There are books that carry a certain amount of prestige, either due to their popularity or critical acclaim. These books are written by highly established and credible authors, and they are not only worth a read, they are considered some of the best books ever written.

After you’ve read these books, you can tell everyone you’ve read them and enjoy the admiration and respect that a reader of these books deserves.

8 Books That Will Make You Proud And Satisfied To Have Read

1. The Brothers Karamazov: A Novel – Fyodor Dostoevsky

The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky(As featured in The Ultimate 10 Best Books You Must Read Before You Die)

This is both a great philosophical book and a great work of fiction.

This book is widely considered to be one of the best books ever written, and it will undoubtedly change your life. The story follows the lives of old man Karamazov, a filthy penny-pinching lech, and his three sons. Each son represents a different side to the Russian character: Dimitri the spoiled lout, Ivan the tortured intellect, and Alyosha the spiritual searcher.

 

 

2. The Silmarillion – J.R.R. Tolkien

The Silmarillion by J. R. R. Tolkien(As featured in 8 Best Books Which Should NOT Be Turned Into A Movie)

Tolkien considered The Silmarillion his most important work, and even though it was published last, this great collection of tales and legends sets the stage for all his other books. Not only is it a massive book, but it spans almost 10000 years, and is like the bible for Middle-Earth.

 

 

 

3. Dracula – Bram Stoker

Dracula by Barm Stoker(As featured in 8 Outstanding Classic Books Which Are Easy To Read)

Most people just settle for the admittedly very good film versions and don’t realize how different the book’s ending is. Eerie, horrifying, and genuinely mysterious, Dracula is undoubtedly the most striking and unique vampire novel yet penned.

 

 

 

 

4. Infinite Jest – David Foster Wallace

Infinite Jest by David Foster Wallace(As featured in 7 Best Books To Read In Your Twenties)

Infinite Jest is a gargantuan, mind-altering comedy about the pursuit of happiness in America. Between its structure, which is fractal, its three hundred pages of footnotes, and the fact that you basically have to read the book twice through to deduce its ending, Infinite Jest is a challenge that you can be proud to have overcome.

One of the most hilarious books out there, Infinite Jest is a must-read.

 

 

 

5. William Shakespeare: The Complete Works – William Shakespeare

The Complete Works by William ShakespeareAs one of the most prolific authors in history, the complete works of William Shakespeare are challenging, life-changing, and a part of history. Having read them, you will join a distinguished group of people who have actually experienced his works in their entirety.

 

 

 

 

 

6. The Count of Monte Cristo – Alexandre Dumas

The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas(As featured in 8 Top Contenders For The Best Book You’ll Ever Read)

This book is a great example of perfect fiction writing. Its length is 5 times the average book and it still was not long enough! The story, the characters, the settings, and the emotions will enthrall you for days. You’ll be left with a total feeling of astonishment as you finish the book.

 

 

 

7. Anna Karenina – Leo Tolstoy

Anna Karenina by Leo TolstoyA novel about the meaning of life and the role happiness does or does not play in it, Anna Karenina is the story of a married woman’s adulterous affair with Count Vronsky. As foreshadowed in the book’s early pages, the affair ends tragically, for both Anna and Vronsky.

 

 

 

 

 

8. Gravity’s Rainbow – Thomas Pynchon

Gravity's Rainbow by Thomas PynchonGravity’s Rainbow is definitely one of the most bizarre and challenging books you will ever read. One can’t just sit down and read it; it demands the most concentration you’ll ever have to muster to read a work of fiction.