a cup of steaming hot cocoa, and treat yourself to this Yuletide treasure! You won't regret it!

This wonderful, amazing, outstanding Christmas book is a wonderful read. I even have the book and the CD. I really love this holiday book. This Christmas book is about Ebenezer Scrooge, despite his grumpy mood, learning about Christmas, even though he likes to "Bah Humbug!" I really love this book so much. It has some humor in it too. I also like the Disney Christmas Carol with Jim Carrey.
The Fault In Our Stars - John Green

This is by far one of my favorite books. It has humor, love, and sadness all packed into one amazing book. John Green's style of writing is amazing in every book he's written, but this one just seems to stand out to me.
It made me laugh and it made me cry. Overall, it's a generally fantastic book that had me right from the beginning. Even my mom couldn't put it down after starting it, and that is saying something! Best book ever, and you have to vote for it. If you haven't read it yet, I suggest you go to the nearest bookstore, buy it, and read it because it is amazing!

To me, one of the greatest books in history is in the same category as To Kill a Mockingbird and The Lord of the Rings. It is beautifully written and perfectly plotted. Hazel and Gus represent a perfectly flawed love we haven't seen since the days of Romeo and Juliet. This is such a good book because it builds up to a painful ending, leaving readers desperate and enamored with these very likable characters.
Of Mice and Men - John Steinbeck

I admit, I only read it because it was obligatory in high school. I didn't regret it at all. This is an amazing book, with very likable characters and an original plot and series of themes. It has the most memorable ending in any novel I have read. This was the only time I almost cried while reading a book. Why is almost every book in the top 10 teen fiction? Come on, people!

I decided to read it on my own before we read it in school. Such a phenomenal book, very depressing, but really gives insight into the hard lives people used to live and how mental disorders weren't properly understood and acknowledged in society. I cried. Why is this below Diary of a Wimpy Kid?
It - Stephen King

This book is claimed to be the scariest book of all time. I didn't believe that, so I read it. Let's just say that whoever reads this book will undoubtedly be scared of clowns for the rest of their lives.
"They float, Georgie, and when you're down here with me, you'll float too!"

Of course, this is on here. It's a huge horror story that became even more popular when the recent movie "IT" was released. I haven't read the book, but what I've read about it keeps me on the edge of my seat and gives me goosebumps all over.
The Outsiders - S.E. Hinton

How is this book banned? It is a piece of art in word form. It's like if somebody decided to ban the Mona Lisa!
I didn't think I would like it this much. I honestly wanted to read Diary of a Wimpy Kid instead, but I'm so glad I read this. It really changed the way I thought, and when I was done, I had to take a few minutes to process what I had just read.
It should be way higher, and now that it's banned in schools, most kids have never even heard of this book. One of the best books of all time!

My favorite book. It's so good. I cannot even put into words how much I like it. It made me laugh, it made me cry, it made me want to rip out some people's throats.
The Lightning Thief - Rick Riordan

This series is more than just a couple of books stuffed together. They are a life, a story, a place where our imaginations can go and stay for a while. It's the place where I grew up, and where so many others have. That's what some books are. They are an infinite other world that we can create for ourselves.
It has a story that can make you laugh and cry and scream because of cliffhangers that make death seem like a lovely gift of sorts. Then you realize that you'll never be a part of this world, this place that's so close to your heart yet so far away, and it breaks you.
Your parents look at you and wonder what's wrong, but they won't understand because their imaginations have withered and died over the years. It's so very sad, but so very true. This is one of those series. Percy Jackson and his wonderful world are a secret place for us readers who know how to find and bring it to life.
Divergent - Veronica Roth

A very good book, and much better than The Hunger Games. Recently, I went to Chicago and rode the Ferris wheel and did the Tilt experience in the Hancock Building. It was completely awesome and made me feel like I was kind of reenacting the book.

Really, Divergent haters? It's not bad. Honestly, Twilight had a good writer. Not really. But Divergent is life lessons. We mend each other. But it's really good, though the series became more boring.

I love this book so much. I fell in love with it in the first chapter. The way that Veronica Roth wrote this is incredible! I love the storyline and the characters!
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe - C.S. Lewis

What has this world come to where Diary of a Wimpy Kid is ranked higher than this? This is an amazing piece of literature for various ages, an endless classic, and it stretches so far and explores life, evil, and good. This is an amazing book, possibly the best of the series. It will never get old, no matter how many times I read it.

The Chronicles of Narnia is an amazing series. The Magician's Nephew is my personal favorite. Narnia puts the majority of titles on this list to shame. Clearly, this list was composed by teenage girls who just want a good cry.
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire - J.K. Rowling

Goblet of Fire should be ranked much higher. Sure, it might not be as awesome as Deathly Hallows, but it should be in the top ten. It is better than Prisoner of Azkaban and Philosopher's Stone, so I voted for it because I thought it deserved to be higher.

I know this is probably the most underrated Harry Potter book known to man, but it is still, for me, the most memorable. The storyline is so interesting, and it keeps you hooked to the book. I spent a whole summer reading it, and I loved it!

This is such a great book. If you don't like fantasy, read this, and you'll start wanting more of the Harry Potter story. It's also a great story of friendship - the characters are getting older and start falling in love. It's also dark. Rest in peace, Cedric Diggory.
The Grapes of Wrath - John Steinbeck

The sheer volume of content in the book archives is astounding. The Grapes of Wrath humanizes a group of people who might otherwise have been forgotten. It accomplishes this with well-developed and memorable characters, as well as chapters that chronicle the much larger journeys, troubles, and experiences of the Okies during the Great Depression.
The book stands up for the poor and helps us understand how human society functions at a basic level. The writing itself is astounding, far superior to any of the books listed above it.

I have enjoyed John Steinbeck's references to the suffering of those who needed help from poverty and from themselves. This is why this book is great!
The Giver - Lois Lowry

Personally, I liked the writing, but I got scared by the storyline and wondered what if this actually happens in the future. I have to admit I was a bit traumatized. But Lois Lowry is amazing.

I read this book when I was about eleven, and I still read it today. It's the kind of book you don't grow out of, and it is truly a beautiful story. In fact, this author produces beautiful books overall.

Incredible book, great characters, and storyline. The character development was also incredible. I would rate it 10/10.